Rising US interest rates, trade wars, the US midterm election results – should investors be worried? Key points It’s still too early to be sure that last month’s pullback in shares is over but we remain of the view that it was not the start of a deep bear market and that the trend in shares remains up Worries around US interest rates, trade wars, European politics etc are unlikely to be terminal. …
What happened to all the worries about rising inflation & bond yields? :- Goldilocks, tariffs, Turkey & other things Key points The fear of rising inflation and bond yields that dominated investor thinking earlier this year has faded thanks to a combination of: ongoing relatively benign inflation in the US; Fed hikes remaining gradual; strong earnings growth helping distract share market investors; trade war fears; geopolitical worries around Italy and now Turkey; and finally, slower …
Trade war risks are escalating – but a negotiated solution remains most likely Key Points US actions in recent weeks have increased the risk of a full-blown trade war – primarily between the US and China – with a more significant economic impact. So far the bulk of the tariffs are just proposed so there is still room for a negotiated solution (which remains our base case with a 55% probability). But there is now …
Put your backyard to work Across Australia, the granny flat is currently experiencing somewhat of a construction boom. And it’s not hard to see why. Rising property prices, coupled with an ageing population, have resulted in an increased demand for multi-generational and multi-dwelling living. These popular and relatively affordable buildings offer considerable lifestyle benefits for homeowners. At an average cost of $100,000i, they can be used as a home office, a teenage retreat or even …
