Inflation – Recap When an economy is growing and unemployment is low, inflation is an expected by-product. Low unemployment means businesses compete harder for workers, gradually leading to wage growth. Wage growth then means people have more money to spend on goods and services (i.e. demand). When rising demand outpaces supply, the price of these […]

This quarter has been defined by macroeconomic factors over and above business fundamentals, which occurs periodically when there is a large shift in the macroeconomic environment. Two factors have dominated this year: Concern over interest rate hikes around the world, particularly the US, which accounts for most of the market value on global share markets; […]

On 10 February, The Treasury Laws Amendment (Enhancing Superannuation Outcomes for Australians and Helping Australian Businesses Invest) Bill 2021 was passed by both Houses of Parliament and received royal assent on 22 February. The legislation, which will take effect from 1 July 2022, included a bill which removes the work test for non-concessional and salary […]

This year marks the 20th anniversary since Treasurer John Kerin first introduced to Parliament the idea of compulsory superannuation guarantee payments by employers1. No doubt superannuation has evolved since this time to become a centre piece for most household’s investible asset base. A number of welcomed amendments to the superannuation provisions will come into effect […]

Note: Results referring to percentage changes (increases/decreases) relate to the previous corresponding period (pcp), e.g. Q3FY22 results are compared to those of Q3FY21. Australian Share Portfolio Amcor PLC (AMC:AU)1 Share price 9/3/2022: $15.01 Result H1FY22 Revenue US$6.93bn, an increase of 2% (constant currency) NPAT US$427m, a rise of 2.5% (constant currency) Key points Rising costs […]

The information in this article is current as at 2 January 2022. Welcome to our Economic Market and Outlook – January 2022. This edition covers the following topics: Rising economies and higher interest rates in the international economy This article discusses how the rising inflation rates and higher interest rates internationally could lead to a […]

The information in this article is current as at 2 January 2022. Part 1: Overview Over the past 20 years China has managed one of the fastest sustained expansions by a major economy in history. It has risen to become both an economic and military superpower. Yet it has become clear that part of the […]

The information in this article is current as at 2 January 2022. Part 1: Overview The Australian economy bounced back strongly to finish 2021. Consumer and business sentiment both remain elevated and above pre-pandemic levels while services such as hospitality are recovering as lockdowns ended. A new coronavirus variant, Omicron, poses some concerns but the […]

The information in this article is current as at 2 January 2022. Overview The S&P/ASX 200 Total Return Index returned 3.8% over the six months and 17.2% over the twelve months to 31 December 2021. Outlook Recommendation: Downgrade to neutral. The Australian sharemarket continues to trade near record highs and many companies screen as fully-valued […]

The information in this article is current as at 2 January 2022. Overview The MSCI World (ex-Australia) Accumulation Index (AUD) returned 11.7% over the six months and 30.1% over the twelve months to 31 December 2021. Outlook Over the next 12 months we expect corporate earnings will continue to grow, but at a slower pace […]