In the February 2020 edition of the Market Update:
- Markets enjoyed a reprieve from the US-China trade war, although the issue is expected to remain live as we near the US presidential election in November.
- Geopolitical tensions gave way to the outbreak of the coronavirus, resulting in travel restrictions and quarantine measures imposed by the Chinese authorities.
- The worst appears to have passed for the eurozone, but weakness in the German economy has been exacerbated by the disruption to global trade.
- The Australian bushfires will be a drag on economic growth, but RBA Governor Philip Lowe said the effects will be temporary.
- The UK officially left the EU on 31 January and will enter a transition period until the end of 2020, during which the government will need to secure a trade deal.
There’s more commentary, plus our usual tables with all the key market data on Shares, Interest Rates and Property in the linked document below.