- The RBA kept the overnight cash rate at 1.75% in July but cut to 1.50% during the August board meeting.
- In fixed income, the 3 Month Bank Bill Swap Rate and the 10 Year Australian Bond Rate fell by -0.05% and -0.11%, respectively, in July.
- Spreads on Australian corporate debt fell over the month, as indicated by -16.36-point decline over the month of the iTraxx Australian Index to 109.67.
- Australian shares rallied over the month, with the All Ordinaries Index and the S&P/ASX 200 Index increasing by 6.28% and 6.29%, respectively.
- Domestic listed property performed in line with the broader share market, gaining 5.35% over the month.
- Global equities experienced strong recoveries in July, with all regional markets participating. Japan added 6.17% to be the best performer, as measured by the TOPIX Japan Index.
- Global commodity prices ended the month -1.16% lower, as measured by the US$ CRB Spot Commodity Index. The oil price had its largest fall in months, declining by -13.93% for the month. Gold and Iron Ore prices continued to rise, adding 2.12% and 11.01%, respectively, in US Dollar terms.
- The Australian Dollar rose further against most currencies in July, gaining 1.29% against the US Dollar, 1.36% against the Euro, 2.87% against the British Pound and 2.24% versus the Japanese Yen.
- The Australian Trade Weighted Index (TWI) rose by 1.44% over the month, ending July at 63.40.
- Share market volatility fell both domestically (-5.18%) and in the US (-3.76%).
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Source: Zenith Investment Partners
23rd-August-2016 | 
