Please click the link below to view Shane Oliver’s review of investment markets for 2017, and the outlook for 2018.
Key points raised are :
- Despite the usual worry list 2017 has been pretty good for investors as global growth and profits accelerated and central banks stayed benign as inflation stayed low.
- The sweet spot combination of solid global growth and profits and yet low inflation is likely to continue in 2018.
- However US inflation is likely to start to stir and the US Fed is likely to get a bit more aggressive. Expect a gradual rise in bond yields and a rising US dollar.
- The RBA is unlikely to start hiking rates until late 2018 at the earliest.
- Most growth assets are likely to trend higher, but expect more volatility and more constrained returns. Australian shares are likely to remain laggards.
- The main things to keep an eye on are
- the risks around Trump
- inflation
- the US Fed and the US dollar
- bond yields
- the Italian election
- China
- Australian property prices
