FinSec Post

y Investment markets and key developments over the past week Uncertainty around the outcome of the first round of the French Presidential election and continuing geopolitical tensions (particularly around North Korea) weighed on equity markets over the past week. The US share market was flat over the week, Eurozone shares lost 2%, Japanese shares gained 1.4% as the Yen depreciated, Chinese equities were down 0.4% and Australian shares were 0.4% higher. The US dollar weakened slightly but this didn't assist the [...]

Investment markets and key developments over the past week Investment markets were in "risk off" mode over the last week in response to concerns about North Korea, Syria and the approaching French election. As a result, Australian shares gave up most of their gains from earlier in the week to end 0.5% higher, but US and Eurozone shares lost 1.1%, Japanese shares fell 2.1% and Chinese shares lost 0.9%. Safe havens like gold, government bonds and the Yen rallied. Apart from [...]

Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets were mixed over the last week with ongoing nervousness regarding whether President Trump will pass his pro-business reforms, the Fed signalling a likely start to reducing its balance sheet later this year and a US missile strike against Syria injecting a bit of uncertainty. US shares fell 0.3%, Eurozone and Australian shares were flat, Japanese shares lost 1.3% but Chinese shares rose 1.5%. Bond yields and the A$ fell, but [...]

Investment markets and key developments over the past week Stronger global economic data dominated the action over the last week, offsetting some of the fears around whether President Trump will be able to pass his pro-business policies through Congress. So while Japanese shares fell 1.8% and Chinese shares lost 1%, US shares rose 0.8%. Eurozone shares gained 1.6% and Australian shares rose 1.9%. Commodity prices mostly rose and the Australian dollar rose slightly. Bond yields mostly fell. The UK has finally [...]

Investment markets and key developments over the past week The US share market finally saw a daily decline greater than 1% for the first time since last October and this dragged other share markets down to greater or lesser degrees over the last week. Chinese shares rose 1.3% over the week, but US shares fell 1.4%, Eurozone shares fell 0.2%, Japanese shares lost 1.4% and Australian shares fell 0.8%. Worries about whether President Trump will be able to pass his pro-business [...]

Investment markets and key developments over the past week Global shares got a boost over the last week from a dovish rate hike from the Fed and relief that the Dutch election saw a rejection of far right Eurosceptics. US shares gained 0.2%, Eurozone shares rose 1.2% and Chinese shares rose 0.5%. Reflecting the positive global lead, resources shares helped drive Australian shares 0.4% higher. Japanese shares slipped 0.4% though as the Yen rose. The Fed's dovish hike also saw bond [...]