If you’ve been thinking about investing but keep putting it off, chances are you might have run into one of these common myths. They sound convincing, but they’re often the very things that stop people from getting started. So let’s bust them.
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Global share markets were mixed this week. In Australia, the ASX 200 fell 1.1% as investors took some profits after a strong August and around 30 companies traded ex-dividend. All eleven major sectors finished in the red, led by Technology, which dropped 3.7%. Stronger-than-expected GDP data also weighed on rate cut hopes, with markets scaling back expectations of near-term easing.
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If you are new to investing, you might have heard the word “portfolio” thrown around a lot. It sounds fancy, but at its core, it is simply a collection of investments you own.
Think of it like a basket. Inside that basket could be all sorts of things: shares, exchange traded funds (ETFs), bonds, property investments, or even cash. The mix of what you choose to put in your basket is what makes up your portfolio.
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In Australia, the ASX 200 managed to notch a small gain of 0.1% this week, marking four weeks in the green. The RBA minutes were largely uneventful, showing a unanimous decision and hinting that further cuts are likely over the next year. The local earnings season has now wrapped up, with 95% of companies having reported results. Despite some sharp moves in the big names, overall it has been a strong season with 29% of companies beating expectations, 36% missing, and 35% reporting in line – which is above the historical average.
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If you have ever mentioned you are thinking about investing, there is a good chance someone, maybe your cousin at the BBQ or your next-door neighbour over the fence, has told you, “It’s simple. Just buy low and sell high.”
It sounds like flawless logic. Buy when prices are cheap (eg: The low part of that statement), sell when they are expensive (sell high), and you will make a profit. On paper, it is the perfect strategy.
The only problem? Doing it in real life is far harder than it sounds.
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Markets saw a generally positive week, with global equities edging higher. Investors also saw early signs of a rotation, with money flowing out of the big-name tech stocks and into more traditional and cyclical parts of the market.
In Australia, the ASX 200 gained 0.3% for the week and even hit an all-time high on Thursday. Reporting season has been lively, with some big names moving sharply on results. James Hardie dropped 33%, CSL fell 20%, and Guzman y Gomez (GYG) slid 15% after disappointing guidance; this shows how sensitive the market has been. Still, gains in consumer discretionary and financials helped keep the index in positive territory.
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If you’ve watched the news lately, you will have seen that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has cut interest rates for the third time this year, bringing the official cash rate down by 0.25% to 3.60%.
After years of steady rate hikes, the trend has finally shifted. We’ve already seen several cuts this year, giving many Australian households some welcome breathing room.
So, when you hear about an interest rate change all over the news, you might be wondering, why should I care? and how does this actually affect me?
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Global markets had a strong week, with most major share indices hitting fresh highs. Investors were encouraged by signs that central banks may start cutting interest rates later this year, after softer inflation data in the US. Even with a hotter producer price reading (which reflects costs earlier in the supply chain), markets stayed upbeat.
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Global equity markets posted a strong rebound this week, with all major indices finishing in positive territory as investors welcomed solid corporate earnings and growing expectations of interest rate cuts. Trade developments remained in focus, as the US announced a 100% tariff on imported semiconductors while exempting companies that reshore manufacturing. Optimism also lifted over the prospect of a US-China trade truce, while the EU and US finalised a trade agreement introducing a blanket 15% tariff on most EU goods.
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Global markets ended the week on a softer note as disappointing US jobs data and geopolitical tensions weighed on sentiment. In the US, job growth slowed in July with 73,000 new jobs added compared to expectations of 100,000, while the unemployment rate nudged up to 4.2%. That’s led markets to believe the Federal Reserve is now more likely to cut rates in September. Volatility also picked up, reminding investors that markets don’t always move in straight lines.
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