BT Market Insights Archive

Joe Bracken, BT Investment Management Head of Macro Strategies, Besa Deda, St.George Chief Economist and Patrick Farrell, Advance Head of Investment Solutions each have their own views on how the Australian and global economies will go over 2012.

Few investors will be sad to see the end of 2011. It was a very difficult year, which promised quite a bit early on and then disappointed badly.

From 1 July 2013, the maximum age limit will be removed for all employed Australians. Previously workers over 75 were not entitled to be paid the 9% super guarantee. This allows workers over age 75 to keep building their retirement savings.

Legislation has been introduced to parliament to increase the compulsory superannuation contributions from 9% to 12% and to abolish the Superannuation Guarantee age limit.

Friday 25 November was the sixth day in a row the Australian share market fell, taking the S&P/ASX200 to under 4000.

October finally brought some relief for investors. The Australian share market rose for the first time in seven months, and the US S&P 500 index, rose by 10.8%, its best month in close to 20 years.

Last month BT Chief Economist Chris Caton wrote that investors would be glad to see the back of August, but things didn't improve in September. Read on for Chris' latest view.

The Australian market opened lower this morning after a night of falls across international markets. Read Felix Stephen's view on what's caused the latest round of market movements.