Market & Portfolio Update - October 2018
Market & Portfolio Update - October 2018
Share markets continued their 2017 ascension during October, with a moderate 3% gain boosted further by the New Zealand Dollar falling 5%. For New Zealand investors, the fall in our local currency reinforces the diversification benefits of holding foreign investments, which rise in value when the currency falls.
While exchange rate changes have featured this month, the real story driving markets is global economic growth continuing to expand all around the world. This is one of the pillars supporting global share markets’ good performance since the start of the year.
With many investors globally remaining arguably too cautious about the current economic expansion, we have, in the vein of Warren Buffett, slightly increased funds’ global share investments during the month of October.
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.
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.