Why we’re thinking about yield all wrong

Why we’re thinking about yield all wrong No doubt about it, institutions will have an edge over the Average Joe or weekend warrior when it comes to information and investment insights; financial institutions employ the best and brightest and draw on research garnered from all over the world using tools out of the reach of most of us individually. But there are times when it makes sense for individual investors to play to their strengths …

Volatility could present buying opportunities in 2018

Volatility could present buying opportunities in 2018 Volatility and the first meaningful lift in inflation coming from the United States will likely be the main differentiating features in global financial markets in 2018 compared to this year, according to Dr Shane Oliver, AMP Capital’s Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist. The dips in share markets experts anticipated in 2017 are more likely to materialise in the new year, Oliver notes. But with global growth …

How the yield trade is shaping our view of the world

13 December 2017 How the yield trade is shaping our view of the world The so called yield trade – which has pushed investors out along the risk curve into more risky assets seeking income – has trained individuals to think more critically about their assets they include in their investment portfolios, reckons Dr Shane Oliver, AMP Capital’s Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist. Since central banks have dropped interest rates to record low …

Cryptocurrencies – Caution Needed

07 September 2017 Cryptocurrencies – Caution Needed Cryptocurrencies are generating a lot of interest from investors – helped in part by a near 2000 percent in the value of market leader – Bitcoin, but AMP Capital’s Shane Oliver is sitting on the fence.“No matter how many times its explained to me how it works I still struggle to completely understand it,” says Oliver, AMP Capital Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist. “One thing I …

How to make the most of investment and economic research

16 August 2017 How to make the most of investment and economic research In a world where people can be bombarded with information, AMP Capital Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist Shane Oliver recommends taking a strategic approach to investing. “If you are to be a successful investor you have to have an investment process,” says Oliver. The trick, he says, is cutting out the noise and sticking to the fundamentals. AMP Capital’s approach …

Bubbles mean trouble

16 August 2017 Bubbles mean trouble What is a bubble? AMP Capital Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist Shane Oliver puts it down to two main factors. “The first thing is a degree of over valuation. That is a situation where the price of an asset has diverged dramatically from the underlying fundamentals of the asset. Share prices have risen dramatically relative to earnings and dividends, or property prices have risen dramatically compared to …

Diversified funds’ performance – how did they do that?

Diversified funds’ performance – how did they do that? 12 July 2017 Comparing managed funds can be confusing because, contrary to current practices, evaluating performance is not all about returns – it’s also about how much risk you as the end investor took to get there. So how can you measure your fund’s level of risk? Below are four broad indicators to watch for: Exposure to growth assets – this is the most common method of …

Diversifying inside super

Diversifying inside super Find out what it is, how it works and why it matters to you What is diversification? Diversification is a risk strategy that lets you ride the ups and downs of investing. It reduces your exposure to risk, so your investments won’t be as affected by fluctuations in markets. How do you diversify? Investment diversification can be achieved by choosing a mix of: asset classes (cash, fixed interest, bonds, property and shares) …

What to consider when investing in a low return world

What to consider when investing in a low return world Identifying market dislocations is something that requires investment expertise For some investors, volatility matters. When approaching retirement, volatility tends to matter more owing to sequencing risk. In the video below, we assess some considerations for investing in low return world. Share market volatility is expected to remain elevated Investment market volatility is essentially triggered by uncertainty around market fundamentals such as economic growth, earnings, dividends …