This article was first published on 15 July 2020. It has been updated and republished due to investor demand.
At the beginning of each financial year, we typically receive many questions around distributions paid by ETFs. With the 21/22 financial year just a few weeks behind us,
Black gold: the next phase of the reopen trade?
Reading time: 2 minutes
Commodity markets including metals and energy sectors have been on a wild ride over the last 18 months. A synchronised global lockdown in the first quarter of 2020 hit global commodity markets hard and led to WTI oil future prices trading below zero for the first time in history (which we wrote about previously here).
Sticker shock! How to position portfolios for a potential breakout in inflation
Reading time: 5 minutes
Along with rising commodity prices over recent months, the recent much higher than expected lift in United States consumer prices has heightened global market concern over a potential breakout in inflation. For those investors concerned about such a risk, this note considers some potential ways they can add an ‘inflation hedge’
Good news is bad news
Global markets
The ‘bloodbath’ in global bond markets continued last week, with U.S. 10-year bond yields ending the week up another 7bps to 1.41%. A poorly supported U.S. 7-year Treasury bond auction appeared to be the catalyst for last week’s further yield gain, with assurances from Fed chair Powell (not even thinking about ending QE anytime soon!) only stemming the sell-off for a couple of days.
Bond blues
Global markets
The rise and rise in global bond yields in recent weeks – on the back of rising raw material and wholesale price pressures – finally got noticed by hard-charging equity markets last week, though at this stage the yield impact is a glancing blow rather than a knockout punch.
Inflation Watch
Global markets
Global equities continued to grind higher last week in the absence of bad news. Biden’s massive U.S. fiscal stimulus package remains the ‘gift that keeps on giving’ as it slowly winds it way through Congress and gives equity bulls something positive to talk about on quiet days. The U.S.
Market Trends: December 2020
Key global market trends – stock rebound!
After two months of consolidation, global equities powered ahead in November, reflecting positive COVID-19 vaccine news and a seemingly clear winner of the U.S. Presidential election. The gains came despite rising COVID-19 cases in both Europe and the United States and the re-imposition of some social distancing restrictions.
The case for a purer exposure to gold
Reading time: 4 minutes
It’s no surprise that gold is surging right now, given escalating China/U.S. tensions, real yields at or below zero, and a weakening USD. On 28 July, the gold spot price reached a new all-time high of USD1,959 per ounce, eclipsing the levels set in 2011-12 on fears of QE induced inflation.
End of financial year thoughts on ETFs
Reading time: 4 mins
Note: BetaShares is not a tax adviser and this information should not be construed as tax advice. You should obtain professional, independent tax advice before making any investment decision.
Sir Benjamin Franklin had some witty quotes: one of my favourites is: “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” 1 June marked the day pubs re-opened in New South Wales,
Pure alchemy – why gold matters
Reading time: 5 mins
As the Novel Coronavirus pandemic has spread, we have seen continued interest in gold for asset allocation usage and as a trading thematic. Given its popularity in times of economic stress, we thought it worthwhile to re-examine the case for gold given the current market uncertainty.