Brian Parker, Head of the Portfolio Specialists Group at MLC, gives an update on markets during September. He discusses: why it was generally a disappointing month for share market investors how a range of geopolitical concerns continued to unsettle markets why the European Central Bank took further steps to boost eurozone growth why Australia’s economic…
Nobody likes to dwell on the worst, especially when life is going smoothly. But this is actually the time when you should think about what plans you have in place if you were to get seriously — or even fatally — ill or injured. Thankfully, insurance can go a long way in protecting your family…
The Australian housing sector is doing its part in helping the economy rebalance as mining investment slows. · Thanks largely to a persistent undersupply of new homes, Australian housing remains overvalued. Negative gearing, foreign and SMSF buying are just a sideshow to the supply shortage. · The home buyer market is still not seeing the…
Why have personal insurance? Through your working life, you may have taken out some personal insurance – cover to help give you or any dependants financial security if you were unable to work due to sickness or injury, or if you should become terminally ill or pass away. Common types of personal insurance are: Income…
Who are empty nesters? Empty nesters are a varied group. Many are living with partners, but quite a few live alone. Some own their homes outright, while others are still paying off their mortgage, or renting their home. And while a few are only years away from retirement, many still have a decade or two…
In the last decade, household debt has decelerated quite significantly — down from an average rate of 10% each year in the early 2000s to just 2% at the end of 2013.[1] As a nation, it seems we’ve become far more conscious about our spending and borrowing habits since the Global Financial Crisis. Cutting back…
In this video, Brian Parker, Head of Portfolio Specialists Group at MLC reviews events in markets during August. He discusses: how global share markets have continued to deliver decent returns, despite the uncertain geopolitical environment why the actions of central banks continue to be a key factor driving markets whether improvements in Australia’s non-mining economy…
Highlights Heightened geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to dominate global equit markets. Economic growth in the US remains string, with Q2 GDP revised upwards from 4.0% to 4.2%. European data remains weak, particularly impacted by the Ukraine crisis. A slowdown in Chinese economic growth in Q2 as a result of a…
With quantitative easing set to end next month, the Fed is on track to start raising interest rates next year, most likely in the June quarter. The anticipation and then reality of this could cause some volatility in shares. · However, once it gets underway Fed tightening is likely to be gradual and history tells…
The profit reporting season that just ended was reasonably good with profit growth expectations affirmed. · While June quarter GDP growth slowed, it reflects pay back for unbelievably strong March quarter growth. Forward looking indicators point to a gradual pick-up in demand driven by a rebalancing in the economy. · The combination of improving growth…