Market & Portfolio Update - November 2022
Global share markets had another strong month in November, rising 5.6% in local currency terms. Investors were encouraged by lower than expected year-on-year inflation in the US of 7.7%, down from 8.2% in the prior month.
The news of a possible peak of inflation also supported fixed interest or bond markets. Global bond markets rose almost 2.5%, and the New Zealand bond market rose almost 1% in November – quite decent returns when it comes to bond investments. These returns provided some reprieve for bond investors after higher interest rates have weighed on bond returns throughout much of 2022.
The New Zealand share market delivered a “modest” 2% for the month on the back of better than expected half-year results for New Zealand’s largest listed company – Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. The respiratory equipment manufacturer reported a 57% drop in profit as it came out of a period of significant Covid-induced demand. However, the drop in profit was less than investors were expecting, and the company ended the month up 20%.
Market & Portfolio Update - April 2025
Global markets began April with some volatility as investors digested “Liberation Day” tariffs announced by the Trump administration. In particular, investors feared a tariff war would lead to higher inflation, lower global growth, and the potential erosion of the historic ‘safe haven’ status enjoyed by the US dollar. However, the markets recovered a significant portion of these losses following the announcement that all reciprocal tariffs except China’s would be delayed for 90 days. Due to the volatility, global markets were down -3.8% for the month.
Staying Cyber Smart
At Lifetime, looking after your financial wellbeing includes helping you stay safe online. Lately, we’ve seen an increase in online scam attempts across the financial sector here in New Zealand, so we thought this was a good time to share a few friendly reminders on how you can stay protected.