Market News Centre 

The Budget: Middle class welfare and negative gearing

David Bryant, shares his thoughts on the upcoming Australian budget. David talks about what he thinks has unfairly been labelled, 'Middle class welfare', as well as negative gearing and how the expected budget changes might effect investors.

Matt Walsh answers questions as part of CBA’s MyWealth panel of experts

As part of a CBA’s MyWealth panel of experts, Matt Walsh, General Manager Specialised Products and Head of Lifeplan, answers the question:

I want to retire in 10 years but only have $80,000 in my super fund. What can I do to increase the amount of money I have to retire on?

David Bryant's Market Outlook Video

In the first of a series of videos, AUI CEO David Bryant gives his predictions for 2013 calendar year.

By Evan Erlanson, CIO Seres Asset Management, writes in IFA Magazine that since 2008, Asian equity indices have decoupled from economic fundamentals as formerly dominant industries decline in significance and state capitalism becomes less viable.

As Chris Smith, head of Healthcare & Retirement Property Funds at AUI, writes in The Private Ptractice Magazine, investors who are looking to dip back into the markets would be well advised to take a look at the burgeoning healthcare property sector, which offers a number of intangible benefits.

Don Williams, CIO Platypus Asset Management, says despite the future of the global economy still looking uncertain, the Australian sharemarket continues its cautious rally.

Hope for a continuing rally of the Australian sharemarket

Anna Kassianos from Platypus Asset Management tells us while there’s been much talk about the slowdown in China and the ‘end of the resources boom’ which, according to some, may spell disaster for Australia, we’re in the middle of perhaps the first sustainable sharemarket rally since the global financial crisis began. 

Chris Smith, head of healthcare and retirement property funds at AUI, says despite many people still concerned about their financial situation and wellbeing, the healthcare sector is bucking the trend of financial pessimism.

Some Certainty Returning to Markets

Don Williams, chief investment officer at Platypus Asset Management, says that while many things still remain uncertain in the financial and economic environment globally, Platypus is starting to feel slightly more definite about some aspects of financial markets.

Déjàvu all over again

Don Williams, chief investment officer at Platypus Asset Management believes that while some steps have been made in the right direction in Europe, much more needs to be done.

It’s a case of ‘same old, same old’. Bad news from Europe and the US, concerns about China’s growth, the stubbornly high Australian dollar, a seemingly endless stream of profit downgrades, and ongoing political drama domestically, means that we expect very little to change in the short-term – i.e. the next six months or so.

A guide to interest rate hedging for direct property funds 

The ingredients for a successful direct property fund sound simple enough. But with borrowings often making up somewhere between 30 and 60 per cent of a Fund’s total assets, how a Fund’s borrowings are managed can also be an important contributor to its performance.

Reserve Bank concedes lower interest rates needed to support equity market

Simon Bonouvrie, portfolio manager at Platypus Asset Management, writes that equity markets globally are continuing to be supported by low interest rates and a lack of attractive alternatives, with our local market marking its fifth successive monthly increase.

Seeking idiosyncratic returns in Asian markets 

Evan Erlanson, chief investment officer at Seres Asset Management, explains how the early days of 2012 provided attractive opportunities to focus on undervalued cyclicals as investor sentiment shifted from extreme risk aversion to acceptance of a ‘less bad’ global growth outlook. However, in the months that followed, uncertainty reasserted itself in Europe and China.

Equities still the best game in town

Don Williamson, chief investment officerPlatypus Asset Management, explains that while this time last year, the faintly positive start for equity markets for 2011 was beginning to falter due to events around the wolrd, now it seems much more likely solid market performance since the start of the year will continue.

Fixed Income needs more fluid thought

Chris Dickman, portfolio manager at Altius Asset Management, believes one outcome of the global financial crisis (GFC) and the following debt crisis in the United States and Europe is that most investors have had to review portfolio construction, and as a result have adopted a much more defensive position.

Surprise-free reporting season means steady markets

Don Williams, chief investment officer at Platypus Asset Management, writes that despite the recent sell-off, the steady, upbeat start to 2012 seems set to continue as we reach the end of the first quarter of the calendar year, with no major surprises during reporting season to rock the boat.

Investing in the global economic recovery:a view from Asia

Evan Erlanson, Seres Asset Management Chief Investment Officer, writes that while last year was challenging for active equity managers in Asia and emerging markets in general, Seres sees it as a short-term trend caused mainly by recent developed world political uncertainty and flight to perceived quality and liquidity.

Slow but steady recovery still on the cards

Platypus's Don Williams believes that with 2012 well underway and reporting season upon us, global and domestic economic and financial data continue to be relatively upbeat, particularly when compared to the ‘doom and gloom’ scenarios predicted by many at the end of last year.

Global uncertainty, but commercial property foundations in good shape for 2012

At Australian Unity Investments, we continue to hold a positive and optimistic outlook for the commercial property sector, which is well supported by the relative strength of the Australian economy.  The wildcard, however, remains the volatility and uncertainty that dominated global investment markets in 2011.

Good opportunities remain in bond markets

Chris Dickman, portfolio manager at Altius says the performance of the Australian bond market caught many by surprise in 2011. The strength of support from international investors and central banks for our market was virtually unprecedented and resulted in Australian government bond yields touching lows not seen for decades.

Equities the new black, as certainties crumble

Chad Padowitz, chief investment officer at Wingate says for the first time in decades there is no such thing as a sure bet in investment markets. Of course, in reality there never was, but in investors’ minds the perception will crumble for good this year.

Get set for more of the same 

Prasad Patkar, portfolio manager at Platypus Asset Management writes in IFA magazine that last year was difficult for investors, and is likely to carry through to this year. But it’s certainly not all doom and gloom, he explains, with the situation having improved quite a bit from the start of the third quarter of 2011.