Investment Market Commentary Global equity markets have performed strongly during the months of December 2012 and January 2013. Some key themes affecting the market are as follows: Australia Australian business confidence increased significantly to +3 (up from -9) in December 2012. The increase is due to the Australian RBA rate cut in December 2012
Commentary “Mixed is perhaps the best way to describe the 2012 investment year. The world’s major economies and economic blocs all had their issues to deal with. Some overcame these issues well while others struggled. With the 2012 U.S. Presidential election victory behind him, Barack Obama will go into 2013 with a major focus on
Australian economic growth appears to be moderating with consensus growth for 2013 being 2.5% pa. Key drags on growth remain the high $A, some new mining projects being cancelled or postponed, slow credit growth and slowing global growth. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is expected to reduce the official cash rate in the next few months to assist in stimulating additional economic activity.
Global share markets have performed strongly for the quarter ending 30 September 2012. Some key developments influencing markets at the moment include: Australian Cash Rate The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has dropped the official cash rate to 3.25% pa mainly due to a softening global economic outlook, slowing growth in China (and the developing world), and the need to stimulate the non-mining sectors of the Australian economy.
Global equity markets continued to be volatile in June 2012. Markets were generally up for the month after a negative month in May 2012. Some key developments influencing markets at the moment include: Fears related to the euro-zone’s debt crisis, eased in June as the pro-austerity party’s victory in the Greek election allayed the fears of
Market Update Global equity markets have performed poorly over April and May due to renewed concerns over Eurozone sovereign debt issues. Key issues remain – will Greece maintain the Euro currency and will Spain be able to continue to meet its debt obligations. Some key developments influencing markets at the moment include: The International Monetary
Market Update Global equity markets continued to perform strongly over February and March boosted by resolution of the latest Greek sovereign debt deal and data indicating that the US economic recovery is gaining some momentum. However, balancing this news has been the slowing of the Chinese economy and a slight reduction in commodity prices which
An insightful article in the Weekend Business edition of the Sydney Morning Herald (10-11 March, 2012) quotes Jeremy Grantham of investment manager GMO (he's the "G" in GMO) quoting from "Investing advice from your Uncle Polonius"; the first part of GMO's latest quarterly newsletter to clients. In it, he espouses valuable strategies to deal with and profit when
Market Update Global markets have kicked off 2012 in a positive fashion. After a poor 2011 there seems to be a cautious optimism flowing through to equity markets. Some significant developments influencing markets at the moment include: US corporate reporting for the quarter ending 31 December 2011 was reasonable, although slightly below expectations. Australian corporate
Market Update The 2011 calendar year was a poor year for equity markets. The ASX 300 returned -11% for the year. During December global equity markets held up largely due to: the EU (excluding UK) agreeing to stricter government deficit rules (to reduce the rate of growth of sovereign debt). US economic indicators pointing to
