This note looks as the increase in the importance of emerging countries in the global economy and what this means for the economic/investment cycle and investors. The key points are as follows: – No matter how much economic and investment issues change, there will always be a cycle. In other words, history may not repeat [...]

This note looks at the surge in the gold price to a record high. The key points are as follows: – The rise in the gold price is being driven by a combination of factors including: worries about inflation and the outlook for paper currencies, central bank buying, and a fall in the opportunity cost [...]

Due to superannuation reforms over the last decade, many Australians these days have Life Insurance, Trauma Insurance and Total and Permanent Disability Insurance (TPD) of some sort. Do you know what you have? Did you also know though that further legislative change in 2007 can affect how much money you (if you are totally and [...]

Think of “the unthinkable” by considering the following scenarios… If something happened to you: – Would you be sure that you or your family would receive adequate payment for the transfer of your interest in the business to your business associates? – Would the business have sufficient funds to repay any loans owed to you [...]

This note looks at the outlook for share markets. The key points are as follows: – Shares and other listed growth assets have hit an air pocket in the last two weeks – with most share markets having experienced falls of around 5 to 7%. – It is too early to say that the pull [...]

This note looks at the outlook for unlisted office, retail and industrial property. The key points are as follows: – Since peaking in late 2007, unlisted commercial property prices have fallen by around 20% as a result of the fallout from the global financial crisis. – However, commercial property values appear to be at, or [...]

This note looks at the relative attractiveness of Australian versus mainstream global shares, which are dominated by the US, Europe and Japan. The key points are as follows: – Despite outperforming global shares over the last decade, Australian shares continue to provide better return prospects than mainstream global shares (dominated by the US, Europe and [...]