Christmas has come early for the bank’s shareholders with the decision to slightly increase the 2024 dividend – despite a single-digit decline in the net profit and cash earnings.
Beating the market benchmark is never easy, with 72 per cent of Australian actively managed global equity general funds trailing the S&P World Index in the six months to June 30, 2024. Domestic equity funds performed slightly better, albeit against a significantly lower bar set by the S&P/ASX 200 Index.
Frydenberg delivers blockbuster budget for investors
Dubbed the ‘Big Spending’ budget, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivered a 2021-22 budget that is aimed at providing further support to the economy and the post-pandemic recovery. The Government’s 2020 delivery sets the scene for an increase in spending intended to drive economic growth, create new jobs and reduce unemployment below 5%. Once reached, budget repair begins.
For now, the economy is likely to receive another sugar-hit in the form of a Low- and Middle-income earner tax offset ($1080), as the Government keeps its finger on the fiscal stimulus button and spends another $96 billion of its $104 billion gain. With rates at near-record lows, the idea is to spend so that the engine keeps humming. The best way to repair the budget is to spend, spend until you’re earning more than enough to repay your debt with ease.
The purpose of this article is to identify ASX listed “Budget winners”; that is, stocks stand to benefit from the big-spending budget. Overall, the budget will provide a general boost to confidence and corporate earnings on the back of these stimulus measures, but the focus is squarely on energy, infrastructure, and healthcare. Winners from this budget highlighted by industry experts include:
