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Market Insights

Fed raises rates for the first time in 2 years since Covid

March 21, 2022
For the second week in a row, markets looked through the current horrors of the Ukraine war and were up between 2% (Australia) and some 6% (for the S&P 500). That leaves European markets down slightly since the war started on 24th February, the US level pegging, and the resource rich Australian economy up almost 5%.
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London Metal Exchanges halts nickel trading as volatility threatens solvency

March 14, 2022
It was another volatile week for stock markets, and even more so for commodity, currency and bonds as investors struggled to digest the implications of expelling Russia from the global economy.
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Commodity markets continue to climb and push on inflation

March 7, 2022
It was another volatile week for stock markets, and even more so for commodity, currency and bonds as investors struggled to digest the implications of expelling Russia from the global economy.
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Investors attempt to price in the invasion and the ensuing sanctions on Russia

February 28, 2022
After repeated warnings from Western intelligence, which most geopolitical experts were skeptical of, Putin invaded Ukraine. Markets fell sharply, especially in the US, but later rebounded and ended the week flat (or up by 2% in the case of the US).
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All eyes on the Ukraine and Russia border

February 24, 2022
In what has become a familiar pattern, markets rose in the early part of the week amid signs that Putin’s aggressive posturing towards Ukraine might be just that, only to fall back as he appears to up the ante yet again.
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High inflation and geopolitics muddy the water

February 15, 2022
The main news of the week happened as the European market closed. An unequivocal warning by US intelligence that a Russian invasion of Ukraine might be imminent.
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Global Economic Sentiment Shifts as US Data Strengthens whilst Eurozone Data Weakens

September 12, 2023
Global economic sentiment shifted in the week as US data strengthened, and Eurozone data weakened. Weaker global economic data raised concerns about central bank hawkishness, leading to a stronger US dollar and weaker currencies. Crude oil prices remained resilient amid supply concerns, while tech stocks led US markets lower as Apple took a hit.
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US Labor Upswing, Eurozone Inflation, and China's Policy Shifts

September 4, 2023
The week of August 28th to September 1st, 2023, saw a delicate balance between economic indicators and market sentiment play out in markets. The United States enjoyed what appears to be Goldilocks labor conditions, with strong job growth and a tightening labor market.
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Central banks are data-dependant as market awaits rate decisions

August 28, 2023
Most markets were flat to slightly positive last week and fairly stable apart from the Nasdaq which traded in a 3% Range.
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What we are working on this week

August 28, 2023
Last week the InvestSense team spent much of the week preparing for and attending the Portfolio Construction Forum Strategies Conference.
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Never a smooth ride in the investment landscape

August 21, 2023
Turning points are always messy and if that is what we are experiencing last weeks data was typically noisy.
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AI Written Markets Update

August 14, 2023
While the US inflation data provided a brief boost to stocks, concerns arose as China slipped into deflation.
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Andrew Hunt's visit to New York and some key implications for global markets

September 1, 2023
Last week Andrew visited the InvestSense offices and shared his observations and findings from his visit to the United States, specifically New York.
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Equities turbulent but resilient as interest rates rise

March 1, 2023
Last week the S&P 500 traded in a 3% range, having done a 2% round trip on Thursday, followed by a 3% fall on Friday after the inflation data release and then another almost 2% round trip yesterday. Emerging markets were the worst performing, down 4% for the week. Taking a step back though, most equity markets haven’t given back that much of their gains from January, while Europe and the Nasdaq remain up 10% for the year.
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Strong start to the year continues despite recession concerns

January 24, 2023
As the world’s elite gathered in a snowless Davos, markets focused on much more immediate concerns, starting with the continuing wave of layoffs in corporate America. Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet (Google’s parent company), Salesforce and Goldman Sachs, among others, took turns to announce staff cuts. It would appear boardrooms and CEOs are lending some credence to the possibility of a recession in 2023.
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Inflation - Flash Update

September 14, 2022
In light of the recent inflation data coming out of the US, we dive in to why the market is so upset about a 0.1% increase in prices, and what this means from an Australian investor's perspective.
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Recession fears build, yet equity markets end the week higher

