As we have been sharing our view that volatility will remain stubbornly high in 2022, the S&P 500 has gained or lost 2% or more in a day some 32 times so far in 2022, compared to 24 such days in all of 2021! The uncertainty of Fed action to curb inflation and raise rates is causing much ... Read more
A Much Needed Bout of Optimism — by Aziz Meherali
Firstly, I hope you are all well and keeping safe. There is much pain and suffering in the world today, exacerbated by Covid-19. Whilst it continues to plague the world, there is sunshine behind the clouds --- we just have to persevere for the clouds to pass as they always do! I am writing ... Read more
Gamestop and Market Views — by Aziz Meherali CFP
There has been quite a lot of commotion around the recent Gamestop trading activity and has garnered a lot of media attention. Let us look at what happened. Short selling is when an investor borrows stock and then sells that stock on the stock market. They do this because they take the view that ... Read more
Are we at a precipice for change in equity markets? —Aziz Meherali CFP
Yesterday, in a speech, RBA assistant governor Michele Bullock warned that more businesses would go under resulting in a negative impact on bank balance sheets. She stated that the economic recovery from this recession would be “unpredictable and uneven”. She further stated, “There will be rising ... Read more
Covid-19 and Markets by Aziz Meherali
We are in unprecedented times where Central Banks globally are artificially inflating asset bubbles to stop significant debt levels from impacting markets and working at keeping the whole system afloat. Given zero interest rates and very low inflation, the US Federal Reserve will continue its asset ... Read more
Fortitude and Resilience—by Aziz Meherali
Firstly, and most importantly, we hope you are all keeping safe and well during these trying times in our lives. Let’s hope 2020 turns out to be a low-point when we look forward in time. Equity markets have remained resilient despite Covid-19 still increasing and a second wave looks more and more ... Read more
Optimistically Cautious — by Aziz Meherali
The virus is raising its ugly head again in China and continuing to spread its claws around the world. China, pressured now not only in the South China Seas but also at its borders with India, is becoming increasingly hostile with its neighbours as well as trading partners, asserting both its ... Read more
Market Update—Aziz Meherali
Just to provide a quick virus update (but please remember that these numbers change daily). Current global cases of COVID-19 stands at 5.56M with an additional 64,000 cases overnight. This latest increase makes it the 57th occasion over the past 58 days where the numbers have increased in excess ... Read more
Market Views by Aziz Meherali
During the GFC, markets took 47 weeks to lose 38%. This time around, it took just 4 weeks from peak to trough to lose 38%! Markets have recovered around half of the downturn experienced in March culminating in a speedy recovery of approximately 15-20% in the past 2 weeks. Overall, markets are ... Read more
Market Rebound or a Dead Cat Bounce —by Aziz Meherali
Markets have rebounded over the past couple of days both Globally and here in Australia. This was partially due to the US$2 Trillion stimulus package approved by the US Senate as well as investor sentiment on increased stimulus measures around the world. Is this a Dead Cat bounce? Our view, as ... Read more