Market Update 29 October Investment markets & key developments Share markets were mixed over the past week – up in the US and Europe on strong US earnings results, but down in Japan, China and Australia. The Australian share market was hit by interest rate fears after a stronger than expected underlying inflation result and signs the RBA may be becoming more hawkish. Bond yields fell in the US and Europe but rose in Australia with …
Market Update 22 October Investment markets & key developments US shares made it to a new high in the past week helped by strong earnings results and good economic data, and Chinese shares rose but European and Japanese shares pulled back slightly. The positive US lead also saw Australian shares rise helped by reopening optimism led by gains from property, IT, retail and financial shares. Bond yields resumed their upswing with 10-year bond yields in the …
Market Update 15 October Investment markets & key developments Global share markets mostly rose over the last week helped by a good start to the US earnings reporting season, solid economic data and US inflation data not being as bad as feared. The positive global lead also saw Australian shares rise led by materials, IT, health and property stocks. Bond yields pulled back a bit after their recent rise but oil, metal and iron prices rose …
Market Update 8 October Investment markets & key developments Global shares mostly rose over the last week as the US debt ceiling was pushed out to December and there was some easing in concerns regarding the European energy crunch. The positive global lead saw Australian shares rebound led by energy, utility, financial and material shares. Consistent with a bit of “risk on” along with still rising inflation concerns bond yields continued to rise as did oil, …
Superannuation and divorce Whatever the age, separation and divorce can be a stressful and painful experience. According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies[1], the divorce rate has been trending down in the 2000s. However, the proportion of couples divorcing who had been married for 20 years and longer has been increasing, with one age group 55-59 doubling over the last two decades. This rising trend is referred to as “grey divorce” or “silver splitters”, …
Market Update 1 October Investment markets Global shares fell over the past week amidst a long worry list including the US debt ceiling, the impact of power shortages on global inflation and growth and rising bond yields. This saw Australian shares fall too with health, IT and property stocks leading the decline. As a result September lived up to its name of being a bad month for shares with the month seeing US shares down -4.8%, …
Why is Australian housing so expensive and what can be done to improve housing affordability? Key Points The key drivers of poor housing affordability and high household debt levels in Australia have been low rates and poor housing supply. Macro prudential controls to slow home lending now look imminent. But this is just a cyclical measure. More fundamental measures to improve housing affordability need to focus on boosting housing supply and decentralising away from …
Market Update 24 September Investment markets Global shares fell sharply early in the week but then rebounded as fears around China Evergrande receded and the Fed meeting was out of the way. This saw US, European and Chinese shares rise for the week, but Japanese shares fell. Australian shares also fell despite a mid-week rally as the weak iron price weighed on miners which along with falls in financial and property shares more than offset big …
Market Update 17 September Investment markets Global shares were mixed over the last week with US and Japanese shares up, European shares flat and Chinese shares down. US shares were helped by stronger than expected activity data and softer inflation, but Chinese shares were hit by a further slowing in Chinese data and concerns about Evergrande Group. Australian shares fell with solid gains in energy and property shares offset by sharp falls in mining stocks on …
Five reasons why the Australian dollar is likely to resume its upswing over the next 12 months Key Points Since its February high of around $US0.80 the $A the $A has fallen on the back of global growth concerns, a slowdown in China and the Delta outbreak in Australia. However, there is good reason to expect the $A to resume its rising trend: sentiment towards the $A is negative; global growth is likely to …
