Market & Portfolio Update - October 2020
New Zealand shares were up over October with electricity generators bouncing back after the Government suggested more support around the Tiwai Aluminium Smelter, which consumes 30% of electricity in NZ.
Australian shares were down a touch over the month as tensions with China escalated further which has been an ongoing back and forth between the two countries over the past three years.
Global bonds were down (yields rose) through October as calls for more fiscal stimulus gained traction putting upward pressure on yields with the prospect of more government bond supply to come. We remain a little cautious on the outlook for rising interest rates, and have recently increased our allocation to inflation linked bonds to provide a degree of protection against a potential rise in inflation as economic growth gradually picks up.
Global share markets experienced some volatility during the month, falling modestly for the first time since January. This was in part due to expectations of rising global interest rates over the coming months.
New Zealand’s gender pay gap is unlikely to be going anywhere anytime soon and the impact of earning less over a lifetime has an enormous effect on a woman’s immediate and future financial security. This is compounded by a lower level of workplace participation, a tendency to seek part-time casual work and bear the bulk of caring responsibilities for children and other family members. So how can women bridge the gap? Here are some tips on how to build wealth and make positive steps towards pay equity and financial independence despite and in spite of the hurdles women face.