Economics

The month of May was a volatile one around the world, but ultimately the US markets finished flat and the S&P/ASX200 only slightly lower. This despite one of the most challenging economic backdrops in multiple years and the growing threat of higher interest rates around the world. So, why are markets seemingly rallying? One of…

Inflation concerns continue to rattle markets with the RBA raising rates by 25bps at their May meeting to 35bps. Uncertainty throughout the month saw April fall by 0.8 percent bringing the total year to date (end of April) returns of the ASX 300 Accumulation Index to +10.2 percent. Ausbil Investment Management have released their Equity…

Australian dividends are back to normal. After being battered and bruised during the pandemic, many high-flying dividends were either lowered or pulled as companies feared the worst and bunkered down to save money. High paying bank dividends were slashed after APRA forced lenders to limit payouts to no more than 50% of profits amid recession…

To “Buy the Dip,” or not? There’s a lot of content out there on why this strategy is a bad one and how it traps investors. Done right however, this strategy is one of the few that can generate exponential returns.  Firstly, buying the dip is best done following a black swan event or total…

Leading global macro and geopolitical research house BCA has delivered another consensus challenging research piece this week. Writing in a paper titled ‘Solved: The Mystery of the Oil Price and Inflation Expectations’ challenges the current nature and ballooning expectations of inflation. Drawing on the work of Nobel prize winner Daniel Kahneman, the paper highlights the…

Grocery prices have soared in Australia, rising at a faster pace than the Consumer Price Index, which is benefitting the earnings of Coles and Woolworths. However, the boost could be temporary, with food inflation expected to moderate next year. The rise in inflation globally has exceeded wages growth, eroding households’ purchasing power. Lower income households…

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,…

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…

While markets have so far shrugged off the inevitable rate rises, there’s plenty more to come – and the global outlook keeps getting gloomier. The Federal Reserve’s decision to unleash massive monetary stimulus in the early days of Covid-19 (and in nearly every economic crisis before it) ushered in a brief golden age for markets….

Treasury Josh Frydenberg delivered his long-awaited, pre-election budget this week, seeking to offer respite to a ‘surge’ in the cost of living. The Federal Government, and next Government for that matter, face a difficult challenge in navigating what is likely a short-term surge in inflation and hit to the cost of living, with demands for…