News

The US market (measured by the S&P 500 index) rallied +10.7%, while the Australian market (ASX 200) gained 9.9%, its best month on record. The NZ market (NZX 50) lagged in a relative sense, but was still up +5.8% for the month

Treasury Wine Estates plummeted -11% on Friday after Beijing said it would impose tariffs of 107–212% on Australian wine imports after alleging dumping into the Chinese market.

Gains were driven by news that AstraZeneca became the latest firm to deliver positive vaccine developments.

Closer to home, the Kiwi dollar lifted more than half a US cent and touched 70 cents, after finance minister Grant Robertson proposed adding house prices to the RBNZ’s mandate, dashing remaining expectations of interest rate cuts (all else equal, higher r

In other news, President Xi congratulated Biden on his election victory and said China wants to advance a “healthy and stable” relationship and uphold principles of “no conflict” and “no confrontation”. It remains to be seen if the US-China relationship w

Global markets were mixed in very quiet trade overnight as the US markets were closed for Thanksgiving holiday.

Pfizer announced a final analysis of clinical-trial data showed its Covid-19 vaccine was 95% effective. To date, the vaccine protected people of all ages and ethnicities, with no significant safety problems in a trial that includes almost 44,000 participa

Global markets were higher overnight (S&P 500 Index +0.4%) as Wall Street fluctuated between relatively small gains & losses as investors weighted up rising coronavirus cases and new restrictions against positive news that Oxford University’s COVID-19 vac

COVID-19 cases continue to surge on a second wave, particularly in Europe with restrictions being re-implemented. However, markets remain resilient, partly supported by vaccine hopes.