It has been an incredibly challenging yet exciting year for our team. In 2022, we moved out of a heavily COVID-19-driven market into a new set of domestic and global economic and market challenges.

Rising interest rates have dimmed the risk appetite of many investors. And it’s not just crypto, NFTs and speculative ‘growth’ stocks that have taken a hit. This calendar year also saw global IPO proceeds drop markedly. For example, in the U. S. , IPO proceeds fell 95 per cent from 2021.

Without a doubt, 2022 has been a tough year for equity investors. As I write, the S&P500 is down around 16. 5 per cent, and the ASX200 is down around 5. 5 per cent. But don’t despair – 2023 could see a return to sharemarket gains.

Twelve months ago, official cash rates sat at record lows and only one English-speaking Central Bank – the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) – had commenced the tightening process in response to increasing inflationary expectations.

When investors, like Montgomery, and our partners, Australian Eagle, talk about quality Australian companies – those with wide and deep economic moats or competitive advantages, relatively low debt, high returns on equity and growing profits – Australian biotech CSL Limited (ASX:CSL) invariably appears near the top of the list.

This week the RBA increased the Cash Rate by a further 25 basis points to 3. 1 per cent. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed quarter on quarter GDP growth of 0. 6 per cent and 5. 9 per cent year on year for the September quarter.

Elders (ASX:ELD) has been a leading Australian agribusiness since 1839. In that time, it’s gone through a number of ups and downs. But under CEO, Mark Allison, it looks to have found its groove – as reflected in the most recent results. Despite the CEO’s impending departure, we think the Elders’ business model will continue to reward investors.

  In this week’s video insight Roger discusses the REDcycle program that has been suspended after it was revealed soft plastic items collected at Woolworths and Coles had bee stockpiled for months in warehouses and not recycled. Many experts suggest recycling solutions are no solution at all. They suggest what is required is a ban on plastics.

The influential 17th With Intelligence HFM Asian Performance Award ceremony for 2022 was held in Singapore on 30 November. Winning managers were selected from a variety of categories, including Arbitrage, Macro, Australian Equity, Asia ex-Japan, Managed Futures, Indian Equity, Chinese Equity, Global Equity, Fixed Income and High Yield Distressed Category.

This week, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the monthly consumer price index, seeing a slight month-on-month fall, the Aura High Yield SME Fund was recognised in the HFM Asian Performance Awards 2022, as the top performing fund in the Fixed Income, High Yield & Distressed Category over the past 12 months in APAC, and our team attended the annual…

Investors looking for investment opportunities providing monthly cash income, may want to consider the Aura High Yield SME Fund or the Aura Core Income Fund. This is particularly suitable for investors who wish to source monthly income with lower volatility of returns.