Assessing risk: low probability, high impact events

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Risk is a word that generally tends to be thought of in a negative light. However, in the investment world risk is a necessary part of investing and cannot be

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Europe’s crisis response stirs danger of deflation

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Greece, as is often the case, is a bellwether for all that is going wrong in Europe. Among the latest woes for an economy that has contracted for six years

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Inflation or Deflation: Are we about to find out?

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Avid readers of The van Eyk View and our other publications know all too well the importance we give to inflation regimes as predictors of future returns. In fact, in

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Big issues for 2011

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Has consumer spending fundamentally changed? Is the US economy about to take off? Will China continue to dominate? Will the Aussie dollar be stronger for longer? How high will interest

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Weekly market & economic update – 26 November 2010

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Headline developments of the past week While there was good news at the start of the week in terms of Ireland agreeing to accept a bailout from the European Union

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Weekly market & economic update – November 19 2010

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Headline developments of the past week Worries about Europe’s debt problems and tightening in China were again key issues for investors over the last week, and had the effect of

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Reserve Bank takes a punt

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Reserve Bank Board meeting For the first time in six months the Reserve Bank has elected to increase official interest rates, lifting the cash rate by 25 basis points to

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Deflation reigns: Bonanza for consumers

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Consumer Prices There are more goods falling in price currently than at any time over the past decade. In the June quarter 33 items were cheaper than a year ago

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Investor Signposts: Week beginning October 17 2010

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The big picture There is no doubt that there is only one game in town – one ‘hot button’ issue, if you like – and that’s quantitative easing. In essence

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