News and updates

October was punctuated by two key themes. The first was the resurgence of COVID-19 in Europe. The second was the lead-up to the Presidential elections in the US, which were held on 3 November.

In Australia border restrictions began to ease as a number of states saw a continued absence of cases.  However, strict social restriction measures in Melbourne remained, dampening the national economic recovery. 

The share markets continued to rally during August with market volatility increasing towards the end of the month.

The social distancing measures implemented by many countries to contain COVID-19 infections have had some success in controlling the virus, although pockets of outbreaks around the world continue to emerge.

The share market rally that began in late March slowed its pace in June. While most asset classes ended the month in solid positive territory, the gains were modest compared to April and May.

The rebound in risk assets that began in late March extended into May and volatility continued to decline. With regards to COVID-19 developments, investors have been increasingly shifting their focus to the relaxation of lockdowns and how reopening will affect economies. 

April marked a strong reversal in the negative sentiment from the prior month as the general public lockdowns due to COVID-19 implemented by most countries in March began to demonstrate success in slowing the spread of the virus.