Investment markets and key developments over the past week
Share markets moved higher over the last week as some soft economic data highlighted the need for continued easy global monetary conditions and as geopolitical risks receded a bit. The Australian share market was also supported by good profit results. US and European shares rose 1.2%, Japanese shares gained 3.7%, Chinese shares rose 1.5% and the Australian share market rose 2.4%. Bond yields fell, with the German bond yields falling 10 basis points to just 0.95% and Eurozone peripheral country bond yields falling even more sharply. Commodity prices generally fell but the $A rose slightly on expectations that the Fed’s first rate hike might be pushed out further and as confidence readings in Australia improved.
Please read the full article here: Weekly-Report – 15 August 2014