Challenger Financial Group (ASX: CGF) reported $842 million in Australian equity sales in the first quarter of the 2020-21 financial year, this represented 35 per cent growth on 2019 levels. The standout though, was a doubling in lifetime annuity sales to $208 million as investors returned to an asset class that was last popular in…
The time seems right to review my investment strategy calls of 2020 and put forward some ideas on the most important action to take before the year comes to a close. In general, the big calls have delivered, particularly the decision to hedge any overseas exposure, with the A$ staging a remarkable rally on the…
The announcement this week that National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB) will redeem (repurchase) all National Income Securities (ASX: NABHA) on issue has been a long time coming. Issued in 1999, the perpetual or never-ending preference share raised around $2 billion to assist the bank in meeting its ongoing capital requirements. After trading as low as…
ASX flat as value rotation continues, Premier (ASX:PMV) hits record The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) eked out a 0.1% gain for the day, with the ‘value’ rotation in full swing. The strengthening oil price combined with a weaker USD sent the sector 4.2% higher, Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) and OilSearch Ltd (ASX:OSH) were the key beneficiaries, up 3.0% and 6.0% respectively. ORG has been further…
ASX200 slide continues, tech darlings under pressure, Altium (ASX:ALU) revenue falls, weaker open ahead The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) couldn’t hold sustain early gains, falling another 0.3% on Tuesday with the financial sector the only real positive. National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB) lead the sector higher adding 1.1% as signs of higher bond rates are likely to support higher net interest…
The beginning of 2021 couldn’t have gone more smoothly for investment markets, delivering strong returns despite the events in Washington, DC. The first week of trading saw a continuation of the end of 2020, with Australian commodity companies, BHP Group (ASX:BHP) and OilSearch (ASX: OSH) pushing the market higher, adding 15% and 10% in the…
Blistering start slows, ASX down 0.9%, bond rates higher, Bitcoin falls 20% After a blistering opening to the year in which the ASX200 (ASX:XJO) added 2.6%, attention once again turned to the economic outlook, sending the ASX200 down 0.9% on Monday. Every sector but energy weakened, with the IT sector the hardest hit falling 2.2%, Afterpay (ASX:APT) a key detractor down…
ASX struggles under COVID-19 weight, banks fall, retail sales recover The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) struggled today, falling 1.1%, as concern around the NSW COVID-19 outbreak weighed on sentiment at the same time that volumes fall ahead of the Christmas break. Every sector finished lower apart from healthcare, IT, and real estate, the latter benefitting from better than expected retail sales figures….
ASX finishes flat, border closures hit travel, AGL Energy downgrades, weaker open ahead The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) finished flat to begin the week, with news that US politicians finally agreed on a USD$900 billion stimulus package not enough to offset the NSW outbreak and subsequent border closures. Every sector was lower apart from materials and consumer staples, with the latter benefitting…
Winning streak hits seven weeks, A2 Milk (ASX:A2M) and Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) battered The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) managed to overcome a 1.2% fall to cap off the seventh straight week of gains, adding 0.5%. The IT sector continued to lead the way behind Afterpay (ASX:APT), finishing 5.9% higher, whilst energy lost 2.4% as the US economy appeared to weaken. The biggest…
