Real assets typically refer to investments in unlisted real estate and infrastructure, as well as Physical Commodities (such as gold) and agriculture-based assets (e.g. timberland and farming).

As we draw nearer to the end of the 2021 financial year, it’s a good time for clients to speak with their Advisor to consider strategies that could be beneficial to their financial well-being.

The sustained rally in Australian equities since markets bottomed in March 2020 has so far taken place without any meaningful price correction.

The US CPI release for April suggests that inflationary pressures are picking up quite sharply. Two critical questions facing investors are whether these emerging inflationary pressures will persist beyond the next few months and how the Fed will respond.

Bank reporting season delivered what we were looking for across three key areas: 1) high single-digit (underlying) earnings growth and dividend beats; 2) falling bad debt provisions ahead of the market; and 3) strong capital levels – suggesting capital management is not too far away.

The latest Federal Budget commits to a continuing focus on supporting the economic recovery by starkly prioritising job creation and enhanced social programs over medium-term budget repair.

The inflation outlook is currently drawing even more than its usual degree of attention given the sheer size of the monetary and fiscal response to the economic dislocation brought on by the global Covid-19 pandemic.

After a tumultuous 2020 for corporate earnings, the Australian equities earning cycle is starting to gather momentum. Consensus earnings upgrades are at all-time highs, providing a platform for the start of a V-shaped recovery for earnings.