The latest edition of our fortnightly email newsletter was sent to subscribers on the 1st of July. This edition looked at investing for income, provided a summary of the movements in markets over the past fortnight and looked at getting the right price for financial advice. If you would like to be added to the mailing list please click the following link to be taken to the sign up page - The Financial Fortnight That Was Sign Up Page.
The latest edition also contained the following Market Update:
Market Indices
Since our previous edition, Australian and global sharemarkets along with listed property have continued to experience negative movements. The S&P ASX200 Index has fallen 2.62% from the 13th to the 27th of June. It is now down 15.32% from the same time last year and down 17.40% for the calendar year (2008) so far. The MSCI World - ex Australia, a measure of the global market, has fallen 5.49% over the same period. The index is down 17.10% from the same time last year and down 14.17% for the calendar year so far.
Emerging markets have also experienced negative movement with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index falling 3.87% since the 13th of June. It is up 0.26% from the same time last year but down 13.34% for the calendar year so far.
Property trusts have also fallen since the 13th of June with the S&P ASX 200 A-Reit Index falling by 3.29%. The index is down 37.92% from the same time last year and also down 30.93% for the calendar year so far.. The S&P/Citigroup Global Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Index, a measure of the global property market, has fallen 6.74% over the same period. It is down 23.28% from the same time last year and down 12.57% for the calendar year so far.
Exchange Rates
As of 4pm the 27th of June, the value of the Australian dollar has risen against major benchmarks for the fortnight. It has risen against the US Dollar by 2.11% at .96. It is up 14.12% from the same time last year and up 8.89% for the calendar year so far. Since June 13th the Aussie has also risen 1.52% against the Trade Weighted Index now at 73.4. This puts it up by 7.31% since the same time last year and up 6.84% for the calendar year so far. (The Trade Weighted Index measures The Australian dollar against a basket of foreign currencies.)
