Monthly Market Update
The year began strongly for most sharemarkets as the optimism from the last quarter of 2019 carried over into January. This momentum was particularly evident in Asia where IPOs (Initial public offerings) were off to their best start since 2007. By late January however, realisation that China’s coronavirus outbreak had spread to other countries caused investors to abruptly move into risk-off mode, sending sharemarkets lower in the last week of the month.
Monthly Market Update
European markets finished the year in a relatively optimistic mood. After the Tories' resounding election victory, investors are more confident it will be smooth sailing for Brexit. At home the New Zealand share market had a strong December with the S&P NZX 50 rising by 1.6% and posting a remarkable 30.4% return for the year.
Investing in a low interest environment
The collapse of 67 finance companies between 2006 and 2012, with a corresponding loss of $3 billion, should forever serve as a reminder to investors about the risks of chasing yield. But in the current low interest environment, this temptation could once again rear its ugly head.