Following on from my introduction into the world of alternative assets, this article will address one of the fastest-growing yet relatively poorly understood asset classes in the investment world: private credit. Put simply, private credit is non-bank lending, that is, it involves private groups like individuals and fund managers lending directly to business owners. In…
Six blue-chip updates In the middle of another COVID-19 shutdown and with most companies approaching full-year earnings season, it’s important to take stock of what occurred in the previous few months. We’ve decided to provide an update on some non-traditional Aussie blue-chips after the strongest quarterly performance for the market in decades. Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG)…
COVID-19 has had incredible impacts on the superannuation sector, in fact it has become somewhat of an existential crisis for many involved. The Government’s well-meaning but ultimately poorly structured and timed announcement to allow those impacted by the economic shutdowns to access their superannuation early has seen the ‘industry super versus everyone else’ war of…
While the market appears to be focused on all things Afterpay (ASX:APT) and the ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ phenomenon, the sector is a little too hot for us to dip our toes in, but “well done” to those that have. In this piece we look at a similar sector also doing well during the Covid-19…
Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX:WPL) was the latest to announce a write-down, with management reducing the value of their oil and gas assets by US $4.2 billion due to the lower oil price. WPL now trades at the same level it did in 2005, despite raising capital on multiple occasions, clear indication that the greatest opportunities lie in cleaner energy sources.
The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) experienced another choppy day, with intra-day likely to be the new normal, finishing 0.6% lower. Consumer staples (+0.2%) offered the only protection as the impacts of Victoria’s widespread shutdowns and a reversal of recently eased restrictions in the US were front and centre once again.
The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) gained another 1%, taking a positive lead from US markets, with over 60% of the rally coming from the Big Four Banks, Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd (ASX:CBA) up 2.2%, and miners, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) up 2.2% after the iron ore price exceeding US$118 per tonne.
The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) gained another 1%, taking a positive lead from US markets, with over 60% of the rally coming from the Big Four Banks, Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd (ASX:CBA) up 2.2%, and miners, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) up 2.2% after the iron ore price exceeding US$118 per tonne.
Despite being the secondary epicentre of COVID-19 the European experiment may be turning the corner, with unprecedented events finally delivering consensus on fiscal and monetary policy. This is not without pain, with the economy contracting 3.6% in March behind multi-decade record contractions of 5.3% in France and Italy and 5.2% in Spain. The ECB is predicted a 9% contraction in growth for the year.
The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) surrendered early gains to finish Friday down 0.6%, pulling the market down -2.3% for the week. Real estate, -5.4%, and industrial’s, -4.6%, were among the hardest hit as Victoria’s spike in COVID-19 cases shut the second largest state down for another six weeks; Qantas Ltd (ASX:QAN) lead the falls down 8.0%. Despite offering a weaker leader to the ASX, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recorded positive results on Friday, driven 1.1% and 0.8% as the recovery in the banking sector continued.
