Market & Portfolio Update - June 2018
June was a fairly quiet month for world share markets, with most investment funds relatively flat – although this capped off a solid overall first half of the year. Our own NZ share market was the stand-out, helping to offset the effect of a further 3% rise in the NZ Dollar on the value of overseas share investments.
The NZ Dollar’s rise was in tandem with higher long-term market interest rates, as European Central Bank President Mario Draghi acknowledged that the European economy has been growing well – this was seen as hinting at official interest rate hikes moving closer.
More generally, a number of risk factors facing markets have not turned out as badly as initially feared over the past two years. Together with good economic fundamentals, this has supported funds slightly increasing their global share investments during June.
We also added shares in Swiss company Givaudan, a well-entrenched provider of fragrances and food products around the world. The change was funded by selling some shares in Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, locking in strong gains over the past year.
Disclaimer: This article has been prepared for the purpose of providing general information, without taking into consideration any particular investor’s objectives, financial situation or needs. Any opinions contained in it are held as at the report date and are subject to change without notice.
Market & Portfolio Update – September 2024
The US equity markets ended the month +0.1%, ending the quarter up +1.8%. During September, the US Federal Reserve followed many other central banks and cut interest rates. Growing confidence that inflation is heading to 2% has allowed many central banks to reduce interest rates in the past few months.
Maximise Your Miles: Financial Tips for Frequent Flyers
Whether you’re a young Kiwi planning your OE (overseas experience), a family about to embark on that long-awaited trip to Disneyland, or a seasoned business traveller hopping between meetings in Singapore and Sydney, the excitement of travel is unbeatable. But with every adventure comes a bit of financial planning to ensure your holiday memories aren’t clouded by an unexpected hit to the wallet.