Market Update 8 July 2022 Investment markets & key developments Share markets mostly rose over the last week on hopes that central banks will be able to tame inflation without causing a recession. However, it was messy with Eurozone shares – where the risk of recession is greatest – first making a new bear market low earlier in the week. Australian shares followed the global lead higher with very strong gains in IT, consumer …
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 …
The plunge in shares & flow on to super – key things for investors to keep in mind during times of market turmoil Key points Share markets have fallen sharply in recent weeks continuing the plunge that started early this year due to worries about inflation, monetary tightening, recession & geopolitical issues including the invasion of Ukraine. It’s still too early to say markets have bottomed. This will weigh on super returns for this financial …
Market Update 20 May 2022 Investment markets & key developments It was another volatile weak in share markets with worries that rate hikes, cost pressures and Chinese supply disruptions would hit profits after downgrades from some US retailers and tech stocks. This left US and Eurozone shares down, but Japanese, Chinese and Australian shares rose helped by monetary easing in China. In Australia gains in IT, utility and material shares more than offset falls in …
5 big picture implications of the war in Ukraine of relevance for investors – and why are Australian shares holding up better? | AMP Capital Key Points The situation regarding Ukraine is at high risk of getting worse before it gets better for investment markets. The key is how much Russian energy exports are disrupted & whether NATO forces avoid the conflict. Five big picture implications are likely to be: increased geopolitical tensions; reduced …
Market Update 10 December Investment markets & key developments Global share markets rebounded over the past week on indications that Omicron may only be resulting in mild cases. The positive global lead along with continuing RBA dovishness on interest rates also pushed the Australian share market higher for the week led by utilities, retailers, property and energy stocks. Reflecting the risk on tone bond yields, metal prices, oil prices and the $A all rose. The …
Science and medicine appear to be getting the upper hand of coronavirus – implications for investors Key Points There are increasing signs that science and medicine are getting the upper hand against coronavirus: new global cases are in decline; vaccines are working; half the global population and 73% of Australians have had at least one vaccine dose; and there are more treatments for coronavirus. Key to watch will be whether hospitalisations in response to any …
The worry list for shares – how worrying are they? Key Points It’s still too early to say that the pull back in share markets is over. Some of the worries around US fiscal policy and politics, China, global supply constraints and central banks likely have further to run and could see the correction go further. Historically the main driver of whether we see a correction or a mild bear market, as opposed to a …
Market Update 9 July Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets fell over the last week, mainly on the back of worries that a resurgence of new coronavirus cases will derail the global economic recovery. The poor global lead along with the worsening coronavirus outbreak in Sydney necessitating an extension and tightening of its lockdown pushed the Australian share market down with sharp falls in retailers, health, IT and financial shares. Consistent …
Shares have had a very strong rebound since March last year so where are we in the investment cycle? Key points The history of cyclical bull markets in shares suggests that the rebound since last March still has a way to go. But it’s normal for the second 12 months of a cyclical bull market to see slower returns from shares. While shares are vulnerable to a further correction triggered by the spike in …
