Economist
Investment markets and key developments – Weekly market update 10-10-2025
15 October
US and European share markets fell sharply on Friday in response to the latest threatened re-escalation in the trade war between the US and China. The 2.7% fall in US shares after Trump threatened additional tariffs on China left it down 2.4% for...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Bubble trouble – is AI enthusiasm driving a bubble in shares?
9 October
Key points Rich share market valuations are warning of the risk of a pullback in shares amidst fears of a bubble and it’s possible that enthusiasm for AI has run ahead of itself. But the fundamentals behind this are arguably far stronger than...[Read More]
Investment markets and key developments – Weekly market update 03-10-2025
8 October
Share markets rose strongly over the last week, with optimism for further US rate cuts offsetting the start of another US partial government shutdown. For the week US shares rose 1.1%, Eurozone shares rose 2.7%, Japanese shares rose 0.9% and...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Gold at record highs – can it keep going? Implications for investors
18 September
Key points  The gold price has surged to record highs. Key drivers have been central banks increasing their gold reserves, rate cuts, a renewed downtrend in the $US and demand for a hedge against public debt worries and geopolitical...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Compound interest and returns are an investor’s best friend
20 August
Key points Compound interest is an investor’s best friend but can be a borrower’s worst nightmare. The higher the return, the earlier and bigger the investment contribution and the longer the period the more it works. To make the most of it,...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – The RBA cuts for the third time – expect a further gradual easing to 2.85%
13 August
Key points The RBA cut its cash rate by 0.25% taking it to 3.6%. This is the third rate cut in this easing cycle. The RBA sees inflation running around target but has revised its growth forecasts down again. Its forecasts assume that the cash...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Poor Australian productivity – why all the fuss? And what to do about it?
30 July
Key points The last decade has seen productivity stagnate in Australia. This has curtailed growth in living standards and real wages. Policies to boost productivity include: deregulation; more housing supply; a cap on public spending; and tax...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Seven key charts on the state of the Australian property market
23 July
Key points The Australian housing market remains far more complicated than many portray it to be. The Australian housing is cycle is turning up again; falling interest rates are the key driver; along with a chronic undersupply of homes of...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – China – the tariff threat, structural challenges & implications for Australia
23 July
Key points Chinese growth is running around 5% and while threatsremain high – with the property downturn and tariffs – policy stimulus is likely to be enough to keep growth okay. However, longer term structural challenges – around...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights Seven key charts for investors to keep an eye on
16 July
Key points The first half of this year saw good returns, but they were interrupted by a correction into April thanks to US tariffs. We remain upbeat on a 12-month view but see a high risk of another correction in the next few months. Seven key...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights 2024-25 saw strong investment returns yet again – but is it sustainable?
9 July
Key points While recession fears, worries about US tariffs and war with Iran resulted in volatility, 2024-25 saw another financial year of strong returns helped by central bank rate cuts, economic conditions proving better than feared, and as...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Five charts on investing to keep in mind in uncertain times like now
25 June
Key points  The US intervention in the war with Iran has substantially increased the risk of disruption to global oil supplies and a deeper impact on share markets. But predicting how this will all unfold is hard. The key is to stay focused on...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Here we go again! – the threat to economies and investment markets from the Israel and Iran war
19 June
Key points So far, the Israel/Iran war is limited, and various constraints suggest it may stay that way with Iran reportedly wanting to return to talks. It’s still early days though and so the risk of an escalation threatening oil supplies...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – The risk of a US public debt crisis – and implications for shares
11 June
Key points US tax cuts point to ongoing budget deficits around 7% of GDP, a rising trend in already very high public debt and a further rise in already record debt interest payments. While a full-blown US public debt crisis is unlikely, this...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – The RBA cuts again and becomes more dovish
22 May
Key points As widely expected, the RBA cut by 0.25% taking its cash rate to 3.85%. This is the second rate cut in this easing cycle. The RBA remains “cautious about the outlook”, but its overall commentary appears more dovish leaving the...[Read More]