The recent decision from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) to reduce interest rates by 50 basis points, bringing the federal funds rate to a range of 4.75% to 5%, has drawn attention from markets worldwide, including Australia. With inflation in the U.S. having moderated to approximately 2.2%, close to the Fed’s long-term target, many are questioning the rationale behind this rate cut and its broader implications for investors.
This week, Australian markets demonstrated a solid performance, with the ASX 200 rising by 1.1%. Materials led the way with a notable 4.2% increase, buoyed by renewed optimism around potential stimulus measures from China. Lithium stocks enjoyed a rebound from recent lows due to supply cuts, while fears of supply restrictions from Russia impacted uranium, nickel, and titanium markets positively. Oil prices also saw an uptick, supported by output disruptions in the US Gulf of Mexico. The Financials sector lagged slightly, down 0.8%, as investors took profits after a strong run of fresh peaks in the major banks.
Australia’s equity markets experienced a downturn this week, with the ASX 200 closing 1.0% lower, halting a three-week streak of gains. The Australian market was particularly impacted by softer-than-expected quarterly GDP data and a global tech selloff. The GDP growth for the June quarter remained unchanged at +0.2% quarter-on-quarter, falling short of the anticipated 0.3%. High borrowing costs and persistent inflation continue to pose challenges, contributing to a cautious economic outlook.
You might have seen the headlines recently about State Street Global Advisors making a strategic investment in Raiz. If you’re wondering what this means for you as a Raiz user—or if you’re considering joining the Raiz community—here’s a quick rundown of the key points.
The ASX 200 continued its upward momentum this week, marking its third consecutive week of gains. Better-than-expected company earnings have calmed investor nerves, pushing the index closer to its all-time high. Despite the positive market sentiment, July’s retail sales data, released by the ABS, showed a flat result month-on-month, coming in slightly below expectations. However, the Australian economy remains resilient, with next week’s GDP data expected to provide further insights. Read Post
When we talk about investing, it’s easy to think it’s all about numbers, graphs, and picking the right stocks. But here’s the thing—your mind plays a huge role in how you invest. Behavioural finance is all about understanding the psychological aspects that influence our financial decisions, often leading to choices that aren’t always in our best interest. Let’s dive into some of the key psychological factors at play and how you can navigate them to make smarter, more confident investment decisions.
Last week saw the Australian stock market finish on a high note, with the ASX 200 closing up 0.7%. This came after a strong showing from several major companies, such as WiseTech, which saw a remarkable 28% gain by week’s end. Despite a slight dip on Friday that ended a 10-day winning streak, the overall sentiment remains optimistic as the market eagerly anticipates the final week of the Australian reporting season. Read Post
Investing in the future is what we’re all about at Raiz, and with Raiz Plus Portfolios, you can take part in the growth of some of the world’s most dynamic companies through the Global X FANG+ ETF (FANG).
An ETF, or Exchange Traded Fund, is a type of investment fund that holds a collection of different assets, such as stocks or bonds, and is traded on stock exchanges. This means you can invest in a diversified portfolio of companies by adding individual ETFs to your Raiz Plus portfolio.
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Drumroll please! 🥁 We’re thrilled to announce an exciting addition to the Raiz Property Fund portfolio: a beautiful new property at 9 Verdure Crescent, Cheltenham Victoria! This marks our twelfth property acquisition across Australia, and our third in the Melbourne area, further solidifying the Raiz Property Fund’s commitment to investing in high-quality real estate with promising growth potential. Read Post
Australia’s financial markets have had a positive week, with the ASX 200 closing 2.5% higher. The release of wage inflation data for Q2 showed a year-over-year increase of 4.1%, slightly surpassing expectations. On the employment front, Australia experienced a strong job growth of 58,200 in July, much higher than anticipated, though the unemployment rate rose to 4.2% due to an increased participation rate. Read Post
