Overnight, we received the dramatic news that Donald Trump had been elected president for the second time, the Republicans now appearing to have control across both houses. The US share market rallied to record highs. However, what may appear to be good for America, in terms of market rallies in the shorter term, may not be good in the longer term for the US and the global economy, including us in Australia.
2024 Q3 September Quarter Review
The US Fed moves on rates.
Brief chaos in Japanese market highlights value of long term thinking.
Global and Australian stock gains, with bonds offering good returns.
Strong returns across many sectors, while tech struggles on AI questions.
Australian real estate beginning to ease up with quarterly falls in some capitals.
How to Price Risk
2024 Q2 June Quarter Review
Points of Note:
The US economy continues to be resilient while Europe sees rate cuts.
Slightly negative market returns in Australia.
Positive global returns, but Australian dollar a headwind for unhedged investors.
Market rally narrows back to big tech names.
Australian real estate still strong, but Melbourne & Hobart lag.
2024 Q1 March Quarter Review
Points of note:
Sharemarkets very strong in most developed markets
Market rally in US broadens beyond tech, with Apple and Tesla struggling.
Bonds more mixed with questions over predicted rate moves.
Chinese markets continue to lag, but valuations appear attractive.
Australian property prices & rents continue their upward momentum.
No Country for Old Stock Pickers
In the past, active managers have called index funds lazy, communist, and even evil - a reflection of their frustration as they raged against more and more money flowing to passive strategies at their expense. So what's their future now that the amount of assets managed by passive funds has overtaken those overseen by active funds?
Financial Control
With property prices losing touch with reality in many markets, some children have been leaning on their parents for a deposit, simply just to get access to the market they wouldn’t otherwise be able to crack. It’s something that might be termed a living inheritance. But is physical real estate the only way for young people to set themselves up well financially? As a parent willing to contribute to your son/daughter’s deposit on physical real estate, would you consider, as an alternative, contributing to their investment portfolio?