2022 – a list of lists regarding the macro investment outlook Key Points 2021 saw strong investment returns with low volatility. 2022 is likely to see more constrained returns with increased volatility. Watch: coronavirus and vaccines; inflation; the US mid-term elections; China issues; Russian tensions with Ukraine and the west; & the Australian election. Introduction Despite a wall of worry with coronavirus and inflation, 2021 was a great year for diversified investors, with average balanced …
Market Update 30 July Investment markets and key developments over the past week Despite some concerns about Chinese regulatory tightening early in the week and ongoing worries about coronavirus US and European shares rose over the last week helped by strong earnings results in the US and strong data in Europe. Japanese and Chinese shares fell though with regulatory issues weighing on the latter. The positive US lead helped push the Australian share market …
Market Update 01 April 2021 Investment markets and key developments over the past week While US shares fell fractionally over the last week despite a bounce in tech stocks, Eurozone, Japanese and Chinese shares rose. Australian shares also fell fractionally over the last week with strong gains in industrial and material shares being offset by weakness in utilities, energy, retail and health care stocks. Bond yields generally rose slightly but metal, iron ore and oil …
How unrest in the US is playing out in markets Undoubtedly, the storming of the Capitol Building in Washington DC will go down as a dark mark in US history – not only due to the tragic loss of life which followed. The events of January 6 are a significant indication of social and political tensions in the country at the moment, stirred by President Trump’s dissatisfaction at his loss to Joe Biden in last …
Expect slower medium-term returns Key points The continuing decline in investment yields on the back of falling interest rates and bond yields has seen our medium term (5 to 10 year) return projections for a diversified mix of assets fall to around 4.8% pa. At least it’s still better than sub 1% bank deposit returns. The key for investors is to have realistic return expectations, allow that inflation is also low and focus on assets …
Market Update 03 July 2020 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Despite ongoing concerns about coronavirus most major share markets saw solid gains over the last week helped by good economic data, positive vaccine news and policy stimulus. Japanese shares fell but US shares rose 4% in a holiday shortened week, Eurozone shares rose and Chinese shares surged above their pre-coronavirus highs. The strong global lead also helped the Australian share market overcome …
Market Update 01 May 2020 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Despite sharp falls late in the week, share markets rose over the past week as whole as news of an easing in lockdowns continued. While the Australian share market pulled back sharply on Friday led by material and property stocks, it still saw a solid gain for the week as energy, IT and consumer discretionary stocks soared. The pullback late in the …
Planning, not panic: managing retirement portfolios through the pandemic Despite the recent wild ride for markets coping with the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, many investors are well-versed in the need to “sit tight”. They understand that moving out of positions in falling markets risks crystallising losses at the bottom and missing out on the recovery. For retirees it’s not so simple, where portfolios are particularly vulnerable to sequencing and behavioural risks that are not …
