Kapiti Financial Advice Limited – KiwiSaver and Investment
October was characterised by US-China trade tensions and increasing concerns over the sustainability of the AI investment boom. Nevertheless, global equity markets demonstrated resilience, buoyed by strong corporate earnings, central bank’s interest rate cuts, and the prospect of increased government spending in Japan and Europe. New Zealand’s sharemarket rose 1.9% in October, boosted by lower … Read more
Global equity markets moved higher in September on better-than-expected US economic activity data, AI optimism, and a reduction in the US federal funds rate. Global bond markets benefited from the lower federal funds rate and longer-term interest rates fell on soft US employment data. The New Zealand sharemarket moved higher on improved investor sentiment as … Read more
Global sharemarkets rose 2.2% in July. US markets led the way on favourable corporate earnings updates, particularly better than expected profit updates from the technology giants Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, and Meta. Microsoft’s value rose to over US$4 trillion following its profit update. Apple reported strong revenue growth, helped by consumers rushing to buy iPhones ahead … Read more
A calming of trade tensions between the US and China, a quick resolution to the Israel – Iran conflict, and the prospect of the US Federal Reserve (Fed) cutting interest rates allowed US share markets to rise in June. As the year progresses US policy uncertainty is expected to diminish as the Trump administration focusses … Read more
Global financial markets were calmer in May, following extreme volatility in April. The US S&P 500 Index led global sharemarkets higher, gaining 6.2%. There is a risk that no clarity is gained on the outcomes of trade negotiations by the end of the year. It is also possible that Trump will persevere with his Liberation … Read more
Global financial markets experienced a very unpleasant start to April as US President Donald Trump unveiled larger than expected “reciprocal” tariffs on countries around the world. As the month went on things got better. Global markets stabilised and recovered after Trump called for a 90-day pause for the reciprocal tariffs. In the final wash, Global sharemarkets … Read more