As you have probably garnered by now, I am optimistic about the prospects for equity markets for the remainder of 2024 and for all of 2025. I believe a process of risk adoption is underway, reversing the conservative stance that dominated sentiment in 2022 and most of 2023 amid fears of rising interest rates and recession. With the subsequent side-stepping of recession along with the acceptance that rates have probably peaked, and with slow deflation continuing, investor appetite for risk can begin to improve.   Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics.

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Investors understand the power of demographic information. Back in the early 1990s, when I was presenting to investors at ASX-sponsored conferences, I recall ‘time-lining’ the baby boomers and predicting – reasonably successfully, I might add – what industries the boomers would have a substantial impact on.   Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Insightful Insights.

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Over the period since the global financial crisis beginning in 2008, the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) has seen the yield on three-month treasury bills trade at a premium relative to the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) for less than 5 per cent of the 16.5 year period in question.   Continue…

by David Buckland Posted in Economics.

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For decades, I have been asked if I watch the budget and analyse the government’s annual statement about income, spending, and macroeconomic forecasts. My short answer has always been, ‘no, because there’ll be another one next year.’ It sounds a little flippant and is certainly intended to be irreverent.  Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics.

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In this week’s video insight, I discuss how private credit funds can be an effective strategy for Australians, especially during the current cost–of–living crisis. I delve into why these funds might be a helpful addition to your investment portfolio, particularly in these challenging economic times. I provide a general overview of private credit as an asset class and explore its potential benefits, including the potential for regular income generation and risk management.   Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Aura Group, Editor's Pick, Video Insights.

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If you’re like us, you will be fascinated by lithium and electric vehicles (EVs). Before delving into the latest fascinating development, I thought it might first be worth reminding ourselves of the challenges of investing in new technologies. 

Investing in technology that advances the world must surely be a good thing? Well, evidently not.  Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Technology & Telecommunications.

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It has been a while since we reported on the major banks, which have now all provided half-year updates to their operating performance. 

Before reporting on their results, I think it worthwhile to provide you with a usefully simplified framework for analysing or comparing a bank’s performance.  Despite claims of complexity in their reporting and differentiation in their offerings, the big four banks are relatively simple businesses to understand at a high level, and broadly undifferentiated, offering everyday banking, loans, credit cards, wealth management and insurance.  Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Economics, Editor's Pick.

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In this week’s video insight, I discuss the transition from a long period of unusually low interest rates to what may be a new era of higher interest rates. Following the global financial crisis (GFC) in 2008, the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) implemented a policy of keeping the Fed funds rate extremely low, which encouraged fiscal behaviours based on the assumption of persistent low inflation. However, recent spikes in inflation and cost of living, alongside escalating U.S. public debt and government spending, prompt a reevaluation of this policy.   Continue…

by David Buckland Posted in Economics, Video Insights.

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