| Market Update - March 2014 |
| 10 key points from this very comprehensive and informative market report. Please access this document through the link below. |
- The RBA kept the overnight cash rate steady at 2.50% during the March meeting. The rate was also left unchanged during the April sitting.
- Domestic yields increased slightly in March, with the Three Month Bank Bill Swap Rate rising by 0.09% while the Ten Year Australian Bond Rates gained by 0.06%.
- The price of Australian Shares decreased over the month, with the All Ordinaries Price Index and the S&P/ASX 200 Price Index declining by -0.23% and -0.18%, respectively.
- Australian Listed Property decreased by -1.63% for the month, as measured by the S&P/ASX 300 Property Price Index.
- Many countries recorded losses in global sharemarkets. The UK & Hong Kong regions took the hardest hit, with the FTSE 100 (UK) Price Index and the Hang Seng Price Index declining by -3.10% and -3.00% respectively.
- The US performed relatively well in March, with the Dow Jones Industrials Price Index and the S&P 500 Price Index gaining 0.83% and 0.69% respectively.
- Commodity prices had an overall positive month, with the US$ CRB Spot Commodity Price Index gaining 3.16%. Gold and Oil prices dropped in March, declining by -3.20% and -0.45% respectively.
- The AUD increased further against most currencies in March. In particular, it appreciated by 3.89% against the US Dollar, 4.02% versus the Euro, 4.20% against British Pound and 1.74% against the Japanese Yen.
- The Australian Trade Weighted Index (TWI) increased by 3.05% over the month, indicating a rise in Australia’s international competitiveness.
- Volatility was relatively stable in March, with the VIX Volatility Index declining by -0.12% for the month, ending the month priced at 13.88%
24th-April-2014 |
|
