Market Update – 31st December 2015

Key Points: 

• The RBA kept the overnight cash rate at 2.00% at its December meeting. 
• In fixed income, the 3 Month Bank Bill Swap Rate and the 10 Year Australian Bond Rate rose by 0.05% and 0.01%, respectively, in December.
• Corporate debt spreads, as measured by the iTraxx Australian Index, rose to 126.23 in December from the previous reading of 124.75.
• Australian shares outperformed their international counterparts, with the All Ordinaries Index and the S&P/ASX 200 Index increasing by 2.42% and 2.50%, respectively.
• Domestic listed property followed the broader equity market, gaining 2.41%, as measured by the S&P/ASX 300 A-REIT Index. 
• International shares posted negative returns in most regions, with the STOXX 50 Europe Index the worst performer, falling by -5.09%.
• Commodity prices declined -2.42% in December, as measured by the US$ CRB Spot Commodity Index. Oil continued to suffer, falling by -8.43% over the month, in US dollar terms.
• The Australian Dollar rose 1.63% against the US Dollar and 3.03% versus the British Pound; while deprecating -1.59% against the Euro and -0.27% against the Japanese Yen. 
• The Australian Trade Weighted Index (TWI) rose by 1.46% over the month, ending December at 62.70.
• The US VIX Volatility Index rose by 2.08% over the month, while domestic volatility index fell by -1.00%.

Please click on the following link to gain access to this resource.

Click here for a Market Report – 31st December 2015

 Source:       Zenith Investment Partner