Market & Portfolio Update - September 2018
Market & Portfolio Update - September 2018
Share markets rose further in September, shrugging off the unresolved NZ election and war of words between the United States and North Korea. The positive underlying factors driving the world economy have continued to show, supporting investor confidence and fund returns.
In a flashback to themes from earlier in the year, Donald Trump launched a much-anticipated new plan to cut taxes for US businesses, adding a potential further positive for share investors. Given the positive economic outlook, Janet Yellen, chair of the US Federal Reserve, also reconfirmed expectations for interest rates to continue to gradually rise, which would be reinforced if Trump’s tax plan is implemented.
We have bought shares in horticultural company Scales Corporation within your NZ share investments. The purchase took advantage of a dip in the company’s share price, and we expect its earnings to rise over time as it benefits from growing apple sales in its key export markets of Asia and the Middle East.
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. This document is solely for the use of the party to whom it is provided.
Lifetime Book Club: Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
"The truth is, we are not losing our ability to focus because we are lazy or undisciplined. We are losing it because our attention has been stolen."
That is the central idea of Stolen Focus. This is not a typical productivity guide filled with tips to switch off notifications. It is a thoughtful, well-researched investigation into why so many of us are struggling to concentrate and what can be done about it.
Market & Portfolio Update - October 2025
The global share market (represented by the MSCI World Gross Index) was up +3.5% in NZ dollar terms in October. The relatively strong month was underpinned by signs of easing trade tensions between the US and China and another solid US corporate earnings season.