The Australian sharemarket was flat in the month of September, closing at 5,525.2 points. Last month, the Reserve Bank left the official Cash Rate on hold (at 1.50% per annum) and the Australian dollar gained 1.98% (currently buying 76.75 US cents).
Global investment markets were also relatively subdued in September. The US Dow Jones Index fell 0.5%, the London FTSE gained 1.7%, the Japan Nikkei 225 fell 2.6% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index gained 1.4% in the month.
The Australian sharemarket retreated a by 1.9% in August, following the strong gains (+6.3%) recorded in July. As expected, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut the official Cash Rate to a new record low of 1.5% per annum early in the month.
Global investment markets were mixed in August. The US Dow Jones Index fell 0.2%, the London FTSE gained 0.9%, the Japan Nikkei 225 gained 1.9% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index gained 5.0% in the month.
It was a stellar start to the financial year for the Australian sharemarket. The All Ordinaries index closed July at 5,644.0 points, marking a 6.3% gain for the month!
Global investment markets were positive as investors appeared to disregard the risks associated with 'Brexit' and a forthcoming election in the US. The US Dow Jones Index gained 2.8%, the London FTSE gained 3.4%, the Japan Nikkei 225 gained 6.4% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index gained 5.3% in the month.
After three consecutive months of gains in the Australian share market, the shock 'Brexit' vote to leave the European Union in late June caused the All Ordinaries index to decline by 2.5% for the month.
The All Ordinaries index closed June at 5,310.4 points, marking a 3.8% decline in value over the financial year (after recording only a modest gain of less than 1% in the financial year prior). As a matter of fact, the All Ordinaries index is now back to values last seen in October 2013!
After gaining 4.1% in March and 3.2% in April, the strength in the Australian share market continued in the month of May.
The All Ordinaries index gained a further 2.5%, to close May at 5,447.8 points. The Australian share market is now in positive territory for 2016, despite a very shaky start.
Global investment markets were mixed in April. The US Dow Jones Index gained 0.1%, the London FTSE fell 0.2%, the Japan Nikkei 225 index gained 3.4% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index fell by 1.2% in the month.
The rebound in Australian shares continued in April. The All Ordinaries index gained a further 3.2% to close the month at 5,316.0 points. While this marks the second consecutive month of solid gains, close attention will be on Treasurer Scott Morrison as he delivers his first Federal Budget tomorrow night.
Global investment markets generally exhibited marginal gains in April. The US Dow Jones Index gained 0.5%, the London FTSE gained 1.1% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index gained 1.4% in the month. Bucking the trend was the Japan Nikkei 225 index that declined by 0.6%.
After two consecutive months of decline, the Australian share market rebounded in March.
The All Ordinaries index gained by 4.1%, to close the month at 5,151.8 points. Nevertheless, the Australian share market remains some 3.6% lower for the calendar year (and volatility in daily returns remains high).
Global investment markets were all stronger in March. The US Dow Jones Index gained 7.1%, the London FTSE gained 1.3%, the Japan Nikkei 225 Index gained 4.6% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index gained 8.7% for the month.
The All Ordinaries index declined by 2.1% in February, to close the month at 4,947.9 points. In the first two months of 2016, the Australian share market has now fallen by 7.4%. As with any market in which there are big price drops, opportunities are opening up, but having the conviction to act is another matter.
With a change in calendar year, came a change in investor sentiment - sparking a large sell off in investment markets. The All Ordinaries index declined by 5.4% in the month of January to close at 5,056.6 points.
Global investment markets were weaker across the board. The US Dow Jones Index declined by 5.5% the London FTSE declined by 2.5%, the Japan Nikkei 225 Index declined by 8.0% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index declined by 10.2%.
Australian sharemarket returns were positive in the month of December, with the All Ordinaries index gaining 2.4% to close the month at 5,344.6 points. The rally has been short-lived however, with volatility remaining a feature of invesmtent markets as we enter into the New Year.
In contrast, global investment markets were weak in December. The US Dow Jones Index declined by 1.7%, the London FTSE declined by 1.8%, the Japan Nikkei 225 Index declined by 3.5% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index declined by 0.4%.