Market Update 18 September 2020 | AMP Capital

Market Update 18 September 2020 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets mostly rose slightly over the last week after two weeks of falls helped by reasonable economic data, anticipation of Fed dovishness, positive vaccine news and M&A activity. However, some of the gains were given up later in the week as tech stocks came under renewed pressure and the Fed did less than some had hoped. Despite the volatility Australian shares …

How to identify (and beat) your spending triggers

How to identify (and beat) your spending triggers Are you buying more to perk yourself up? You aren’t alone. Since the start of COVID, there’s been an increase in online shopping1. But, if you want to get a handle on your add-to-cart habit, understanding why you spend money, can help bring your purchasing patterns in line with your financial goals. We often talk about money in terms of dollars and cents, but the subject can …

Tax offsets for low and middle income earners

Tax offsets for low and middle income earners What you need to know about low and middle income tax offsets Currently, there are two tax offsets for low and middle income earners, which could see you pay less in tax, and you might be eligible for both. Paying tax is something most of us are familiar with, but probably something very few of us are excited about. For many low and middle income earners however, …

AMP Foundation’s COVID-19 community boost

Twenty-three charities have shared in $2 million in AMP Foundation COVID-19 Community Boost grants to help them support Australians through these challenging times. Learn more: https://www.amp.com.au/COVIDgrants Original Author: Produced by AMP and published on 17/09/2020 Source

What do July’s strong building approval numbers say about Australia’s growth prospects? | AMP Capital

What do July’s strong building approval numbers say about Australia’s growth prospects? Building approvals in Australia surged by 12% in July, up 6.3% compared to a year ago. This was a much stronger result than consensus expectations of a fall in the order of 2%, and follows a run of better than anticipated numbers since April’s low point. As an important leading indicator of national construction activity, and with implications for the lending sector as …

Market Update 11 September 2020 | AMP Capital

Market Update 11 September 2020   Investment markets and key developments over the past week The equity market correction that started last week, driven by falls in tech stocks, has continued, and has now broadened out to other sectors. US shares are down by 2.6% and the tech-heavy NASDAQ is down by a larger 4% over the week. But, all sectors in the S&P500 fell over the week and energy was down heavily as the oil …

What to do next if you’re facing redundancy

What to do next if you’re facing redundancy Uncertainty around COVID-19 might be increasing your stress levels about losing your job, but here are five ways to soften the financial blow. In April, Australia hit its highest unemployment rate in five years1, and with the Federal Treasurer expecting an unemployment rate of around 10% by the end of the year2, many Aussies may be feeling a little uneasy about their future job prospects. Which sectors …

GDP figures are creeping to Great Depression levels, but there’s more to the story | AMP Capital

  GDP figures are creeping to Great Depression levels, but there’s more to the story   On September 2, gross domestic product (GDP) data for the June quarter confirmed that Australia is experiencing its first recession since 1991. Australia has recorded backwards growth for the second quarter in a row, with Australian GDP falling by 7% in the June quarter. While the figure is better than forecasts a few months ago – about a 10% …

More action out of the RBA this month to support the economy | AMP Capital

More action out of the RBA this month to support the economy   At its September board meeting, the RBA left interest rates on hold, which was no big surprise. The surprise was in the RBA’s announcement of an extension and increase of the cheap funding it provides to the banks. You might recall back in March, the RBA announced a term funding facility, under which it would provide cheap loans to the banks, locked …

5 tips for a better retirement

5 tips for a better retirement It’s never too late to make savvy decisions about your retirement. Retirement is an exciting time. It’s the long-awaited reward for a lifetime of work and, if you’ve planned it correctly, it heralds a life stage synonymous with relaxation and enjoyment. However, to make sure your retirement is everything you’d hoped for, it’s crucial to make smart decisions to help you stick to your financial plan, achieve investment goals …