http://www.newtonross.co.nz en-nz NEWTONROSS 30 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/388268 The current European debt crises should never have been allowed to perpetuate to this extent. Collectively Eurozone country debt levels are similar to the US (82% of GDP), which is high but not unmanageable. So the real problem in Europe is the distribution of their debt and the political desire of stronger countries to assist weaker the ones. Greece, Ireland, Portugal and to a lesser extent Spain and Italy have been under excessive foreign debt pressure for years, particularly since 2008. 040, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/388268 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/374813 Following some recovery and stabilization on global markets over the last week, European and US markets were weaker (down circa -4 to -6%) last night. This market volatility can reward traders (exacerbated by computer programme trading) and the large daily movements suit their interests despite the price changes having little to do with the underlying real value of the assets they trade 034, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/374813 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/374096 Investment markets have been under immense pressure over the last two weeks as investors nerves were wound-up following further European political brinkmanship and more recently the farcical and politically divided US debt ceiling debate. While this debate was finally resolved at the 11th hour it has now resulted in a downgrade of US debt ratings by Standard and Poors from AAA to AA+. 033, 9 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/374096 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/370189 Global growth came in at 4.3% annualized in the first quarter. Second quarter (June) global growth is softer and likely to be 3.5% annualized. The IMF is now forecasting 2011 growth at 4.3%.... 027, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/370189 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/349498 Despite the devastation of the Japanese earthquake, the nuclear reactor disaster and the ongoing rising tensions in the Middle East and North Africa, the global economic recovery remains intact. This quarter we look at the global drivers for a continuation of this recovery and the risks for derailment. Closer to home, we take the same snapshot for New Zealand. 014, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/349498 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/340466 The events in Japan are clearly terrible and continue to be disturbing with the risk of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear reactor melting down. Attached is information from fund managers on their view of the situation. 012, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/340466 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/333125 While it is easy to be critical of the financial mess advanced economies have gotten themselves into over the last 10 years with excessive leverage, asset inflation and non-productive resource allocation, the global policy response to the Great Financial Crises over the last three years has gone just about as well as it could have. 001, 31 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/333125 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/210638/333136 The New Year is traditionally a time for reflection and resolution. At the risk of being at odds with one of the key government messages of the day, i.e. that you must save for your retirement, perhaps this is a good opportunity to reflect on what it is that will really make you wealthy. Many people will define being wealthy as rich and affluent 045, 1 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/210638/333136 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/210638/312880 A total of NZ$1.7b is being paid out to South Canterbury Finance investors by the Government under the retail deposit guarantee scheme. The bulk of these funds will flow back to retail investors who are now faced a decision about what to do with the cash. 040, 1 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/210638/312880 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/315053 The IMF has recently revised down its global growth forecasts to +4.25% in 2010 and +4.2% in 2011. These are still strong numbers showing the global recovery is well underway and on track. Emerging countries, particularly China, Asia ex-Japan and South America lead the way in growth underpinning the recovery which remains weakest in Europe and Japan. 040, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/315053 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/210638/312881 If there is one thing that the collapse of so many finance companies has confirmed it is that bad investment decisions are almost invariably based on some combination of fear and greed. Whether it is company management more concerned with lining their own pockets, or investors chasing high returns with no regard for risk, or the NZ Governments ill-advised intervention by way of the retail deposit guarantee scheme. 036, 1 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/210638/312881 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/210638/312882 As KiwiSaver continues to grow it is naturally attracting more attention from investors, the fund management industry and media commentators. This will only intensify as investor fund balances get larger. One example was the recent report comparing KiwiSaver providers and funds at the end of June. The report compared performance, estimated costs and how much money was in each fund. 032, 1 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/210638/312882 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/210638/312883 Two of the worlds richest men recently launched a campaign to attract more than US$600 billion in pledged donations from US billionaires. Such eye-watering sums seem inconceivable even if it was Bill Gates and investment guru Warren Buffett doing the talking. Regardless of whether they attract others to their cause or not, it is a sign of a growing trend amongst those who can afford to donate to worthy causes to do so while they are alive rather than waiting until death. 027, 1 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/210638/312883 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/312869 Global share markets fell -13.3% in the June quarter suffering their worst quarter performance since the Lehman Brothers collapse in 2008. This decline extends losses back to October 2009. Commodity indexes fell -7% and lower quality bonds were also impacted (-7 to -15%) globally. Only higher quality bonds and currencies rallied as money sought safer assets. 027, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/312869 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/283077 Our thoughts on the current Sovereign Debt issue which is pre-occupying investment markets. While Sovereign debt levels remain a significant structural concern exacerbated by government spending to bailout the global financial system and stimulate economic growth in 2008/9, this is not a liquidity crisis although markets are currently behaving as if it is. 022, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/283077 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/210638/312884 New government legislation is designed - to promote the sound and efficient delivery of financial advice and to encourage public confidence in the professionalism and integrity of financial advisers -. Yes that might be the sound you can hear of the stable door being shut but it is a useful starting point before the next financial disaster posing as a sure thing comes along, as it inevitably will. 018, 1 May 2010 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/210638/312884 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/281050 During the March quarter, we saw what was the spark of economic recovery in late 2009, fully ignite with economic growth returning although unevenly, right across the world. The bounce from the depths of recession and near depression in 2008/9 has been remarkable and only achieved by massive global Government intervention supported by resilient leadership growth from China, India and other champion emerging nations. 014, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/150017/281050 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/238706 Portfolio Investment Entities, or PIES, have been around for a year and a half giving greater tax efficiency to investors in New Zealand managed funds. 037, 8 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/238706 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/238806 In this issue we look at alternatives to the low cash deposit rates. Cash PIE's are they Finance Company Debentures in drag; and how about other options such as corporate bonds, global bonds and syndicated property 014, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/238806 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/238805 NEWTON ROSS feature in this cover story which discusses while the investment outlook might be arid and uninviting, long term investors are sticking to their guiding principles. 044, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/238805 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/283076 001, 1 Jan 2001 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.newtonross.co.nz/webapps/i/77630/151361/283076