Central banks keep markets on edge
The central bank policies of major developed world economies continue to drive much of the investor sentiment in global financial markets.
Since the lows of the global financial crisis in 2009, key central banks such as the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and the Reserve Bank of Australia have actively loosened monetary policy and cut interest rates to unprecedented levels in an attempt to help stimulate growth and facilitate a turnaround in economic conditions.
The US Federal Reserve continues to delay a hike in US interest rates (currently at 0.50%), arguing that economic conditions in the US are still not at satisfactory levels to warrant a tightening in monetary policy.
Other key central banks, including the European Central Bank and Bank of Japan, have implemented policies of negative interest rates and bond buying programs to try and kick-start economic conditions.
The effectiveness of such central bank policy is now being questioned as major developed economies, particularly Europe and Japan, experience a prolonged period of negative interest rates without a clear turnaround in economic growth.
Investors are concerned that the effectiveness of these policies are beginning to wane and that these central banks are running out of options to revive their respective economies.
Australia’s economy not in the clear
The August meeting of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) saw Australian cash rates cut by 25 basis points to a record low of 1.50%. The RBA cited concerns around the strength of the Australian dollar and potential room for stronger economic growth as key reasons for the rate decision.
In September, the new RBA governor Philip Lowe stated that challenges remained for the Australian economy, including low wage growth, poor infrastructure and potential risks around the high cost of housing. |
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Share markets unfazed over the quarter
Both Australian and offshore investors appeared undeterred by global economic concerns, trading positively over the first three months of the new financial year. Australian investors bought into the local share market, with the S&P/ASX300 Index1 gaining 5.2% over the September quarter.
The gains in the Australian share market were helped along by a strong rebound in materials and resources stocks that resulted from a reversal in commodity markets over the September quarter.
Investors also took to international share markets, the MSCI World ex Australia Index2 adding 2.0% over the latest three-month period and shaking off much of the negativity in offshore markets from the previous twelve months.
Growing risk in the hunt for yield
With global interest rates at historic lows (and in some cases at negative levels), investors are continuing to search for assets outside of cash investments in a search for better returns and yield.
This has seen a rise in the prices of so-called ‘yield-based’ assets such as bonds, utility stocks and REIT’s3, unlisted property and unlisted infrastructure over the last few years.
There are concerns that the prolonged period of low interest rates is potentially inflating the prices for these yield-based assets, with risks of a correction in these assets.
Uncertainty around future market conditions, however, remains front of mind for investors and this may continue to see support for income producing yield-based assets in the near term. |