Australian investors have enjoyed a pleasant start to the new year with equity and bond markets around the world rallying after a poor run in the last half of 2000.
Australian equities was the strongest performing asset class in January. The S&P/ ASX 200 rose 4.2 per cent over the month, outperforming international funds by nearly one per cent.
Listed property was the only asset class to sour in January. According to Ausbil Dexia, the rise in equities and fall in listed property was a “predictable response to investors moving out of defensive stocks and taking more aggressive equity positions on the back of the rate cut”.
Overseas, the Nasdaq was the star performer gaining 15.4 per cent which flowed through to Asian markets which had stellar performance figures for the month. Taiwan, Thailand and Korea all enjoyed a rise of more than 20 per cent over the month. European markets also showed good growth, particularly Germany which rose 5.6 per cent.