June 27, 2022
Fears of a US recession later this year gathered pace last week and the US equity market jumped by almost 7% and the Nasdaq was up some 9%.
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Bad news equals good news

June 6, 2022
In recent years professional investors have got increasingly used to the fact that good news is bad news for markets because higher interest rates are likely to be necessary, and of course vice-versa. However, last week the effect was stronger than ever and stocks rallied mid-week amidst reports of widespread lay-offs and expectations of a weak US jobs report.
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Better World makes a difference with investment in renewables

January 4, 2023
There are many direct assets and funds that contribute positively to climate action within the InvestSense Better World Portfolios. Meridian Energy is one of the stand-out direct assets in the portfolio with a climate energy focus.
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Carbon credits and investing – is it the outcome we expect?

November 21, 2022
ETFs that invest in carbon credits are now available. Why should we assume that their price will go up over time? And does buying a carbon credit ETF actually contribute positively to emissions reduction? Will it actually generate the outcome investors are expecting? This article explores the issues around investing in carbon credits.
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Helping your clients assess the climate impact of their Portfolio

November 15, 2021
Nathan Fradley explains how the ethosesg technology can help you assess and design an ethical portfolio that aligns to an investor’s personal values.
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How Mark Lewin saved 13 hours a week with Managed Accounts

November 28, 2022
Mark Lewin was a financial planner, but is now the Director of Back Office Heros. In his planning business he gained significant efficiencies by recommending and implementing managed accounts for his clients. He tells us how...
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Bad news equals good news

June 6, 2022
In recent years professional investors have got increasingly used to the fact that good news is bad news for markets because higher interest rates are likely to be necessary, and of course vice-versa. However, last week the effect was stronger than ever and stocks rallied mid-week amidst reports of widespread lay-offs and expectations of a weak US jobs report.
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‘Buy the dip’ opportunism start surfacing

May 30, 2022
The US market finally market caught a bid last week. Early in the week the market was down few percent after an earnings miss by ad dependent social media platform Snap (of Snapchat fame) combined with weak guidance raised more doubts about the economy and economic resilience of tech companies.
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US momentarily dips into official bear market territory

May 23, 2022
The seventh negative week in a row for the US sent it briefly into official bear market territory before it recovered slightly late on Friday. The world’s largest stocks (Apple, Microsoft Amazon and Google) are all down 25%.
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Adviser Brochures

Why Diversification Is Important | 2024 Update

Economic Scenario overview

Summary of the economic scenarios to be discussed at the Portfolio Construction Forum August 2023

InvestSense Better World Portfolios on Mason Stevens

A range of ethically managed diversified managed accounts

Investsense podcast

InvestSense Podcast

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Black and white image of a headphone representing the InvestSense podcast.
Image of a headphone representing the InvestSense podcast.
Markets Trek Higher on Approach to Peak Inflation

Stocks continued their strong November rally this week, as hopes grew that inflation has peaked and the Fed is nearing the end of its rate hiking cycle. The S&P 500 rose 1.9% on Tuesday following the cooler than expected US CPI print, bringing its gains for the month so far to 7%.

October's Financial Flux: A Precursor to Change in Investor Fortunes

During October, global markets experienced a downturn amidst inflation worries and the threat of rising interest rates, leading to a 2.7% fall in global equities and a 3.8% drop in Australian stocks, with tech sectors and major companies like Nvidia and Tesla taking notable hits. Despite the gloom, the materials sector saw gains, and gold shone brightly as a safe haven, appreciating by 7.3%.

Stocks Stumble, Bonds Steady as Growth Fears Loom

Equity markets declined over the past week, with the S&P/ASX 300 down -3.3% and the MSCI World Ex Australia index falling 2.7% in local terms, but only -0.9% in Australian Dollar terms for the unhedged Australian investor. Most of the falls happened overnight as a higher-than-expected GDP number put upward pressure on short-term rates.

