Econosights: Coronavirus and migration – impacts to Australia from lower population growth | AMP Capital

Econosights: Coronavirus and migration – impacts to Australia from lower population growth Key points Australia’s headline economic growth outperformance (relative to global counterparts) over the past decade has been flattered by high population growth (driven by net migration) over the past decade A fall in net overseas migration into Australia means lower population growth and a hit to GDP growth in the next few years. But this is unlikely to become a permanent change unless …

Australian dollar rallies but Coronavirus and economy will dictate its direction | AMP Capital

Australian dollar rallies but Coronavirus and economy will dictate its direction The rise of the Australian dollar has been a notable feature of fast-changing markets over the past few months. Since the currency hit a low of US55 cents in March, the peak of the coronavirus crisis, it has rallied more than 20 per cent. It is no coincidence the Aussie dollar’s low in March correlated with the weakest point for share markets and its …

How worried should investors be about a “second wave” of Coronavirus cases? | AMP Capital

How worried should investors be about a “second wave” of Coronavirus cases? Key points A serious second wave of coronavirus cases in major developed countries is the biggest risk facing equity markets, and one investors will need to watch closely. However, provided any second wave is relatively mild in terms of pressure on health systems and deaths, its unlikely to cause the economic and investment market havoc seen a few months ago. As such, our …

Market Update 29 May 2020 | AMP Capital

  Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets continued to rally strongly over the past week as economic reopening in developed countries and stimulus measures continued but worries about an escalation in US/China tensions saw gains reduced late in the week. Despite taking a bit of a hit on Friday from worries about US/China tensions, the Australian share market made it to a new recovery high with particularly strong gains in banks, …

Market Update 01 May 2020 | AMP Capital

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 …

Working in retirement | Money & Life

Working in retirement Work Bonus is an incentive for pensioners to work past retirement age. It allows pensioners to earn more from working each fortnight before their pension payment rate starts to reduce. Retirement can often feel like a lifetime coming. But once you actually get there, it can be both exciting and a little bit daunting. It’s a major life adjustment, and particularly so if you’ve spent decades in the workforce. It’s important to …

Blinded by optimism

Blinded by optimism We’re designed to believe bad things won’t happen but it pays to think clearly and put plans in place, ahead of time. Behavioural science reveals that it’s in our nature to believe bad things won’t happen to us in the future, even if we’re accustomed to bad things occurring in the past. It may be illogical but it’s something we’re hardwired for according to the experts—it’s a phenomenon known as the human …

What’s your biggest obstacle to financial success?

What’s your biggest obstacle to financial success? Science reveals how our human-hardwiring can get in the way and cost us much more than we think. As humans we have changed a lot over time. Vast periods of time have seen us adapt and evolve—from hunting for food to ordering online and as our behaviour has changed, our brains have developed. But even though we no longer live in caves, some of our ancient hardwiring still …

How to Give Saver’s Block the Boot

How to Give Saver’s Block the Boot Are you suffering from saver’s block? If you don’t know if you are or not, we will list two of the most common symptoms associated with saver’s block. Lack of ideas or never ending to-do lists are two symptoms that lead to saver’s block. The most prominent sign that you have saver’s block is that you lack the ability to save money. Money, at this point, is not …