RBA Monetary Policy Announcement – 19 March 2020 The coronavirus is first and foremost a public health issue, but it is also having a very major impact on the economy and the financial system. As the virus has spread, countries have restricted the movement of people across borders and have implemented social distancing measures, including […]
EQUITY MARKETS UPDATE – 19 March 2020 After yet another incredible day on Tuesday, after the US market fell over 12% overnight the night before, the Australian market surprised everyone by rising 5%. There was plenty of evidence that investors are starting to cautiously sift through stocks looking for higher quality names that have been […]
At its meeting today, the Board decided to lower the cash rate by 25 basis points to 0.50 per cent. The Board took this decision to support the economy as it responds to the global coronavirus outbreak. The coronavirus has clouded the near-term outlook for the global economy and means that global growth in the first half of […]
At its meeting today, the Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 0.75 per cent. The outlook for the global economy remains reasonable. While the risks are still tilted to the downside, some of these risks have lessened recently. The US–China trade and technology disputes continue to affect international trade flows and investment […]
Interest rates The RBA followed up its June interest rate cut (the first in nearly three years) with a further 0.25% cut in July, taking the cash rate down to a record low of 1.0% pa. While good for existing borrowers, this move will make it even harder for anyone relying on interest income to […]
If you’ve ever laid awake at night thinking about your finances you’ll know: financial stress can be debilitating. What you may not be aware of is the strong link between financial stress and mental health. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 4.2 million Australians received mental health related prescriptions from their doctors […]
There’s a common view that as you approach retirement you should tilt your investment portfolio towards more conservative investments. This means favouring things like term deposits, annuities and cash management trusts while reducing exposure to more volatile assets such as shares and property. The thinking is that preservation of capital is key, as without an […]
Please click on the below link to read a media release regarding Deeming rates. Deeming Changes
Anyone who has completed their own tax return will know that the tax office treats different types of income differently. Bank interest is recorded in one section, dividends from shares in another and managed fund distributions somewhere else. And unless you are taking a pension or lump sum from your super, you don’t need to […]