Mixed investor sentiment abounds

• Global shares rose 5.4% and 1.7% in hedged and unhedged terms, respectively. The market was led higher by US stocks with the Nasdaq (a tech-heavy index) up 7.3% while the benchmark S&P 500 index was up 6.9% (both in USD terms) as investors were positive on the September quarter earnings results with tech giant Microsoft up 9% as one example.
• Australian shares underperformed global shares, falling 0.1% in October. The leading sectors were Technology (up 2.1%) and Health Care (up 1%). Industrials (down 3.3%) and consumer staples (down 2.3%) were the worst performers. Technology returns were supported by Computershare which benefitted from rising bond yields given its higher interest income on client cash
• Fixed income returns were poor particularly for the Australian An increase in bond yields predominantly of short to intermediate duration saw both Australian and international bond markets sell off. The pain was more severe domestically as it became clear the RBA had abandoned its yield curve control for the 3-year bond which ended the month at 1.22% (compared to the RBA 0.1% target).
• The Australian dollar (AUD) rose 3.8% against major currencies and 4% against the US dollar. A key boost came from the reopening of the economy after lockdowns while the rise in bond yields also made our currency more attractive to

As global growth stabilises?

Globally

• Global business surveys suggest economic growth momentum may have stabilised in October with improvement in services sector offsetting weakness amongst manufacturers. Supply chain disruptions remain an ongoing feature in business surveys impacting
• Chinese developer Evergrande repaid an outstanding coupon

Locally

• Economic momentum is bouncing back domestically as NSW and Victoria eased lockdown restrictions.
• The RBA withdrew guidance that interest rates would stay at 1% until 2024, suggesting a more optimistic view on the economy. The RBA also ended its policy of targeting 0.1% for the 3-year government bond yield.
• Sep-21 quarter inflation showed an annual rise of 3% while underlying inflation rose 1% over the same period.

Major asset class performance 

This report is prepared by Bridges Financial Services Pty Limited ABN 60 003 474 977 AFSL 240837 (Bridges). Bridges is an ASX Market Participant and part of the IOOF group of companies. This report is prepared by the IOOF Research team for: Bridges Financial Services Pty Limited ABN 60 003 474 977 AFSL 240837, Consultum Financial Advisers Pty Ltd ABN 65 006 373 995 AFSL 230323, Elders Financial Planning ABN 48 007 997 186 AFSL 224645,

Financial Services Partners ABN 15 089 512 587 AFSL 237 590, Millennium3 Financial Services Pty Ltd ABN 61 094 529 987 AFSL 244252, RI Advice Group Pty Ltd ABN 23 001 774 125 AFSL 238429, Shadforth Financial Group Ltd ABN 27 127 508 472 AFSL 318613 (‘Advice Licensees’). The Advice Licensees are part of the IOOF group comprising IOOF Holdings ABN 49 100 103 722 and its related bodies corporate (IOOF group).The Advice Licensees and/or their associated entities, directors and/or employees may have a material interest in, and may earn brokerage from, any securities or other financial products referred to in this document or may provide services to the company referred to in this report. The document is not available for distribution outside Australia and may not be passed on to any third person without the prior written consent of the Advice Licensees. The Advice Licensees and associated persons (including persons from whom information in this report is sourced) may do business or seek to do business with companies covered in its research reports. As a result, investors should be aware that the firms or other such persons may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report. Investors should consider this report as a single factor in making an investment decision. The document is current as at the date of issue but may be superseded by future publications. You can confirm the currency of this document by checking the intranet site (links below). The information contained in this report is for the sole use of advisers and clients of AFSL entities authorised by the Advice Licensees. This report may be used on the express condition that you have obtained a copy of the Advice Licensees Financial Services Guide (FSG) from their respective website. Disclaimer: The information in this report is general advice only and does not take into account the financial circumstances, needs and objectives of any particular investor. Before acting on the advice contained in this document, you should assess your own circumstances or seek advice from a financial adviser. Where applicable, you should obtain and consider a copy of the Product Disclosure Statement, prospectus or other disclosure material relevant to the financial product before making a decision to acquire a financial product. It is important to note that investments may go up and down and past performance is not an indicator of future performance. The contents of this report should not be disclosed, in whole or in part, to any other party without the prior consent of the IOOF Research Team and Advice Licensees. To the extent permitted by the law, the IOOF Research team and Advice Licensees and their associated entities are not liable for any loss or damage arising from, or in relation to, the contents of this report. For information regarding any potential conflicts of interest and analyst holdings; IOOF Research Team’s coverage criteria, methodology and spread of ratings; and summary information about the qualifications and experience of the IOOF Research Team please visit https://www.ioof.com.au/adviser/investment_funds/ioof_advice_research_process