How Australia’s perceptions of wealth are changing in the 2020s For decades, Australians have associated wealth with home ownership. As our country has become more diverse and inclusive, and individual Australians achieve greater freedoms, these ideas are changing. A recent studyi by AMP highlights how our definition of ‘wealthy’ is shifting – and how your bank, super fund and adviser can help you achieve wealth, no matter what that means to you. Home ownership and financial …
Australia’s productivity challenge – why it matters and what to do about it Key points The last twenty years have seen a sharp slowdown in productivity growth in Australia from over 2% pa to around 1.2% pa. This has adversely affected growth in living standards and real wages. It will adversely affect asset class returns if allowed to persist. Policies to boost productivity growth include: labour market reforms; more skills training; ongoing high levels of …
Australia’s Achilles’ heel – high household debt and rising interest rates…it’s not as bad as it looks, but it’s still an issue Key points Australian household debt has risen dramatically since the 1980s and is high compared to other countries. The rise is not as bad as it looks because it’s been matched by rising wealth and debt servicing problems are low. However, this will likely change as interest rates rise further & if …
Australia’s new Government – what does it mean for investors? Key points The absence of significant macro policy differences between the new Labor Government and the Coalition suggests minimal impact on the share market & the $A. There could be some short-term uncertainty if Labor has to rely on minority parties or independents, but its looking like Labor will be able to govern in its own right. The key economic challenges for the new Government …
Capitalising on the COVID-19 recovery Australia’s strong economic recovery has certainly been interrupted by lockdowns across the country, but despite this short-term pain, we believe the economic momentum following the re-opening will bode well for commercial real estate and those investors able to find value from both traditional and alternative real estate sectors. It may feel like a surprising statement with many still in lockdown and case numbers stubbornly high, but we believe the time …
Big-spending Federal Budget set to spur on the recovery The 2021 Federal Budget harks back to the immediate post GFC budgets in some ways, with the Treasurer resisting any temptation to start early on the task of budget repair and doubling down on stimulus. The government has announced $96 billion of extra spending over the next four years, but the run of deficits will still be lower than was predicted last October, making this a …
Still The Lucky Country – five reasons why Australian shares are likely to outperform in the year ahead Key points Australia continues to perform better in “controlling” coronavirus, it has a stronger economic support policy response, its major trading partners in Asia are in better shape, the drag from the mining bust is over and it should benefit from a cyclical global recovery in 2021. This is likely to result in a stronger recovery for …
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 …
