The S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) pushed 1.5% higher for the week while all three US benchmarks posted gains, led by the Nasdaq which jumped 2%.
Here are my three key investor takeaways from the week.
Australian and US rates is different
The Federal Reserve has naturally been garnering all the attention lately with their perceived fight against inflation, for better or worse, drawing headlines following an initial rate hike this month.
Fed officials have been clear in highlighting they don’t believe rate hikes will fix the entire problem but rather stop the economy from overheating further. Despite these rate hikes, the Australian government bond yield remains higher than the US.
Interestingly, Australia’s reliance on variable rate mortgages compared to the more common fixed rate in the US, means cash rate changes have significantly more impact at home.
ASX retailer proves strategy wins
News this week that JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) continues to be a category killer will come as a surprise for many.
The entry of Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) some years ago into the Australian market was expected to all but kill the margins of the business, yet through quality management and stategy, JB has not only survived but thrived, delivering solid sales growth and reaching an all-time high during the week.
Everything is in flux
Finally, if we didn’t need the reminder, everything we know is currently in flux. Markets have all but overcome the initial impact of the invasion of Ukraine, technology companies and healthcare are falling, but commodities are rising.
Iron ore prices are rallying despite Chinese lockdowns, and bond yields have spiked ahead of our peers where cash rates are actually moving higher. There is no set strategy to guide portfolios in this environment, but diversification remains key.
