June 2018 – End of Month Update … and end of Financial Year Review

Slack Investor remains IN for US, UK and Australian index shares.

The Australian Index (+3.0%) has had a good month. While the UK Index (-0.5%) and the US index (+0.5%) have ended the Australian Financial Year (FY) in a steady fashion.

All Index pages and charts  have been updated to reflect the monthly changes – (ASX Index, UK Index, US Index).

Goodbye FY 2018

Slack  Investor loves a review … and the end of the financial year is always a good time for introspection. Overall, it has been a good year to take some calculated risk and be involved in the satisfying world of investing in companies through the share market. Safe money in a bank is returning under 3% per year.

ASX 200 – Despite a mediocre performance by the Australian Banks (which make up a large porrtion of the ASX 200), You would  have to say it was a good year for the Australian Index (+8.3%). If you take into account dividends, the ASX200 accumulation index increased a bumper 12.7%.

FTSE 100 – It was a bit of a struggle for the UK Index this year (+4.4%) with a lack of clarity on what Brexit will mean for the UK economy. Slack Investor left the index briefly as it plunged below a stop loss at the end of March, but rising momentum in April got me back in.

S&P 500 – The US Index was heading for a monster year with President Trump reducing taxes … and then he started talking about new trade tariffs There were also concerns about high valuations. But, overall, +11.8% is a very fine return in the current low interest environment for cash.

Financial Year Slack Investor Resolution – A recent ASIC report found that nine out of ten self-managed super funds recieve poor financial advice from their advisors … So start educating yourself in financial matters … become your own advisor!