Markets

ASX broadly flat, retail sales decline again, TPW smashed, flat lead The ASX battled to a flat finish on Wednesday, adding 0.1%, with gains in energy and financials offsetting weakness in the consumer sectors.  Retail sales results were released with every state apart from the NT falling in September, national sales were down 1.5%.  This was the second…

ASX lower as mining and financials hit, Afterpay Ltd (ASX:APT) hits $100, RBA Minutes released The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) fell 0.7% on Tuesday, giving back yesterday’s gains on a weaker global lead. Mining, down 1.1% and financials, -1.2%, were the biggest detractors as valuations continue to bite. BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) offered a quarterly production update…

ASX 200 hits seven month high, CSL (ASX:CSL) bounces, Cimic (ASX:CIM) sells Thiess, weaker open ahead The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) rallied 0.9% to start the week, buoyed by the hope of Victorian economic restrictions being lifted at the end of the month.  The index has reached a seven month high as a confluence of domestic…

The mention of emerging markets (EM) opens up a messy vista of many complex and troublesome issues, not least in China, representing the beating heart of EM. Add in a lack of central bank independence, volatile currencies, unpredictable governments and it is little wonder that EM struggles with a risk/return balance. Through to the end…

There was a time, not so long ago, when AMP and the Australian banks dominated the New Zealand wealth management and advice sector. With Westpac confirming sale talks last week (October 16) and AMP’s ongoing sale saga, the locals have largely bought back the farm. Forsyth Barr is set to leapfrog Craigs Investment Partners –…

Another positive week for global markets, property sinks, reality setting in for Atlas Arteria (ASX:ALX) It was another positive week for global markets, the ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) finishing 1.2% higher despite falling 0.5% on Friday. Similarly, US markets have overcome the ‘will they or wont they’ stimulus discussions, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq up 0.2%…

RBA planning more QE, ASX rallies, Virgin CEO out, US markets pare falls The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) rallied 0.5% on a mixed day.  The key result today was a slightly better than expected unemployment result, the rate increasing to 6.9% despite Victoria shedding another 1.1% of jobs.  Queensland stands out with the highest level of unemployment at 7.7%…

I want to discuss a water utility, which may sound as dull as dishwater – but we global real assets investors have never been averse to safe, predictable, and yes, boring companies. The type of company that pays a dividend that is as dependable as a birthday cheque from Grandma. We have specialist in-house capability…

It ends at seven, ASX falls 0.3%, Bank of Queensland surprises, US falls offering weaker lead The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) couldn’t keep its unbeaten run going, falling 0.3% on Wednesday, overcome by a combination of factors.  The materials sector was among the biggest detractors, falling 0.9% after the unexpected announcement overnight that Chinese steel mills were ordered…

Shareholders of Link Administration Holdings (LNK), which provides services to the funds management and superannuation sectors and runs the share registry for many of the S&P/ASX 200 companies, have become the latest group to experience the tailwind that a takeover offer can suddenly blow on to a becalmed share price. Last weekend, a consortium of…

Seventh heaven, China bans coal, Telstra (ASX:TLS) dividend boost, US markets fall The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) reached its highest point in seven months, passing 6,200 points after improving 1.0% on Tuesday. This takes the rally to seven straight days with all sectors except materials finishing higher. The financial sector continues to outperform as economic conditions…

Six days in a row, Link (ASX:LNK) under offer, banking rally, US rally continues The market managed to eke out a six-straight day of gains, finishing 0.5% higher to start the week. The banking sector experienced a late rally adding 1.2% with ANZ Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) the leader. But it was the technology sector that…