Companies’ profits generally better than expected
Investment market update (for the quarter ended 28 Feb, 2021)
Global equity markets generally surged into the end of 2020, paused for breath in January, but kicked on again in February. Reporting season, when companies...
Equities surged as last year ended
Investment market update (for the quarter ended 31 Jan, 2020)
Global equity markets surged in November and December last year fuelled by two key events: (1) positive progress on Covid-19 vaccines, and (2) the outcome...
Equity markets rally to year-end highs
Global equity markets rallied to end the year strongly as confidence in a vaccine-led recovery in 2021 grew.
Defensive options in New Zealand
Investment market update (for the quarter ended 31 Oct, 2020)
October capped off a good quarter for the New Zealand equity market, with the earnings reporting season signalling better than expected results for many companies.
The...
Taking stock
Investment market update (for the quarter ended 30 Sep, 2020)
Stock markets have delivered a second successive quarter of strong gains. The performance of financial asset prices since March has surprised just about everyone. This...
Evidence of a V-shaped recovery
Investment market update (for the quarter ended 31 Aug, 2020)
The global pandemic is not yet behind us. People in the northern hemisphere have been enjoying their summer holidays at the same time that infection...
The global pandemic continues
The US has struggled to contain a widespread outbreak across many states, with new outbreaks having also occurred in parts of Europe, the UK, Australia, and Japan.
Virus-economy tug-of-war
Most countries are grappling with the tension between curbing the health effects of Covid-19 and minimising the economic damage of restrictions and lockdowns.
Pandemic infects global economy
Covid-19 has undoubtedly been the most dramatic black swan or unexpected shock since the 9/11 terrorist attack.
Pandemic infects the global economy
COVID-19 has undoubtedly been the most dramatic “black swan” or unexpected shock since the 9/11 terrorist attack. The threat has rapidly shifted from an outbreak in China, where the principal economic concern was the impact of Chinese manufacturer shutdowns on the rest of the world, to a global pandemic.
Gearing up for life after COVID-19
Financial markets have staged a remarkable recovery since the depths of the sell-off a month ago.
Covid-19 – Market contagion?
Market Update (Please note this column was prepared on 17 March, 2020)
In the last few weeks global sharemarkets have substantially retraced their early momentum for the month of January and the latter stages of...
Optimistic start for investment markets
Inflation remains subdued, central banks remain committed to low interest rates, and trade tensions between the US and China have de-escalated
Central Banks committed to low interest rates
Investment Market Update, quarter ended 31 December, 2019. The last quarter of 2019 heralded a stake shift in sentiment within financial markets. The mood lifted from cautiously wary, to a more optimistic outlook for...
The consumer is king
The past quarter saw a substantial improvement in financial market sentiment. At the start of the period recessionary risks were being constantly highlighted.
Central Banks soothe nerves
Investors could understandably be nervous given geopolitical noise, and the resulting volatility they’ve seen in markets over the last quarter.