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2018 Year in Review
Read more: 2018 Year in ReviewEconomic Overview Global equities posted sharp declines in the December quarter, delivering their worst yearly performance in seven years largely on the back of the final three months. The major concerns were global trade, slowing economic growth and the US Federal Reserve’s plans for further interest rate rises. Government bond yields generally fell (prices rose), reflecting the broad uncertainty. In the US, the US-China trade dispute also continued to hamper investor optimism. The Federal Reserve (Fed) raised interest rates in December on continued stability in economic data. The labour market remained extremely strong. However, the central bank grew otherwise more…
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Venus & Mars
Read more: Venus & MarsMen and women are different when it comes to money. Not the most outrageous statement. It’s something financial advisers who sit across the desk from the sexes on a daily basis have no problem telling you. What are the differences? If you want to make it simple, women are about security and men are about freedom. That’s what money generally means to each. How does that work for them when investing? A study earlier this year by Stash, a US based investment app, found that it works better for the women. Stash had quite a hefty data set to work…
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And It’s Gone…
Read more: And It’s Gone…James Cordier of optionsellers.com is the type of guy who you don’t really know who he is, or what he does, but he’s someone who provides those assured sounding quotes on the direction of markets on the business channels. As his website used to say, he’s been featured on (or in) CNBC, Fox Business, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CNN Money & Barron’s, among others. Cordier’s fame reached beyond the confines of the business channels this week, though he won’t be posting any of those articles up for prospective investors. His website is gone. Now just a baby blue…
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House Prices to Fall 30% (Now We Have Your Attention…)
Read more: House Prices to Fall 30% (Now We Have Your Attention…)If you haven’t heard, house prices in Australia’s largest cities have been falling. In Sydney and Melbourne, auction clearance rates are wallowing in the low 40% range (it may even be lower given the transparency of the data) and the price decline in Sydney has extended out to 15 months without any signs of a turn around. Measured against other downturns, it’s not yet remarkable. The falls have fuelled a furious guessing game from various real estate industry pundits. Their previous calls of where the markets would go in Sydney and Melbourne have been skittled and are now being continually…
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True Grit
Read more: True GritHow far do we get without commitment and perseverance? Any task we begin in life is going to require some commitment and perseverance if we wish to pursue it thoroughly. That commitment may begin early in life. As children, we may show an interest to pursue a particular sport or hobby, alternatively our parents may force us into various activities they think we should pursue! How long any of these endeavours will last, largely depends on whether we find them fulfilling in some way or how much persistence we have. As children, we can be fickle. Toys can fly out…
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