Bitcoin, Xerocoin, Litecoin, Zcash, Dash etc otherwise known as Cryptocurrencies seem to be everywhere at the moment. So what are they? A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography (complex code solving by computers) for security. The common characteristics that are different from traditional (fiat) currency such as the Australian dollar, US […]
Peter Costello’s 2006 simplified superannuation rules seem a lifetime ago. In complete contrast the 2016 Federal Budget contains complexity, retrospective rule changes and personal and company tax cuts. The Leader of the Opposition says they will support some changes however not others including the retrospective initiatives. Given the Federal election in July 2016 there will […]
In late May 2015 the banking regulator (APRA) has tackled the banks in an attempt to curb a rapid expansion in investor lending (and rapidly increasing property prices mainly in NSW and VIC) given 50+ year record low interest rates. In response, the major Australian banks have started increasing interest rates for investment borrowings (by […]
Every 5 years the Australian government commissions an Intergenerational report to assess the sustainability of economic policy setting based on projected population trends and other demographics. A few of the key charts from the report are extracted below. In a financial sense this data highlights the need for the country to review macro taxation policy […]
Spring in some years sees the media and then investors get excited (by negative news) and 2014 didn’t disappoint. After an uneventful six years of steady growth since the depth of the GFC, we were suddenly reminded by financial news headlines such as in October 2014 ‘September shocker as Australian Shares lose $90 billion’ that […]
How often do you see a positive financial news headline? The ‘media’ (a broad term today) thrives on emotional headlines to capture people’s attention and sell advertising (or clicks!). If the Australian equity market falls 3% in a day you can bet it will make the headlines (‘share market blood bath’ or ‘$X billion wiped out!’). […]
Be it ongoing banking woes in Europe, declining property prices or the slowdown in the resource sector, in many cases the financial media continues to paint a bleak picture of the investment environment. However there is an untold story of success starting to make itself heard amongst wise Australian investors. The widespread reaction to continued […]