market-watch-tag
Investment markets and key developments – Weekly market update 25/09/2026
1 October
Global share markets mostly rose over the last week helped by strong US economic data, a return of AI optimism and renewed hopes for a diplomatic solution to the Strait of Hormuz blockage. For the week US shares rose 1.2%, Eurozone shares rose...[Read More]
Investment markets and key developments – Weekly market update 18/09/2026
24 September
Global sharemarkets had a soft start to the week on concerns of higher oil prices, rising bond yields and a repricing to a more aggressive US Federal Reserve. Most of these factors are still intact. But sharemarkets managed to rally into the end...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Gold at record highs – can it keep going? Implications for investors
18 September
Key points The gold price has surged to record highs. Key drivers have been central banks increasing their gold reserves, rate cuts, a renewed downtrend in the $US and demand for a hedge against public debt worries and geopolitical...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – The Fed looks like it’s going to hike – implications for investors & Australia
17 September
Key points – The Fed is likely to start raising interest rates to combat sticky inflation and affirm its credibility. First Fed rate hikes in a tightening cycle don’t normally signal the end of the bull market in shares but are consistent...[Read More]
Investment markets and key developments – Weekly market update 11/09/2026
17 September
Global share markets fell again over the last week as both oil prices and bond yields pushed higher with more upwards pressure on central bank interest rate expectations. The Australian share market was particuarly hard hit with around a 3%...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – The super cycle bear market in bonds and the return of “bond vigilantes”
10 September
Key points Bond yields are being pushed higher by concerns about inflation, high public debt, rising corporate borrowing, rising Japanese bond yields and increasing economic uncertainty. This is part of a super cycle rise in bond yields that...[Read More]
Investment markets and key developments – Weekly market update – 04/09/2026
10 September
Global share markets were mixed over the last week not helped by worries about rising oil prices and rising bond yields. US shares managed a small rise though as relatively dovish comments by Fed officials Williams and Waller implied that a...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – The Australian home price downturn deepened in August, with more to go
3 September
Key points The slump in national average home prices continued in August with prices down 0.9% according to Cotality, their fifth monthly fall. The fall in July was revised down to -1.2%. Further falls are likely as we continue to expect another...[Read More]
Investment markets and key developments – Weekly market update – 28/08/2026
3 September
Sharemarkets generally pushed higher this week on further signs of a progress in oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, more blockbuster US tech earnings, continued solid US economic data, relatively unchanged bond yields and signs that US...[Read More]
Investment markets and key developments – Weekly market update 21/08/2026
27 August
After record highs in US and European shares a week ago, global shares pulled back in the last week reflecting concerns about rising bond yields, not helped by a further rise in oil prices and some continuing concerns about chip makers. Despite a...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Compound interest and returns are an investor’s best friend
21 August
Key pointsCompound interest is an investor’s best friend but can be a borrower’s worst nightmare.The higher the return, the earlier and bigger the investment contribution and the longer the period the more it works.To make the most of it, ensure...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Why investors need to treat forecasts with caution
20 August
Key points The increasing noise around investing – associated with a messier economic and geopolitical backdrop along with an explosion in information flow and the rise of social media – is arguably accentuating a desire for investment...[Read More]
Investment markets and key developments – Weekly market update – 14/08/2026
20 August
Global share markets mostly rose over the last week helped by good earnings results and some moderation in expectations for Fed rate hikes. For the week US shares rose 0.4% and Eurozone shares rose 0.3% with both making new record highs, and...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – The RBA cuts for the third time – expect a further gradual easing to 2.85%
14 August
Key pointsThe RBA cut its cash rate by 0.25% taking it to 3.6%. This is the third rate cut in this easing cycle.The RBA sees inflation running around target but has revised its growth forecasts down again. Its forecasts assume that the cash rate...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Poor Australian productivity – why all the fuss? And what to do about it?
31 July
Key pointsThe last decade has seen productivity stagnate in Australia. This has curtailed growth in living standards and real wages.Policies to boost productivity include: deregulation; more housing supply; a cap on public spending; and tax...[Read More]