DESPITE THE RECENT new Omicron variant, consumer demand is surging against the backdrop of labour shortages, supply chain blockages and recent price increases.
All of this is causing confusion and some concern. And pundits around the world are detailing strong Inflationary pressure – which usually means interest rates are likely to increase, sooner rather than later. [Read more…]
IF YOU REMEMBER back to last May and June of last year, I explained that the economic decline caused by COVID was quite different from any other recessions.
What we experienced was a Medical Crisis with economic implications. As opposed to a total collapse of the Financial System – as you experienced during the GFC. [Read more…]
YOU MAY RECALL back in May and July, I foreshadowed a quick recovery would occur – as soon as we emerged from lockdown.
You see, what we’ve just been through, is a medical crisis with financial implications. NOT a total financial collapse – like we had during the GFC.
As such, “Demand” didn’t disappear … it simply got deferred. And you’ve already observed that with consumers now engaging in “Retail revenge” – as depicted in the graphic below (AFR, front page: 3 Dec 2020).
During the pandemic my clients seemed to fall into two camps:
Already you are seeing eager buyers re-entering the property market (both residential and commercial) – with prices on the rise once more.
Therefore, those who did buy during the pandemic are now having their faith vindicated. And now, the strength of this renewed demand is bringing more properties onto the market.
Not all the properties coming onto the market during November & December can be absorbed before Christmas.
Naturally, this will make those vendors somewhat unsettled – because the commercial market doesn’t officially reopen again until February/March.
So, if you are cashed up and able to move quickly … there should be a number of good choices for you early in the New Year.
Bottom Line: What I’m planning to do is compile a list of those unsold properties for my clients. And then, we’ll quietly sift through these opportunities together – to help clients secure several genuine bargains.
If that could be of interest to you … just let me know.
RIGHT NOW everyone is rather confused because of COVID. And what I generally find is that when investors are confused … they tend to do nothing.
Yet despite the dire predictions of market collapses, that’s NOT what has occurred. Sure, the share market has been rather volatile. However, the property market has basically held up well. [Read more…]
SEVERAL CLIENTS have been asking about how long until things start to get back to “normal”. And what changes investors need to watch for, after we emerged from lockdown.
During times of economic uncertainty, you should focus on the underlying fundamentals driving demand and investment. And these still remain strong.
In my view, you should see a stronger than expected recovery – provided various states don’t unnecessarily delay the steps needed to restart the economy. [Read more…]
THERE WAS A FAVOURABLE response to the so-called Phase 1 breakthrough in the Trade Talks, between the US and China. And there’s been further positive developments this week.
However, it is actually worth reviewing where things stood before these recent events.
Despite political tensions, there has been little adverse impact on Australia’s trade with China. And the rapid increase in China’s share of our exports has been principally driven by higher iron ore prices. [Read more…]
ACCORDING TO JP MORGAN, the expected trade war should only shave about 0.07% off Australia’s GDP over the next couple of years. [Read more…]
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A NUMBER of journalists and economic pundits seem to have been focussing solely upon the latest GDP figures.
However, the recent NAB monthly business survey appears to contradict concerns about the shaky household consumption sector – where the main concerns seem to relate to past issues.
Mainly things like … the end of the mining boom, resulting in a collapse of wage growth. [Read more…]
WHILE THE WORLD may be stunned by Donald Trump’s win, you’ll most likely find things will not be nearly as bad as everyone thinks.
And that’s reflected in the huge rebound in the stock market — once investors began studying his policies in more depth.
In many respects, the media is responsible for the outcome — because so much airplay was given to his outlandish rhetoric. [Read more…]
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THE ANSWER is both Yes and No … depending upon which country you live in.
Last weekend’s Financial Review reported an analysis by Oxford Economics, which predicted the likely effect upon GDP during 2015-16 … of oil being at $US40 Vs. $US84 per barrel.
And a quick summary of that is included over on the right. [Read more…]
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OFFICE VACANCY RATES have lept towards 15% in Brisbane, Darwin, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth. And this takes the national average to 12.4%, as an overall vacancy level.
However, businesses are now leasing space once again in both Sydney and Melbourne — where their vacancy rates are currently hovering around 10%, according to Jones Lang LaSalle. [Read more…]
