Property rising like a soufflé

And so it goes, yet another month of stronger than usual growth in almost all sectors of the residential property market across the country. The property spruikers (principally major newspaper publications) maintain that nothing is standing in the way of a continued upward spiral in property prices despite the RBA clearly using monetary policy to encourage a sense of normality to a sector seemingly trading well beyond its fundamentals.

Have they got it right?

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Summer Rain and Share Markets?

We trust that you are refreshed as a result of spending time away, with your families or both throughout the recent weeks. With our dams somewhat replenished, albeit temporarily, due to late spring rain and our share market seemingly re-energised by renewed investor confidence, the summer BBQ conversation starter has inevitably been 'Can we now rely on either to provide sustained relief to our gardens and portfolios respectively?'

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Can we accommodate the necessary change?

Risk spreads are narrowing, the corporate sector is recapitalising, industrial production has turned upwards, US and UK house prices have troughed and the Australian housing sector is responding positively to policy stimulus; our immediate challenges might well be dissipating but there are an entire new set lurking over our back fence in Asia.

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Maintaining Control

The past 18 months has tested the mettle of even the most rational long term investors. There has been no shortage of bad economic news, both globally and domestically and the signs are that this bad news may continue in 2009.

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Is the wheel slowly beginning to turn?

One of the more common questions posed to our planners over the
past few months has predictably been, when will the market turn?

In order to address this question objectively and with sincerity, we need to address
the factors that have driven the Australian share market to where it is today – intense
uncertainty surrounding mortgage markets in the US, unprecedented increases in oil prices
and ever tightening monetary policy (increasing interest rates).

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Everyone knows that all markets have their ups and downs - remember when the most recent spate of 'serious' North Queensland cyclones had us buying bananas at over $10 per kg. The effects of a tightening of the US credit market might well have been the Australian share market equivalent to a cyclone and the produce markets.

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When Spring time comes around, it seems that many Australians fall in love all over again with their two alluring passions – horse racing and property!

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For the past three years, the vast majority or Australians have enjoyed an uncommonly favourable set of economic conditions that are unlikely to collectively repeat themselves, possibly for decades; historically low interest rates, low inflation, near full employment, relative stability in global affairs and an unprecedented level of Asian demand for natural resources. As a direct result, Australians have never been so well off in relative terms where salary and the basic cost of living is concerned despite politicians on both sides of the fence making regular reference to battling Australian families.

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The deadline relating to the superannuation ‘window of opportunity’ is now well and truly upon us, the interest of the general public only seems to be intensifying. Naturally our existing clients will be placed at the front of the queue, so please don’t be shy if you have any nagging query in this regard, just don’t be slow or worse, late!

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What does the weather and drought have to do with wealth creation? If you are Australian – plenty. There was a seemingly distant moment in time when the Australian economy rode proudly on the sheep’s back, the success of the agricultural sector was central to our economic fortunes.

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Every year, the Spring Carnival is upon those of us who are Melbourne residents before we know it. Are the horses now simply a side-show to what has become an enormous party/industry for what is beginning to stretch well beyond the traditional week?

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What an amazing final quarter (of the financial year) it has turned out to be! April brought with it yet another positive month in the Australian equities market but by the middle of June all of these gains a little more were promptly handed back. Where to from here for the share market? Our article on page 3 should shed some light on this for you and how you might have been affected.

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Welcome to our very first edition of Prosperitas. There is an enormous amount of change occurring not only in the economy at present but also within legislation and we believe that by producing a quarterly communication for our clients we will place you in a position for more informed decision making.

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