Markets

Hamish Douglass this week presented his ‘The Year of Living Dangerously Webinar’, to thousands of investors and followers across the country. There were no crowds or pyrotechnics, just what appeared to be another Zoom call from Magellan’s Sydney offices. But what the session may have lacked in technology, it delivered in terms of content, analysis…

GDP smashes expectations, ASX rises, economic activity expands  The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) continued its winning ways gaining 0.8% on Wednesday following the release of Australian economic growth results this morning. GDP growth for the December quarter smashed all expectations hitting 3.1% and making Australia one of the fastest growing developed nations in the world. Economists and other experts…

RBA comments push market lower, energy, iron ore prices fall, A2 Milk jumps 8% The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) gave up a strong open, trading as much as 1% higher, to finish down 0.4% for the day. With reporting season having come to an end, investors are now watching economic and central bank data intensely for any signs of…

ASX to open higher, strong US lead, Commonwealth Bank (ASXLCBA) hit with ASIC investigation The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) finished 1.7% higher to start the week, rebounding quickly from Friday’s so-called ‘bloodbath’. Once again, market volatility was met with reassuring language from central banks and positive news around the vaccine rollout. The Reserve Bank of Australia confirmed that they would be…

There are a plethora of reasons for advisers to dismiss Bitcoin and other crypto assets as a worthy holding in clients’ investment portfolios. For one, they’re for the most part unregulated. To say they’re volatile is an understatement. Let’s not forget the serious fraud and theft concerns that accompany it. But crypto is here to…

Global markets drop, ASX200 down most in five months, Orica (ASX:ORI) and Afterpay (ASX:APT) smashed The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) fell 2.4% on Friday, the worst daily fall in five months, taking the weekly performance down 1.8% but still managed to deliver a 1% return for February. On Friday it was all about tech or anything that has benefitted…

ASX bounces back, BNPL reports, Ramsay (ASX:RHC) reinstates dividend  The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) finished 0.8% higher following a strong US lead overnight, with healthcare and materials leading the way, up 1.7% and 1.4% respectively. Ramsay Healthcare (ASX:RHC) was the standout, jumping 7.7% after reinstating their dividend at 48.5 cents per share. The private hospital operator reported a ‘resilient’ result,…

High iron ore prices are unlikely to have escaped the attention of Australian investors given the inevitable BHP or RIO holdings. Commodities, in general, have left many other traded goods in their dust over the past twelve months. Lumber, pulp, rubber and chemicals have been joined by gas prices to take the IHS Markit Material…

According to Martin Currie chief investment officer Reece Birtles, the timing “could not be better for ‘value’ stocks.” This is a theme reiterated by the likes of Andrew Clifford of Platinum Asset Management this week, who described markets as being gripped with “speculative mania in high-growth stocks” in a world that has “gone crazy.” Birtles’…

ASX on the cusp of five months of gains, Seek (ASX:SEK) sold off on split, energy sector boom The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) rallied 0.9% on Tuesday, overcoming a weak start with the energy and oil sector powering the market higher. Woodside Petroleum (ASX:WPL) and Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) added 5.7% and 3.6% respectively after the oil price gained 4% overnight on signs…

ASX200 lower on bond rates, Crown (ASX:CWN) to face commission, Costa Group (ASX:CGC) boosted by avocados  The ASX200 finished 0.2% lower on a mixed day for the market, with resources and materials leading the way adding 2.6% ahead of a bumper dividend season. Most of the weakness came from the healthcare and IT sectors as the 10-year…

During times of fear, investors often become irrational. As the coronavirus pandemic swept through the globe, fear and uncertainty rose, and investors began selling equities looking for shelter, often parking funds in cash until times were better. The problem with holding cash is its susceptibility to inflation, which erodes its value over time. During times…