Investors started 2018 full of hope, with the global economy and financial markets in good shape. But by year’s end they were uncertain and a little anxious about what lay ahead. Markets responded with last minute falls across all asset classes. The issues that weighed heavily were the unresolved trade dispute between the US and […]
Things are looking up for first home buyers for the first time in years as house price growth begins to slow across the country. While prices have been on the slide for some areas in the West and the North since the end of the mining boom, the housing market in Sydney and Melbourne also […]
It’s been a decade since the market crash known as the Global Financial Crisis rocked the investment world. At the time investors could only watch in disbelief as 50 per cent was wiped off the value of their shares. Arguably, the actions those investors took are still reverberating today. Which begs the question: what are […]
Retirement Villages are marketed as being the optimum lifestyle choice for recent retirees. Often in ideal locations with all the facilities for a stress-free lifestyle. But with complex fee structures and inconsistent regulation, retirement village living should be approached with caution. Before becoming emotionally attached to the idea of living next to a golf course or an ocean. […]
One of the major themes for local investors in 2018 is the fall in the Australian dollar, and it’s not just Aussie travellers heading overseas who are affected. Currency movements can have a big impact on your investment returns, but where there’s risk there’s also opportunity. The Aussie dollar has dropped from a high of […]
It’s almost a decade since the global financial crisis created havoc in financial markets. While the global economy continues to show signs of recovery, political uncertainty in Europe and the United States is creating fresh confusion on global markets as investors wait to see how current events play out. It started just over a year […]
Summary The Reserve Bank of Australia Board met on 2 May 2017 and left the official cash rate on hold at 1.5%. There has been no change in the official cash rate since August 2016. The Federal Government released its 2017/18 Budget, resetting its Budget and economic narrative to focus on “fairness, security and opportunity”. The Australian […]
Getting the right balance Treasurer Scott Morrison’s first budget of the Coalition’s second term in office marked a significant shift in tone from the tough stance of its three previous budgets. Gone is the mantra of debt and deficit. Instead the Treasurer has balanced the government’s resolve to live within its means with promises to […]
Summary The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Board met on 7 March 2017 and as widely expected, left the official cash rate on hold at 1.5%. There has been no change in the official cash rate since August 2016. The strength in the housing market was reinforced by March month end figures from CoreLogic showing […]
Summary The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Board met on 7 February 2017 and as widely expected, left the official cash rate on hold at 1.5%. There has been no change in the official cash rate since August 2016. The S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index rose by 2.3% during February, with strong gains in the first […]