Aussies saving for a rainy day instead of a holiday

Aussies saving for a rainy day instead of a holiday Not many people can say they’ve been unaffected by COVID-19. Whether you’ve lost work, had hours reduced or been fortunate to maintain employment, COVID has been a wake-up call for how we manage our money and set financial goals. Research1 by AMP shows that the majority of us now believe it’s more important than ever to plan for a secure financial future. For the first time …

Many Aussies in the dark about retirement

Many Aussies in the dark about retirement Whether retirement is a long way into the distance, or just peeking over the horizon, recent research1 shows half of us aren’t sure we’ll have enough money to retire when we want, or even how much money we’ll actually need. There’s always been a lot of unknowns when it comes to retirement but throw a global pandemic into the mix, and we’re feeling more uncertainty than ever before. Things …

6 steps to building good financial habits

6 steps to building good financial habits How financially secure do you feel? Recent research1 into Australians’ financial wellness – which is a person’s satisfaction with their current and future financial situation – revealed that people with good financial habits feel more financially secure. It sounds like a no-brainer. But adopting good financial habits isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Otherwise, we’d all be doing it already. With the impact of COVID-19 still being felt, …

3 golden rules that make saving for retirement easier

3 golden rules that make saving for retirement easier If you’ve thought about how much money you need to save so you can retire comfortably, it might feel a little daunting. Maybe so much so, you’d rather not think about it at all. But, according to AMP Technical Strategy Manager John Perri, there are three simple rules anyone can follow that make saving for retirement a lot easier. Follow the sleep test All investments come …

Market Update 09 October 2020

Market Update 09 October 2020 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets rose solidly over the past week on hopes for a stimulus deal in the US, whether before the election or after if there is a Democrat clean sweep. Australian shares benefitted from the positive global lead but also from fiscal stimulus in the Budget with the ASX seeing strong gains across all sectors but particularly in energy, financial, IT, material …

Oliver’s Insights: Federal Budget 2020-21 overview

Oliver’s Insights: Federal Budget 2020-21 overview The 2020-21 Australian Budget – spend, spend, spend as the focus remains on recovery and jobs, jobs, jobs Key points The Government now expects the Federal budget deficit to peak at a record $213.7bn this financial year. That’s around 11% of GDP, its highest since the end of WW2. The risk is the deficit will be worse at around $230bn. Key measures include earlier tax cuts, massive tax breaks …

Four signs Aussie equity markets look set for a strong finish to 2020

Four signs Aussie equity markets look set for a strong finish to 2020   The government has signalled that business will be a driving force behind Australia’s recovery efforts, and we think this will be good news for domestic shares as we charge towards 2021. This year has been wild for share markets globally, but the world is learning how to cope with COVID-19 and business is learning how to manage through. Though nothing is …

Five investment markets impacted by a big week in Australia

Five investment markets impacted by a big week in Australia It’s been a big week in Australia, with the central bank meeting and the government handing down one of the most significant Budgets in our history. For a detailed analysis of our thoughts on the Federal Budget, you can read a note from Shane Oliver and I. Here, we take a look at the outlook for some asset classes after a busy few days. 1. Cash and …

OCT 20 – The impact of the 2020 federal budget on markets and the economy

ECONOMICS & MARKETS OCT 20 – The impact of the 2020 federal budget on markets and the economy This year’s federal budget is one for the ages, as the Australian government plots the path to post-COVID recovery. Our senior economist, Diana Mousina, and co-portfolio manager, Dermot Ryan, talk through its key features and impacts for markets and the economy. Diana and Dermot will also be available to take your questions. By Diana Mousina Economist – Investment …

Federal Budget 2020-21 round-up

Federal Budget 2020-21 round-up Find out how the measures announced in last night’s Federal Budget could affect you. So, was it worth the wait? After the most tumultuous year in living memory, Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has finally handed down his much-anticipated 2020-21 Federal Budget. Among the proposed changes, he announced income tax savings and superannuation reforms. Read on for a round-up of the proposals, and a look at how they might affect your household expenses …