What could a Biden Presidency mean for market outcomes? Market performance in the wake of the US election has been overwhelmingly positive, with Australian and US shares up 11% in November, Japanese shares up 16% and Eurozone shares up 17%. It’s somewhat of an ironic note, given Donald Trump’s fondness to cite stock market strength as indicators of his own economic success, and yet it’s gone up on news of his election loss. There are …
Market Update 11 December 2020 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Global share markets had a slight pull back over the last week with the absence of a new stimulus deal and still rising new coronavirus cases in the US weighing. Despite this, Australian shares rose for the sixth week in a row, albeit it was only a small gain, with a surge in the iron ore price and higher oil prices pushing …
9 ways to teach kids the value of money at Christmas What’s the meaning of Christmas in your household? While it can sometimes feel like spending a small fortune on gifts and food is non-negotiable, it’s not the only option. And, if you have kids, the holidays are a great time to teach them about the value of money – while having a heap of fun along the way! Lavishly decorated homes, piles of …
Review of 2020, outlook for 2021 – from pandemic to recovery Key points 2020 was dominated by the coronavirus pandemic but shares saw okay returns on the back of policy stimulus and vaccine optimism – resulting in constrained but positive returns for balanced growth super funds. For 2021, the combination of massive policy stimulus and the prospect of vaccines allowing a return to something more normal by end 2021/early 2022 should see a decent …
14 money mistakes to avoid in your younger years Here’s a list of things you could stop doing if you no longer want to rely on the bank of mum and dad, or that credit card. In your 20s and 30s, you might be saving for a car, your own pad, or an overseas trip (COVID-19 can’t last forever, right?). On the other hand, most of your cash might just be covering the latest additions …
Tips for parents who became the bank of mum and dad this year Aussie parents have coughed up more than $26 million to help their adult kids since COVID-19 hit our shores – and one in five is at financial risk from doing so. Parents helping their adult kids financially isn’t an unfamiliar concept in this country, but figures reveal mums and dads have forked out approximately $26.8 million since the outbreak of COVID-19 in …
Market Update 04 December 2020 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Global share markets mostly pushed higher again over the last week helped by reasonably good economic data, renewed stimulus talk in the US and ongoing vaccine optimism. Eurozone shares slipped a bit, but other major markets rose with US shares reaching a new record high. Reflecting the strong global lead, stronger than expected Australian economic data and a surging iron ore price …
How to 2020-proof your finances Being in control of your finances makes you feel good, but the twists and turns of 2020 have meant this isn’t always possible. We look at some of the year’s top challenges for personal finance and how to manage them as we move into 2021. Mental, physical and financial wellbeing are interconnected – and in 2020, we’re feeling it more than ever. Research conducted by AMP has found that severe …
What does a COVID-19 Christmas look like in Australia? Christmas 2020 will look a little different for many people, but there’s still plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday season with friends and family. With COVID-19 case numbers currently low in Australia, many of us are wondering just how close to normal our Christmas will be. Can we take an interstate holiday? Will we be able to visit friends and family? How many people can …
Modern Monetary Theory – can it help with economic problems or is it just another Magic Money Tree? Key points Modern Monetary Theory reminds us that monetary financing of government spending need not be inflationary if there is spare capacity in the economy. But it suffers from a number of problems: it implies there is always some sort of free lunch; it underestimates the costs of large-scale public employment programs; and it underestimates the …
