Economist
Oliver’s Insights – Australian home prices up solidly – expect some slowing in 2026
3 December
Key pointsCotality data shows national average home prices rose strongly again in November, but with the pace of growth slowing slightly to 1%mom. Near record low vacancy rates is contributing to a pickup in annual rental growth to 5%yoy. The...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Housing affordability at a record low – here’s four key ways to fix it
26 November
Key pointsWith the latest surge in home prices relative to incomes housing affordability is at a new record low. This is adding to a slide in home ownership and rising inequality. The key to sustainably improving housing affordability is to...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Share market wobbles – what are the negatives and positives?
19 November
Key pointsRich valuations, AI bubble worries and uncertainty about central bank rate cuts are the main negatives for shares at present and could see recent falls extend further. Against this though, global profit growth remains strong and...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Investment cycles – what are they and why you need to be aware of them
22 October
Key pointsCyclical fluctuations are a key aspect of investment markets. Most are driven by economic developments but get magnified by swings in investor sentiment. Of particular importance are the long-term cycles which are often driven by waves...[Read More]
Investment markets and key developments – Weekly market update 10-10-2025
15 October
US and European share markets fell sharply on Friday in response to the latest threatened re-escalation in the trade war between the US and China. The 2.7% fall in US shares after Trump threatened additional tariffs on China left it down 2.4% for...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Bubble trouble – is AI enthusiasm driving a bubble in shares?
8 October
Key pointsRich share market valuations are warning of the risk of a pullback in shares amidst fears of a bubble and it’s possible that enthusiasm for AI has run ahead of itself. But the fundamentals behind this are arguably far stronger than...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Medium term investment returns face five key constraints
25 September
Key pointsFive mega trends still point to risks of a more inflation prone/lower growth environment than pre-pandemic. These are: a move away from economic rationalist policies; the reversal of globalisation; rising geopolitical tensions; climate...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Gold at record highs – can it keep going? Implications for investors
18 September
Key points The gold price has surged to record highs. Key drivers have been central banks increasing their gold reserves, rate cuts, a renewed downtrend in the $US and demand for a hedge against public debt worries and geopolitical...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Australian growth on the mend – implications for profits and interest rates
11 September
Key pointsAustralia is seeing a gradual economic recovery with growth likely to reach 2.5% next year. This in turn is underpinning a likely upswing in profits. The RBA is expected to cut again in November, February and May to 2.85%, although the...[Read More]
Compound interest and returns are an investor’s best friend
27 August
If there is “one thing” investors should know about investing, it’s the power of compound interest or returns. In the ever-rising obsession with short-term developments impacting investment markets around the economy, interest rates, profits,...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Compound interest and returns are an investor’s best friend
21 August
Key pointsCompound interest is an investor’s best friend but can be a borrower’s worst nightmare. The higher the return, the earlier and bigger the investment contribution and the longer the period the more it works. To make the most of it,...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – The RBA cuts for the third time – expect a further gradual easing to 2.85%
14 August
Key pointsThe RBA cut its cash rate by 0.25% taking it to 3.6%. This is the third rate cut in this easing cycle. The RBA sees inflation running around target but has revised its growth forecasts down again. Its forecasts assume that the cash...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Poor Australian productivity – why all the fuss? And what to do about it?
31 July
Key pointsThe last decade has seen productivity stagnate in Australia. This has curtailed growth in living standards and real wages. Policies to boost productivity include: deregulation; more housing supply; a cap on public spending; and tax...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Seven key charts on the state of the Australian property market
24 July
Key pointsThe Australian housing market remains far more complicated than many portray it to be. The Australian housing is cycle is turning up again; falling interest rates are the key driver; along with a chronic undersupply of homes of...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – China – the tariff threat, structural challenges & implications for Australia
24 July
Key pointsChinese growth is running around 5% and while threatsremain high – with the property downturn and tariffs – policy stimulus is likely to be enough to keep growth okay. However, longer term structural challenges – around...[Read More]