Insights To Get You Started
Biden versus Trump - the next big event for investors
The US election is only a couple of weeks away. Markets are now paying close attention to it for several reasons. First, Joe Biden is proposing higher taxes and more regulation. Second, the proximity of the election made worse by the move to replace Justice Ginsberg may have reduced prospects for needed fiscal stimulus. Third, increased use of postal voting could mean it will take longer before the outcome is known. Finally, President Trump’s scorn for postal voting (which polls show 45% of Biden voters plan to use versus 10% of Trump voters!) looks to be setting up a challenge to the result if he loses and his refusal to guarantee a peaceful transfer, adds to the uncertainty.
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.
Why are share markets going up?
Markets have surprised on the upside over the last few months, consistently beating investors’ expectations. But is this simply a rally during the start of a more prolonged market downturn, or are we at the start of a new bull market?
How to save money without giving up your daily coffee
We’ve all read the budgeting advice that tells us the only way to save money is to trim all the fat from our spending. The key to wealth, we’re told, is to give up our morning coffee and our magazine subscriptions and to start taking our lunch to work in a brown paper bag.
But surely the point of saving is to let us live the lives we want, not to sap our lives of everything we enjoy. That’s why we’ve developed these tips for saving money without sacrificing your lifestyle.
6 Key Things to do before you invest in property
Property is a very popular asset class in Australia, but that doesn’t automatically make it the best investment option for everyone. Before you invest in property, make sure you consider these six things.
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
2 Common Cash Flow Patterns
A positive cash flow is one where the amount of money going in exceeds the amount going out. Understanding your cash flow pattern is critical to generating wealth. See if you can identify with either of these common cash flow patterns.
5 rules for investing during the coronavirus outbreak
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of T.Rowe Price and may not reflect the views of BT (part of the Westpac Banking Corporation) or any other company in the Westpac Group.
By Justin Thomson, Chief Investment Officer, International Equities, T.Rowe Price
Extension to JobKeeper announced
The Government has announced an extension of JobKeeper from 28 September 2020. From this date, the flat rate of JobKeeper will reduce, payment tiers will be introduced and ongoing turnover tests for businesses will be used to determine eligibility.
Legislation is necessary to support this measure and the next sitting of Parliament is 24 August 2020.
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.
How to keep your head while keeping your distance
Social isolation can be a challenge, but there are lots of ways to keep your head while keeping your distance.
There are people who are better at the whole social distancing game than others. If you already normally work from home, for instance, you might be laughing into your elbow as you listen to the newly homebound lament that their desire to binge on Netflix on the weekend isn’t so appealing when they can do it 24/7.
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.