interest rates

• Alternatives: a hedge against inflation

  Lachlan Brumby (Russell Investments) & Jason Petras (Resonant) consider the benefits of alternatives from a risk-return perspective, including strategies for a high interest rate environment.

   

• Another good financial year for lazy investors! How did your returns stack up?

  Ashley Owen examines returns from the main asset classes & sectors for Aussie investors for the past two June financial/tax years, & his graphs show key data including inflation, exchange rates, commodities prices, & house prices.

• Are we there yet? – on cash rates

  "Central banks have delivered the most aggressive rate hikes in a generation, but cash rates in Australia, US and elsewhere are still below pre-GFC levels. How high will interest rates need to go? " says Ashley Owen

• Ashley Owen analyses 2024-2025: a year of double-digit returns for diversified portfolios

  "2024-2025 was the third straight year of solid double-digit returns for diversified ‘passive’ ETF investors and a standard 70/30 (‘balanced’) fund or ETF portfolio should have returned near 12% after fees. Did yours?" asks Ashley Owen

• Australia -vs- rest of the world on Inflation & Interest rates

  "The RBA is lagging has more work to do! In Sept 23 quarterly inflation rose from 0.8% to 1.2%, but cash rate's been sitting at 4.1% since June 23, after 12 rate hikes. Is the RBA doing enough? " asks Ashley Owen,

• Australia’s bounty – 400 years of exports. Is it just ‘luck’? Or masterful ability to adapt and pivot? Will our commodities bounty run out one day?

  "Commodities matter! Raw commodities exports made, and continue to make, Australia the richest country per capita on earth. More than half of the 2,200+ companies listed on the ASX are miners." says Ashley Owen

• CBA in 7 charts – the ‘Steven Bradbury’ of Australian banking – suddenly a ‘growth stock’?

  Ashley Owen examines why CBA has been in the headlines of late for a few reasons – for re-taking the lead from BHP to be the largest ASX-listed company by market value, for being the most over-priced bank in the world, and also for having the most mysterious share price surge this year.

• Has inflation peaked? - IMAP Independent Thought

  Inflation underpins every asset class. But have we seen the peak of inflation? Jay Sivapalan (Janus Henderson), Hugh Dive (Atlas Funds Management), Kieran Rooney (Evergreen Consultants), and Chamath De Silva (BetaShares) discuss the implications of inflation on portfolio construction and asset allocation.t.

   

• How do we rate? – The Debt Olympics

  "Australia and Australians loaded up on debt in the GFC and again in Covid, but how do we stack up against other countries? The answer is probably very different to what you thought. " says Ashley Owen

• Market Monitor – 2024: Great returns from almost all asset classes despite constant recession fear

  "Despite continual tiresome warnings of a USA-led global recession from economists & market ‘experts’, plus a host of other threats - almost all of the main asset classes did well in 2024, beating inflation, & most did better than their long-term averages." says Ashley Owen

• Market Monitor – April 2024 snapshot – shares fall as rate cut hopes finally dashed – is this the ‘Big one?

  Ashley Owen provides his essential 1 page 30th April snapshot for Aussie investors – covering what happened and why?? with the Australian & US share markets, short- and long-term interest rates, inflation, and the AUD/USD exchange rate!

• Market Monitor – end August 2023: 'Sticky inflation' + 'What’s keeping the AUD down'

  "It's a confused picture this month with share markets lower across the board from profit taking, interest rate hikes slowing, inflation receding, central bankers warnings,and bond yields flat in most markets", says Ashley Owen

• Market Monitor – March 2024 snapshot – Fed + RBA warn inflation not yet contained, but shares keep surging

  Ashley Owen provides his essential March 20241-page snapshot for Aussie investors – covering Australian and US share markets, short- and long-term interest rates, inflation, and the AUD/USD exchange rate.

• Market Monitor – Nov 2023 Australian share market has gone nowhere for 16 years? Is it ‘broken’? Has it lost its mojo?

  "The All Ordinaries index hit a peaked of 6,853 on 1 November 2007, but it is barely above that 16 years later. Why?
  Is the local share market in terminal decline? Has it lost its mojo? Is it ever going to get back to growth? " questions Ashley Owen

• Market Monitor – October 2023 wrap-up: Central banks not done yet with rate hikes, military tensions rise

  "Welcome to the Monthly Market Monitor for October 2023. First, here is our quick snapshot of Australian and US share markets, short- and long-term interest rates, inflation, and the AUD since the start of 2020" explains Ashley Owen

• Market Monitor: February 2025 snapshot: Trump bump turns into slowdown fears – What moved markets and why?

  "What happened in markets in Feb 2025 and why?" asks  Ashley Owen...talking about the monthly snapshot on global markets for Aussie investors, and the profit reporting season wrap-up plus share price winners & losers.

• The BIG picture – portfolios perform for the passive & patient

  "One of the most important, but difficult, aspects of long term investing is learning to not let day-to-day market chatter and scaremongering media headlines affect your long term strategies" says Ashley Owen - Owen Analytics in his monthly look at The Big Picture

• Update October 2023: Three quarter time score check: 2023 a low-scoring year

  "Despite constant doom and gloom in the media headlines this year, most asset classes are ahead in 2023, and most are ahead of inflation", says Ashley Owen

• Where Are We Now? – Global profits: recession or rebound?

  While media headlines warn of possible global recessions ahead, global profits are booming! There appear to be no obvious signs of impending recession in the latest profit results, or profit outlooks. "What is behind the numbers?" asks Ashley Owen