From Ben's Desk (November 2018)

It’s November and, as always, the month gets underway with the race that stops the nation. The Melbourne Cup is also the signal that summer, Christmas and the holiday season are just down the track.

October was an anxious month for investors as global share markets followed Wall Street’s wobble before steadying in the final days. The S&P 500 Index fell 7 per cent in October while the ASX 200 fell more than 5 per cent. There was no major reason for the falls. The US economy grew at an annual rate of 3.5 per cent in the third quarter and corporate earnings are strong. But there are ongoing concerns about the US-China trade war and rising US interest rates.

The Australian dollar finished the month 1.6 per cent lower at around US71c. This is good for trade, as is the 10 per cent rise in the iron ore price in October to US$76.50 a tonne. Local unemployment fell to a six-year low of 5 per cent in September, while inflation fell below 2 per cent. The September quarter Consumer Price Index rose just 0.4 per cent for an annual rate of 1.9 cent, down from 2.1 per cent in June. Prices of accommodation, tobacco, property rates and petrol bucked the downward trend. The national average price of unleaded fuel recently hit 160.6c a litre, the highest in a decade. But relief for motorists could be in sight as the price of Brent Crude oil fell 11 per cent in October to US$75.57 a barrel. Consumer sentiment fluctuated, with the ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence rating dipping 6 per cent mid-month before rebounding to 114.6, above the long-term average.

The November 2018 edition of From Ben’s Desk includes the following articles:

• Benefits of a super long engagement;

• Is food delivery eating into your budget?;

• Fostering financially savvy young adults.

To view this edition, please click on this link.

All the best,

Ben Wieland.

"A truly principled and distinct perspective that makes a meaningful difference to our clients' financial future."