Bassanese Bites: Lockdown – March 23 2020
The combination of rising COVID-19 cases and restrictive government policy responses in the United States were the main global market focus last week, and which understandably pushed equity markets lower. California and New York are now in effective lock down, meaning citizens are ordered …
Bassanese Bites: Feeling sick – March 16 2020
Last week was one to tell your grandchildren about. And for the younger people around the market, you’ve now been blooded with an example of just how volatile and cruel the equity market can be. Each generation gets its own meltdown it seems and …
Bassanese Bites: RBA cut tomorrow – March 02 2020
Where to begin? Clearly fears of the coronavirus took centre stage last week, causing the biggest one week drop on Wall Street since the financial crisis. It’s also the fastest “correction” (i.e 10% decline from previous peak) in history. Are markets over …
Bassanese Bites: Hold your breath – February 24 2020
Last week global markets got their first taste of the negative economic impact of the coronavirus – and it was not easily digested. Although China continues to claim that the rate of new infections has peaked, Apple’s warning of disruptions to both Asian sales …
Bassanese Bites: Bubble trouble – February 17 2020
Global stocks continued to shrug off coronavirus fears last week with the S&P 500 up a lazy 1.6% to reach a new record high. Reports of a possible peak in the number of new coronavirus cases was the main (positive) market development, notwithstanding a …
Bassanese Bites: Tough medicine – February 10 2020
Last week global markets managed to shrug off coronavirus concerns – helped by continued solid economic data in the United States. Indeed, there was a better than expected 225k gain in US jobs during January (market expectation 160k) helped by milder than usual winter …
Bassanese Bites: Going viral – February 03 2020
After a strong start to the year – with seemingly little to worry about – global stocks suffered a set back last week as the impact of the coronavirus began to take its toll. While most commentators, myself included, suspect the virus will be …
Bassanese Bites: Sell the fact? – December 16 2019
Two major market concerns appear to have been resolved over the past week, with US President Trump concluding his “phase 1” deal with China and the UK Conservatives romping to victory and making certain the UK’s “soft exit” from the EU. That said, with …
Bassanese Bites: Off Again On Again – December 9 2019
Global equities got off to a poor start last week thanks to Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on (small fry) Brazil and Argentina, a weaker than expected US manufacturing survey and – most critically of all – reports that Trump was relaxed about not …
Bassanese Bites: RBA to cut to 0.25% – December 2 2019
Wall Street hit new record highs last week with investors remaining ever hopeful of a trade deal. On that score, the latest titbit of information was China’s pledge to tighten protections for intellectual property. That said, we’re still in a waiting game – …