According to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) , the total value of new loan commitments for housing and within that, the value of owner occupier home loan commitments each reached record highs last month.

Global share markets rebounded over the last week helped by good economic data and earnings news, reduced concerns around vaccines and as worries about the Reddit/day trader crowd adding to volatility fizzled

Come July 1 the annual tax window opens again. Property investors may have access to a wide range of tax benefits, but tax is a complicated matter. It pays to be across the details. Here’s how you could maximise your return, and what to watch out for.

Global share markets were mostly down over the last week with US shares down 1.5% and European shares down 1.2% partly on profit taking after a run of strong gains along with concern about higher bond yields and soft economic data on the back of rising new coronavirus cases.

Undoubtedly, the storming of the Capitol Building in Washington DC will go down as a dark mark in US history – not only due to the tragic loss of life which followed. The events of January 6 are a significant indication of social and political tensions in the country at the moment, stirred by President Trump’s dissatisfaction at his loss to Joe Biden in last year’s election.

2020 turned out far better for diversified investors than had been feared when the pandemic hit triggering plunging share markets and deep recessions, with average balanced growth superannuation funds looking like they have returned around 3%.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has swatted away calls to extend wage subsidies beyond March as border closures and coronavirus restrictions spark fresh economic uncertainty.

The threshold at which Australians in financial strife can be made bankrupt has been dropped to $10,000. It was temporarily lifted from $5000 to $20,000 in March to give some breathing space to those impacted by the coronavirus pandemic downturn.