This note looks at concerns that China is a bubble that's about to burst.

The key points are as follows:

- Concerns that China is a bubble about to burst are unjustified. There is no evidence of generalised over-investment, China's reliance on exports is overstated and likely to diminish with consumption taking a greater role, it is very hard to argue there is an asset bubble and China's banks are in a reasonable shape.

- Although further monetary tightening is likely in China, we don't anticipate a bust any time soon and continue to expect Chinese gross domestic product growth of around 10% this year.

- This is positive for the commodity price outlook.

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We are now coming up to the one year anniversary of the bear-market low in shares (Australian shares bottomed on 6 March 2009 and US shares bottomed on 9 March).

This note looks at the outlook for shares in the context of the Australian December-half reporting season just ended.

The key points are as follows:

- In terms of net positive surprises the reporting season just ended in Australia was the strongest since August 2007. Profits have now bottomed and with the economy picking up pace and costs well and truly under control, profits are likely to rise by around 20% over the next year.

- The upswing in the global profit cycle is a global phenomenon, albeit most evident in Asia and the US.

- As a result of the recent correction in shares and upwards revisions to earnings expectations, shares are now slightly cheap. Stronger earnings are likely to be a key antidote to worries about sovereign debt and monetary tightening in some countries this year.

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Life Insurance Quotes

March 2, 2010

When searching for life insurance you need to get quotes for each plan to see how much it is going to cost you. Finding life insurance online will facilitate getting quotes as you can simply type in the few details required by the online form and you will then be given a quote.
However, the best [...]

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Tips to Choosing an Income Protection Plan

March 2, 2010

There are as many income protection plans as there are life insurance plans. In fact, income protection usually forms part of the best life insurance plans. When you buy life insurance, you need to check to see if features such as income protection are included.
Cheap life insurance may not include any income protection. But if [...]

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Choosing a Life Insurance Plan

February 23, 2010

There are many life insurance plan options so how do you choose the best life insurance for your needs? Before you buy life insurance you need to do a little research to compare the various plans. This need not be difficult. Anyone with a computer can compare life insurance plans online to find out what [...]

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Types of Personal Insurance

February 22, 2010

Any insurance policy purchased for your own or your family’s needs, qualifies as personal insurance. Broadly, personal insurance can be categorised into the following types:

Life Insurance
Income Protection
Critical Illness
Total & Permanent Disability

Life Insurance: Life insurance can help provide cover for the unthinkable, and can be a valuable source of income for your spouse and other near [...]

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Key Man Insurance

February 10, 2010

No business can run without people. While some people may be replaceable, every business is dependent on a few key people for its operations. The loss of such key people due to any reason can be a big blow and can affect the revenues. It is in such cases, that business owners usually go for [...]

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Oliver’s Insights – Shares hit a speed bump – 2004 all over again?

February 8, 2010

This note looks at the recent pullback in share markets.
The key points are as follows:
- Shares have fallen over the last weeks or son on the back of concerns about China’s tightening, the regulation of banks in the US, and sovereign risk.
- This is consistent with out expectation for rougher and more constrained gains in [...]

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Oliver’s Insights – The blowout in public debt – how big an issue?

February 8, 2010

High sovereign debt levels are causing concerns in global financial markets. This notes looks at the key issues.
The key points are as follows:
- A global blowout in public debt has been a key outcome from the global financial crisis. Aging populations are also playing a role.
- Debt crises in peripheral countries such as Greece and [...]

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Top 3 reasons to purchase life insurance

February 3, 2010

When was the last time someone asked you purchase a life insurance
policy? When was the last time you received an irritating phone call
promoting life insurance? The truth is, while we all have heard of and
probably even considered buying life insurance, most of us still look
at life insurance as a cover lest the unthinkable happens. However,
there [...]

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Income Protection and Life Insurance Customers