Market & Portfolio Update - April 2019
Market & Portfolio Update - April 2019
April saw global share markets continue the strong performance that we have seen so far this year. Global markets have now returned an impressive 17% since the start of the year, having now recovered from the volatility we saw towards the end of the 2018.
Europe was the strongest performing of the developed markets, benefiting from stronger than expected GDP growth. GDP for the Euro bloc was up 0.4% for the first quarter of 2019, a growth rate faster than what we saw in the second half of last year.
Towards the end of March, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand announced that the next change in the Official Cash Rate was likely to be down, catching many in the market by surprise. The update caused interest rates across the range of maturities to fall along with the New Zealand Dollar. The fall in the NZ Dollar helps NZ’s export sector along with investors like yourselves with overseas assets that are now worth more as a result.
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: Mind Over Money by Claudia Hammond
Welcome to the Lifetime Book Club - this month, we’re exploring the fascinating connection between money and psychology with Mind Over Money by Claudia Hammond. If you’ve ever wondered why you make certain financial decisions - or found yourself repeating money habits you wish you could change - this book is an eye-opener.
The Art of Weathering Market Turbulence
As seasoned investors know, share prices can move up and down a lot. It’s what investment professionals refer to as ‘volatility’. Sometimes price volatility may be relatively low, but over the last 3-4 weeks volatility has spiked and global shares, especially those in the US, have fallen rather sharply.