Investor Resources

Investor Insights

Better World Case Study - Brambles

February 6, 2023
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Better World makes a difference with investment in renewables

January 4, 2023
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Highest inflation print in Australia since 2000

May 2, 2022
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Rising rates and slowing growth, can't have one without the other

April 26, 2022
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A quiet week with some swelling volatility

April 19, 2022
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All eyes on the Ukraine and Russia border

February 24, 2022
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Investor Brochures

Market & Portfolio Update September 2023

Update on the markets and the portfolios for the InvestSense flagship Portfolios for the September quarter 2023

Better World case study - Accountable Institutions

Flyer on some of the companies that focus on corporate governance and benefits for employees in the Better World Portfolios

Better World Case Study - Healthcare

Flyer on the healthcare companies that are making a difference in the Better World portfolios

faqs

Explore some common questions asked by investors and advisers...

Why do InvestSense Portfolios have CPI+ objectives?

Investors should consider what they want to achieve for their investments in relation to 'real' returns - the returns in excess of inflation. Portfolios with CPI+ objectives aim to provide investors with a guide to what they can expect in real terms from their investment options.
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What is a Managed Account?

A Managed Account is an investment portfolio managed by professional fund managers. It is a structure that allows the manager to make changes to the portfolio in line with market conditions.
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What are the benefits of Managed Accounts?

Managed accounts offer a variety of benefits to both advisers and investors alike. Managed accounts provide access to professionally managed and structured portfolios designed to deliver returns in line with a client's risk tolerance and investment goals.
Read More

How do I convert my clients’ portfolios to Managed Accounts?

Switching into Managed Accounts can be daunting, but the value delivered by these accounts make it well worth the effort and reduces client management over time. With a project based approach, you can effectively migrate clients from existing portfolios into our Managed Accounts.
Read More

What is the InvestSense investment process?

We believe that an investment approach should always be focused on delivering value for our clients and investors. Our process is based on three pillars which include being valuation driven, forward looking and transparent.
Read More

What valuation methodology do InvestSense use?

We believe in following a value based investment approach based on our risk management framework and our forward looking valuation approach.
Read More

What is a Managed Account?

August 2, 2024
A Managed Account is an investment portfolio managed by professional fund managers. It is a structure that allows the manager to make changes to the portfolio in line with market conditions.
Read More

What are the benefits of Managed Accounts?

August 2, 2024
Managed accounts offer a variety of benefits to both advisers and investors alike. Managed accounts provide access to professionally managed and structured portfolios designed to deliver returns in line with a client's risk tolerance and investment goals.
Read More

How do I convert my clients’ portfolios to Managed Accounts?

August 2, 2024
Switching into Managed Accounts can be daunting, but the value delivered by these accounts make it well worth the effort and reduces client management over time. With a project based approach, you can effectively migrate clients from existing portfolios into our Managed Accounts.
Read More

Why do InvestSense Portfolios have CPI+ objectives?

September 23, 2024
Investors should consider what they want to achieve for their investments in relation to 'real' returns - the returns in excess of inflation. Portfolios with CPI+ objectives aim to provide investors with a guide to what they can expect in real terms from their investment options.
Read More

What is the InvestSense investment process?

August 2, 2024
We believe that an investment approach should always be focused on delivering value for our clients and investors. Our process is based on three pillars which include being valuation driven, forward looking and transparent.
Read More

What valuation methodology do InvestSense use?

August 2, 2024
We believe in following a value based investment approach based on our risk management framework and our forward looking valuation approach.
Read More

What filters are used in the InvestSense ethical investment process?

August 2, 2024
InvestSense makes a number of considerations when assessing whether an asset is suitable for inclusion in our Better World Portfolios. The focus for all selection criteria is to exclude assets that may have a negative impact on people or planet and to ensure that sustainability and ethical management are at the forefront.
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Do the InvestSense Better World funds invest in Renewable Energy?

August 2, 2024
Better World investments Portfolios have a focus on ethically aware investment opportunities which does include alternative energy solutions such as renewable energy. All investments consider whether a company is focused on creating positive change and contributing towards a more sustainable future.
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