Investing 101

As Anthony Albanese is sworn in as the new Prime Minister and the Labor Party takes power for the first time in close to a decade, there have been a lot of high profile moves in political circles.

In their latest quarter fixed income outlook, titled ‘Investing Through Inflation and Growth Uncertainty’ global asset manager Neuberger Berman has flagged somewhat of a non-consensus view on the outlook for inflation, growth and fixed income assets.

From the outset, it is important to highlight that I do not disagree that interest rates should be higher than the current ’emergency’ settings by the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Several economists are now expecting the central bank will raise interest rates next week given a jump in inflation to a 21-year high of 5.1%, which would be the first rise in interest rates during an election campaign since November 2007, and coming ahead of several forecast rate rises in the second half of 2022. …

The latest US non-farm payrolls figure saw a rise of 431,000 jobs in March. Despite being a touch below expectations, the 1.7 million rise in jobs for the quarter was seen as a strong indication that the economy was doing well. “It was both positive and negative news,” Jim Caron, portfolio manager and chief fixed…

Markets are poised for more damage after a remarkable bull run, and Orbis Australia believes now is the time when contrarianism will prove its worth. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,” famously wrote Charles Dickens in “A…

The proliferation of data and information has done little to improve the outcomes of self-directed investors. With information on almost any issue and a social media system built to reinforce our own beliefs or views in many cases, making sound investment decisions has never been harder. As an experienced financial adviser, I like to think…

While global sharemarkets have recovered much of the ground lost due to the Ukraine crisis, US Federal Reserve moves and surging energy costs, there is a general feeling that equities remain on the precipice of a bear market, or at the very least, an extended correction. Whether it is our inherent pessimism towards markets, or…

The heat is on, and fund managers are sweating up a storm following heavy share price losses as the crisis in Ukraine deepens. Panicked investors have been offloading shares in any fund management company and this seems to be occurring regardless of performance or capital inflows. Chinese stocks are suffering the same fate, whipping up…

The former Wells Fargo Asset Management, a 52-year-old pioneering US fund manager, has targeted Australia and New Zealand in its new incarnation as an independent global firm. Allspring Global Investments’ regional expansion is being led by new regional chief executive, Andy Sowerby. If history is a guide, the rollout of institutional funds management capabilities will…

Evergreen Ratings has given the OurCrowd 50 Fund a “Commended” rating, highlighting the fund’s strong team of venture capital specialists. Evergreen Ratings is a subsidiary of Evergreen Consultants, and is a leading research house specialising in the analysis of higher-risk specialist wholesale funds. Heading up the OurCrowd team is successful venture capitalist Jonathan Medved, who…

Since Covid-19, Australia’s relationship with China has all but soured, with trade relations between the two countries grinding to a halt, except for iron ore. And yes, a sad state of affairs indeed. Many Australian companies with business operations in or exporting to China were hit hard. But as the old adage goes, “as one…