US political protests, inflation and rising bond yields Key points US protests are only an issue for investment markets if they significantly impact economic activity. Global and Australian recovery will boost bond yields and there is good reason to believe that (after yet another false ending) the now nearly 40-year super cycle decline in bond yields may be at or close to over. But the end of the bond bull market is likely to …
Five ways to make yourself more employable in 2021 If you’re among those who lost their job or missed out on work opportunities last year due to COVID-19, here’s what you can do to improve your employment prospects in 2021. For many people, career plans were put on ice last year, as the world grappled with the impact of COVID-19. The fallout was widespread, with job losses felt across industries as diverse as retail, hospitality …
Market Update 15 January 2021 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Global share markets were mixed over the last week with Japanese shares up strongly, but US and European shares down slightly partly on profit taking after a run of strong gains along with concern about rising bond yields and Chinese shares also down. Consistent with the soft US lead Australian shares also fell slightly with gains in energy, financial and IT stocks …
More Aussies look to buy property and refinance One in five Australians is hoping to purchase a property in the next 12 months, while one in three existing homeowners wants to refinance to get a better deal. Record-low interest rates and a shift in people’s mindsets, post the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, are behind more Aussies looking to buy property, or refinance existing home loans, according to data from financial comparison group Finder. Population …
How unrest in the US is playing out in markets Undoubtedly, the storming of the Capitol Building in Washington DC will go down as a dark mark in US history – not only due to the tragic loss of life which followed. The events of January 6 are a significant indication of social and political tensions in the country at the moment, stirred by President Trump’s dissatisfaction at his loss to Joe Biden in last …
Creating a flexi-budget for 2021 Learning how to budget is the first step on the road to financial security, and later, financial freedom. So if you struggle to stick to a budget, it’s worth trying a different approach. By building more flexibility into your plans, you’ll master your budget in no time. If 2020 has taught us anything about money, it’s the importance of financial security. With four-in-10 Aussies losing income due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many …
2021 – A list of lists regarding the macro investment outlook Key points 2020 turned out far better for investors than was feared. 2021 is expected to provide solid returns & see a further rotation from pandemic winners to cyclical investments. Watch: coronavirus and vaccines; US politics; China tensions; inflation; & the hit to immigration in Australia. Introduction 2020 turned out far better for diversified investors than had been feared when the pandemic hit triggering …
Market Update 18 December 2020 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Global share markets pushed higher again over the last week as the roll out of vaccines and US stimulus optimism offset uncertainties about the near-term impact from lockdowns. While the latest coronavirus outbreak in Sydney weighed on Australian shares on Friday, the local share market still rose for a seventh week in a row helped by the positive global lead and stronger …
The Australian Government’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook – peak deficit has likely been seen Key points Reflecting the faster than expected Australian economic recovery, the Federal Government has upgraded its growth forecasts and downgraded its unemployment expectations. This in turn, along with higher than expected revenue from higher iron ore prices, has seen the expected budget deficit for this financial year revised down slightly to $198bn from $214bn. We have probably now seen the …
Econosights: The unequal impact of COVID-19 across Australia’s states Key points States/territories with lower cases of COVID-19 have had stronger economic performance compared to the hardest hit states of NSW and Vic. This is not surprising given the imposed and self-regulated household mobility restrictions. Lower overseas migration over the next few years is a big negative for NSW and Vic state growth. Net migration had been a big driver of NSW and Vic population …
