Insights To Get You Started
The 2020 Federal Budget - What it means for you.
Changes to super, the bringing forward of tax cuts, and two lump sum payments to those on the Age Pension are just some of the Government’s proposed measures from the big spending 2020-21 Budget - released by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Tuesday 6 October 2020.
Economic and Market Update August 2020
The progression of COVID-19 and the prospects for a vaccine remain the key drivers of economic activity globally.
The initial stages of economic recovery in the United States, Europe and the Asia-Pacific are proceeding slightly faster than we anticipated. However, localized lockdowns associated with a second wave of infections have the potential to slow the recovery in the second half of the year at the same time that pent-up demand fades.
China is ahead of most of the world in the timetable of its recovery, having been affected by the virus and containment efforts first. Chinese GDP grew by a greater-than-expected 11.5% in the second quarter compared with the first quarter, having contracted by −10% in the first quarter.
Global trade recorded one of the steepest drops ever recorded in the May-June period. Vanguard believes this represents an inflection point and the numbers have since bounced off lows, with our index of leading indicators increasing for a third consecutive month.
Market Update July 2020
HIGHLIGHTS IN JULY
· There was no change to the RBA cash rate
· Credit spreads tightened
· The Australian dollar (AUD) rose 3.17% on a Trade Weighted Index basis
· Australian equities rose again, despite a late month fall
· In commodities, higher iron ore, gold and oil prices offset lower coking coal prices
Extension of JobSeeker Payment Measures
ON 21 JULY 2020, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED ITS INTENTION TO EXTEND INCOME SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO CONTINUE TO ASSIST THEM DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IS EXTENDING THE PAYMENT PERIOD OF ITS TEMPORARY CORONAVIRUS SUPPLEMENT, THE AMOUNT OF THE CORONAVIRUS SUPPLEMENT WILL BE ADJUSTED DURING THE EXTENDED PERIOD TO REFLECT THE GRADUALLY IMPROVING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO IMPROVING INCENTIVES AND GRADUALLY REINTRODUCING OBLIGATIONS FOR PAYMENT RECIPIENTS TO SEEK WORK.
The Financial Year that was
Equities rallied to new highs by early January…
As far as financial markets were concerned, FY20 was “one for the ages”. The financial year started with equities struggling to make headway from July to September in the face of US-China trade tensions and an associated manufacturing slowdown. However, late 2019 saw equities rally as central banks enacted a ‘U-turn’ on monetary policy and US-China trade tensions eased, triggering a global manufacturing recovery. The rally received further fuel in early January when the US and China negotiated a ‘Phase 1’ trade deal, seemingly reducing the risk of a trade war.