Rising interest rates, falling house prices and persistent inflation may have left many Australians feeling pessimistic about the Australian economy, but not AMP Deputy Chief Economist Diana Mousina.
Most people’s experience of artificial intelligence has been the chatbot: ask a question, get an answer. That use is still growing. What is changing—and what matters for Contrarius’ Funds—is the next layer of demand.
Most people’s experience of artificial intelligence has been the chatbot: ask a question, get an answer. That use is still growing. What is changing—and what matters for Contrarius’ Funds—is the next layer of demand.
Fixed income is often described as the defensive part of an investment portfolio. For many investors, it is expected to provide regular income, reduce reliance on share market returns and help smooth the overall investment journey. That description is broadly right. But it can also create an unrealistic expectation that fixed income investing is simple, safe and always stable.
Central banks can’t buy gold fast enough, while gold miners are recovering after a dramatic selloff and Bitcoin, the asset previously regarded as digital gold, is having a miserable year.
Oil has swung from a war premium to ceasefire calm to renewed conflict and back again in the space of five months, wrong-footing forecasters at every turn. Understanding what’s driving the chaos arguably matters more than picking a side on where the oil price goes next.
Ask most investors what determines their long-term returns and they’ll most likely talk about their asset allocation, the way they select their fund managers or their track records at getting macro calls right.
When it comes to ETFs, a few stereotypes abound. Passive, low cost, flexible, broad exposure. While there’s some truth rooted in the stereotypes – some ETFs are index-trackers and have lower fees after all – investors should be wary of leaning too closely on these in their approach to ETFs.
Markets have never lacked reasons to worry. There’s generally a long list of macro risks and challenges that need to be navigated. Yet the data on which investors succeed tells a clear story: cautious optimism has consistently outperformed pessimism.
If you're planning to invest $500,000 in Australia in 2026, the timing may be in your favour. With the Reserve Bank holding the cash rate steady at 3.6% and markets entering a phase of cautious recovery, investors are navigating a landscape shaped by stabilising inflation, firmer demand, and new appetite for resilient, income-producing assets.
Global investment sentiment gauges have rarely been this bullish, and history says that’s precisely when investors should pay closer attention.
Here’s what the data shows and what it means.