Market & Portfolio Update – September 2019
Market & Portfolio Update – September 2019
September was a positive month for most share markets across the world, bouncing back from some softness in August. Markets were supported by the Federal Reserve in the US reducing their cash rate for the second time this year. The Fed is looking to provide some support for their economy with growth slowing recently.
The NZ dollar continued to decline following the 0.50% OCR reduction last month, which will please the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. The lower NZ dollar supports NZ exporters and the returns of unhedged overseas investments.
Despite bond yields offsetting part of their recent decline in September, a 0.3% net fall in US 10-year yields over the quarter and a 0.5% fall in NZ has meant that fixed interest securities have performed well.
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 - January 2026
After strong gains in 2025, the global share market (represented by the MSCI World Gross Index) took a breather in January, returning 0.1% in NZ dollar terms. While the ‘Magnificent 7’ (the seven largest US-listed companies, including Google, Microsoft & Apple) have been large drivers behind the recent gains seen from the US share market, January told a different story. There appeared to be ‘catch-up’ trade where investors moved out of concentrated tech positions and into the rest of the market, with the Russell 2000 index (a widely regarded proxy for smaller US companies) having a strong month. This was generally seen as improving confidence in the broader US economy.
Interest Rate Averaging: A Smarter Way to Manage Mortgage Risk
When it comes to mortgages, most people focus on one thing, getting the lowest interest rate.
But the lowest rate today doesn’t always lead to the best outcome over time.
Interest Rate Averaging is a strategy designed to reduce risk, smooth cashflow, and create flexibility, rather than trying to perfectly time interest rates, which no one can do consistently.