Weekly market update – week ending 5 August, 2016

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Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets mostly pulled back over the last week. Profit taking after the strong gains seen in July were part of... Read more continue reading

The impact of Bank of England rate cut

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The Bank of England (BoE) last Friday announced that it had cut rates to 0.25% – a new low in the Bank’s 322 year history. The move was well-flagged and fully... Read more continue reading

Australian business confidence jumps to highest level in over five years

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Business confidence rose by nine points this quarter, to now sit at the highest level in more than five years among Australia’s small and medium businesses (SMBs), according to the... Read more continue reading

The Fed: Silent on September

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When Fed Chair Janet Yellen spoke in Cambridge, Mass. on 27 May, she outlined conditions to justify a rate hike: “The economy is continuing to improve … growth looks to be... Read more continue reading

Slide in prices of imported consumer goods

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International trade prices Export & import prices: Import prices fell by 1.0 per cent in the June quarter and were down 2.8 per cent on a year ago. Prices of... Read more continue reading

Inflation falls to the lowest level in 17 years

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Consumer price index Low inflation: The Consumer Price Index – the main measure of inflation in Australia – rose by 0.4 per cent in the June quarter, in line with... Read more continue reading

Megatrends impacting investment markets

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Key points Key megatrends relevant for investors are: slower growth in household debt; the backlash against economic rationalism & rise of populism; geopolitical tensions; aging and slowing populations; low commodity... Read more continue reading

Lowest July petrol price in 11 years

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Weekly petrol prices Retail petrol: According to the Australian Institute of Petroleum, the national average Australian price of unleaded petrol rose from 2½-month lows in the latest week, up by... Read more continue reading

CommSec State of the States – July 2016

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Overall results How are Australia’s states and territories performing? Each quarter CommSec attempts to find out by analysing eight key indicators: economic growth; retail spending; equipment investment; unemployment; construction work... Read more continue reading

Weekly market update – week ending 22 July, 2016

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Investment markets and key developments over the past week It’s now four weeks since the Brexit panic on June 24 and since then US and European shares are up 6%,... Read more continue reading