Economist
Oliver’s Insights – The investment Outlook for 2026 – expect a rough but, ultimately, ok ride
22 January
Key points 2025 was another strong year for investors with shares up strongly on the back of better than feared growth and profits and global central banks cutting rates. Balanced super funds returned around 9%. Volatility rose though mainly on...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – 2025 turned out pretty good, but what about 2026 – still at the bliss point?
18 December
Key points The key themes for 2025 were: tariff turmoil; global resilience helped by AI enthusiasm; sticky inflation; lower rates; and lots of geopolitical noise. For the third year in a row, returns were strong, albeit they slowed. 2026 is...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – 2025 turned out pretty good, but what about 2026 – still at the bliss point?
11 December
Key points The key themes for 2025 were: tariff turmoil; global resilience helped by AI enthusiasm; sticky inflation; lower rates; and lots of geopolitical noise. For the third year in a row, returns were strong, albeit they slowed. 2026 is...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Australian home prices up solidly – expect some slowing in 2026
4 December
Key points Cotality data shows national average home prices rose strongly again in November, but with the pace of growth slowing slightly to 1%mom. Near record low vacancy rates is contributing to a pickup in annual rental growth to 5%yoy. The...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Housing affordability at a record low – here’s four key ways to fix it
27 November
Key points With the latest surge in home prices relative to incomes housing affordability is at a new record low. This is adding to a slide in home ownership and rising inequality. The key to sustainably improving housing affordability is to...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Share market wobbles – what are the negatives and positives?
20 November
Key points Rich valuations, AI bubble worries and uncertainty about central bank rate cuts are the main negatives for shares at present and could see recent falls extend further. Against this though, global profit growth remains strong and...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Investment cycles – what are they and why you need to be aware of them
23 October
Key points Cyclical fluctuations are a key aspect of investment markets. Most are driven by economic developments but get magnified by swings in investor sentiment. Of particular importance are the long-term cycles which are often driven by waves...[Read More]
Investment markets and key developments – Weekly market update 10-10-2025
16 October
US and European share markets fell sharply on Friday in response to the latest threatened re-escalation in the trade war between the US and China. The 2.7% fall in US shares after Trump threatened additional tariffs on China left it down 2.4% for...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Bubble trouble – is AI enthusiasm driving a bubble in shares?
9 October
Key points Rich share market valuations are warning of the risk of a pullback in shares amidst fears of a bubble and it’s possible that enthusiasm for AI has run ahead of itself. But the fundamentals behind this are arguably far stronger than...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Medium term investment returns face five key constraints
25 September
Key points Five mega trends still point to risks of a more inflation prone/lower growth environment than pre-pandemic. These are: a move away from economic rationalist policies; the reversal of globalisation; rising geopolitical tensions; climate...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Gold at record highs – can it keep going? Implications for investors
18 September
Key points The gold price has surged to record highs. Key drivers have been central banks increasing their gold reserves, rate cuts, a renewed downtrend in the $US and demand for a hedge against public debt worries and geopolitical...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Australian growth on the mend – implications for profits and interest rates
11 September
Key points Australia is seeing a gradual economic recovery with growth likely to reach 2.5% next year. This in turn is underpinning a likely upswing in profits. The RBA is expected to cut again in November, February and May to 2.85%, although the...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Compound interest and returns are an investor’s best friend
21 August
Key points Compound interest is an investor’s best friend but can be a borrower’s worst nightmare. The higher the return, the earlier and bigger the investment contribution and the longer the period the more it works. To make the most of it,...[Read More]
Compound interest and returns are an investor’s best friend
27 August
If there is “one thing” investors should know about investing, it’s the power of compound interest or returns. In the ever-rising obsession with short-term developments impacting investment markets around the economy, interest rates, profits,...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – The RBA cuts for the third time – expect a further gradual easing to 2.85%
14 August
Key points The RBA cut its cash rate by 0.25% taking it to 3.6%. This is the third rate cut in this easing cycle. The RBA sees inflation running around target but has revised its growth forecasts down again. Its forecasts assume that the cash...[Read More]