Economy

Outlook for 2026 and Beyond: What We’ve Learned and What Matters Next As we reflect on 2026, one thing is clear: this has not been a “normal” market cycle. Instead, it has been shaped by a small number of powerful forces that have dominated returns, challenged...

[vc_video link='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IraCXEAMNjg'] [vc_separator type='normal' position='center' color='#000000' thickness='1' up='20' down='20'] Major Asset Class Performance Global equities ended November broadly unchanged, with an early month sell-off due to AI bubble concerns eventually unwound on renewed US rate cut hopes. Australian equities were weaker, reflecting a relatively larger decline in...

[vc_video link='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDwq30X6BKw'] [vc_separator type='normal' position='center' color='#000000' thickness='1' up='20' down='20'] Major asset class performance Global equities continued to move higher in October, supported by  resilient global economic growth, corporate earnings, subdued bond yields and optimism around artificial intelligence. Australian equities inched higher and underperformed global equities, despite a...

What Are Geared Investment Funds?* *And Why Borrowing for Shares Isn’t “Riskier” Than Borrowing for Property Many Australians are comfortable borrowing hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy an investment property. Yet the idea of borrowing to invest in shares often feels “too risky”. Some even believe...

[vc_video link='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnJCN30nwOw'] [vc_separator type='normal' position='center' color='#000000' thickness='1' up='20' down='20'] Major asset class performance Global equities continued to move higher in September, supported by a US interest rate cut, still-limited tariff effects on the US economy and ongoing optimism around artificial intelligence. Australian equities pulled back, however, it...

Are We in an AI Bubble? Why This Time Might Be Different Artificial intelligence (AI) has been one of the biggest drivers of market enthusiasm over the past two years. With share markets — especially in the US — hitting record highs, many investors are asking...

Gold as an Investment: Why It Still Matters in a Diversified Portfolio (with Recent Performance) Gold is not just theoretical insurance — recent data shows how it has behaved relative to equities and bonds over the past decade. Below is a comparison, followed by an updated...

[vc_video link='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s6wKNNVs84'] [vc_separator type='normal' position='center' color='#000000' thickness='1' up='20' down='20'] Major asset class performance Global equities continued to move higher in August, supported by continued good US earnings reports, the still-limited tariff effects on the US economy and a “dovish pivot” by the US Federal Reserve. US markets...

Labor Government Accelerates 5 % Deposit Scheme — A Bold Step to Unlock Homeownership Overview: What’s New? In a significant development, the Australian Labor government—led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese—has brought forward the rollout of its expanded 5 % home deposit scheme from January to October 1, 2025 The...

Understanding Alternatives: Private Equity, Private Credit, and Unlisted Property When most people think about investing, the first things that come to mind are shares on the stock market or term deposits with the bank. But there’s a growing category of investments known as alternative assets, which...