Economics

The Federal Election may well be remembered as one of the most important and unexpected in history. Whilst many had expected a shift away from the traditional parties, few predicted that as many as one in three voters wouldn’t vote for them at all. The popularity of the major parties is both well into the…

In the wake of Covid lockdowns in Shanghai, investors are being warned to remain alert to shifts in China’s zero covid policy. According to Datt Capital founder and chief investment officer, Emanuel Datt, “China is the engine room of the global economy, and any further extension of lockdowns geographically will weigh heavily on the global…

Only those who completely avoid any sort of media, social or traditional, would not be aware that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) this week hiked rates for the first time in more than a decade. Tuesday’s decision, which moved the cash rate from 0.1 to 0.35 per cent, has reverberated through the markets, however,…

While much of the world is recovering post-Covid, Shanghai has been forced into a Covid lockdown. In a surprising turn of events, the city’s 25 million people were forced into a strict lockdown almost four weeks ago by Government officials to cope with a new wave of Covid. This has since spread to Beijing. The…

The Australian economy has rebounded quickly after the Omicron lockdowns, which saw many predict another technical recession (two consecutive quarters of shrinking GDP) in 2021. With restrictions released, the consumer contributed to a 3.4% jump in economic growth in the December quarter. Consumer spending jumped 6.3%, however, exports fell and private investment reversed due to…

The Chinese property giant is in trouble again, which is no surprise to those who have followed the Evergrande saga. The company was being kept alive by a government rescue operation since it officially defaulted last year, having not paid US$22 billion in bond repayments. This time, Evergrande says it will miss the due date…

ANZ has leapfrogged its competition to become the first bank in the world to mint a stable coin that is pegged to the Australian dollar. A stable coin is a digital asset designed to keep its value stable in relation to another asset. The landmark transaction is a sign of approval and vote of confidence…

The deepening war crisis in Ukraine is showing no sign of abating any time soon, with inflation hitting historical highs as war effects compound inflation triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. BlackRock has released a research note covering its macro and geo-political view. The global asset manager says, “The war in Ukraine has already caused a…

The pandemic combined with the invasion of Ukraine has sent global commodity markets into flux. Commodities ranging from grain to crude oil are surging to near-record levels with 2020’s demand weakness offset by 2022’s significant supply-chain issues. In an environment of growing volatility and inflation, investors are naturally seeking hedges for their portfolios with gold…

As the crisis in Ukraine deepens with Russian troops advancing slowly on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, the war is having a huge effect on two metals: palladium and platinum. Moscow-based Nornickel is the world’s largest producer of palladium and platinum, both of which are used in catalytic converters to clean car exhaust fumes. According to ETF…

Expert investment consultant Angela Ashton of Evergreen Consultants has flagged a return to traditional asset classes amid the first major armed conflict in many years. Commenting on Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine, she looks at history as a guide, highlighting that “markets often sell-off in the lead up to an armed conflict but tend to…

Global asset manager, Nanuk Asset Management, which specialises in sustainability, presented its “Hydrogen or Hamburgers” webinar to investors last week. It was an interesting take on some of the confronting issues, such as the global efforts to address climate change and the realisation that technologies like solar, wind and batteries have widely become a success,…