Author: Melanie Stewart

  Federal Budget 2026: Reform and Resilience in Uncertain Times Treasurer Jim Chalmers has framed the 2026 Federal Budget as “the most important and ambitious budget in decades”. “This Budget is about getting us through the global oil shock and taking pressure off Australians while building a stronger economy, better tax system, a more sustainable budget and lifting living standards,” the Treasurer told Parliament. With an overarching theme of ‘reform…  Read more

Please find below an update on recent market movements following the escalation of conflict in Iran. The article outlines how global markets have responded, the key drivers behind current volatility, and why remaining disciplined with long‑term investment strategies is especially important during periods of geopolitical uncertainty. Recent geopolitical events rarely have lasting impacts on financial markets. This helps explain why initial market reactions to the latest escalation of military conflict…  Read more

U.S. Tariff program has heavy market impact 4th April 2025 The United States tariff program, and its expected negative implications for global economic growth, have been the dominant cause of the equity market correction experienced over recent weeks. Simplistically, the share market reaction can be explained by the fact that tariffs increase the price of goods. When the price of a good increases, there will be less of it consumed.…  Read more

            Cvdg 0380 10 Good Reasons Why You Need An Adviser (2024 Portrait)    Read more

  13 Nov 2024 Why the cash rate is being kept on hold By Tony Kaye, Senior Personal Finance Writer Markets and economy The RBA is unlikely to start easing interest rates until the second quarter of 2025. “The board needs to be confident that inflation is moving sustainably towards the target and we need to see more progress on underlying inflation coming down.” That was the bottom line from…  Read more

  07 Nov 2024 Navigating the outcome of the U.S. election By Greg Davis, Vanguard President and Chief Investment Officer Markets and economy History suggests that investors shouldn’t be concerned about material asset return differences under different political administrations. A portfolio of 60% equities and 40% fixed income has produced an annual compound return of 8.1% since 1860 with a Republican president and a 7.8% annual compound return with a…  Read more

  13 Nov 2024 The interest rate cuts happening behind the scenes By Tony Kaye, Senior Personal Finance Writer Markets and economy Interest rates are officially on hold, but unofficially they’re not. Don’t expect an official rate cut anytime soon. That was the message from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) last week as it kept its policy cash rate on hold at 4.35% and ruled out any near-term prospect…  Read more

FEDERAL BUDGET SUMMARY May 2023 Introduction On the evening of 9 May 2023, the Government delivered its second Budget in the current parliamentary term. Inflationary pressures, interest rates and escalating costs of living have all had a significant impact on the lives of every-day Australians. The Budget needs to deliver the right balance of spending and savings. This year’s Budget has a strong emphasis on providing cost of living relief,…  Read more

The fog of war 04 March 2022 Carl von Clausewitz was a Prussian general who fought in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and the phrase “fog of war” is often attributed to him. What he actually said, “war is the realm of uncertainty; three quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty.” The phrase has now…  Read more