James Kirby

1 week ago | stockhead.com.au | James Kirby

The Albanese government’s decision to allow anyone buying a first home to do so with a 5 per cent deposit is set to inject a wave of unprecedented risk into an already expensive housing market. First-home buyers with a stake of just 5 per cent in their home – new or old – will hang by a thread if the market goes off the rails. Any jump in mortgage rates or downturn in house prices will immediately expose a new generation of buyers to financial stress.

1 week ago | stockhead.com.au | James Kirby

Everyday Australian investors have made a huge gamble this week that the sharemarket will soon stage a rapid rebound. But it’s going to be a rocky ride. For younger investors who poured their money into bargain hunting this week – the days ahead will be nerve wracking. For older investors it’s a different story and defensive assets will be top of mind.

2 weeks ago | stockhead.com.au | James Kirby

As fund managers sold out of falling share markets this week, ‘mum and dad’ investors rushed in. At online brokers, where independent investors dominate, there has actually been more buying than selling — a stark contrast to the big end of town. Share investors – especially younger investors – have been placing their money on beaten down blue chip stocks, believing the current downturn will mirror the last ‘crash’ back in the Covid-19 crisis of 2020.

2 weeks ago | stockhead.com.au | James Kirby

As share markets plunge, a perfectly timed turnaround in the Australian residential market is set to lure investors back to the perceived defensive qualities of “bricks and mortar”. In fact, investors have already been moving quickly, with investment lending in the housing sector springing back to life in recent months. Annual investment lending growth in residential property is already moving at its fastest pace since 2022.

3 weeks ago | stockhead.com.au | James Kirby

Australia’s biggest super funds have lifted their bets on the Trump regime – and cut their defensive holdings in cash – just as the US President is poised to unleash more volatility on the sharemarket with his Liberation Day tariff plans. As brokers cut their forecasts for share returns this year – and US markets do worse than Australia or Europe over the same period – our biggest super funds have lifted their exposure to US shares to unprecedented levels.