Market & Portfolio Update - April 2021
Global share markets continued their march higher during April, rising 4% in local currency terms. Economic data has brushed off the horrid Covid situation in India and continues to surprise to the upside. Labour markets are rebounding quickly compared to other cycles and business confidence surveys sit comfortably in expansionary mode.
One theme that continues to be front of mind for investors is rising inflation around the world. Covid-19 has disrupted the global supply chain, initially causing things to grind to a halt before quickly needing to ramp back up to levels higher than pre-covid. This “whip” type effect, along with the large-scale stimulus, has resulted in inflation rates rising. We began adjusting our investments for this in the second half of 2020, by adding inflation-linked bonds in both the NZ fixed interest and global fixed interest sectors.
Lifetime Book Club: Die With Zero by Bill Perkins
“The goal is not to die with the most money, but to live the richest life.”
That is the central idea of Die With Zero. From the start, Perkins makes it clear this is not a book about saving, investing, or retiring early. It is about using money, time, and health to create a meaningful life now, not someday.
The Rise of Ethical Investing
Ethical investment, also known as Socially Responsible or ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investment, is about putting your money where your values are. These investments allow you to support companies and industries that aim to make a positive impact, whether that’s reducing carbon emissions, promoting fair treatment of workers, or driving social change.