Economic Overview Global economic data remained encouraging during Q1, though after a long period of relative calm and upward movement volatility again reared its head in equity markets. While towards the end of the quarter the potential for trade wars heated up. In the US, economic data continued to be supportive. US business confidence reached […]
In 2015 it was the hottest thing in Western Sydney. Blacktown’s Altitude Tower, the first high rise in the area. The media breathlessly reported 90% of the apartments were sold on the opening auction day. With Sydney house prices nosing past $1 million at the time (depending on the data provider) the chance to grab […]
Certainty. We all deserve it, don’t we? Especially as we get older, the expectation we can rely on the same things to keep working and providing for us over decades of retirement. We may think we deserve certainty, but life’s not like that. As Labor’s recently announced changes (and quick revisions) to franking credits showed, […]
Labor’s proposed change to franking credit refunds on dividends has provoked quite a debate in a short space of time. For a quick primer, under the imputation system, companies who pay franked dividends to shareholders can pass on a tax credit for company tax already paid. When shareholders receive the franking credits, they can be […]
Recently the New York Times profiled a man named Erik Hagerman. A former corporate executive, Mr Hagerman is an average man who lives alone in rural United States. So why was the New York Times so interested in him? Turns out he’s deliberately ignored the news since 8 November 2016 – the day Donald Trump […]