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The Australian share market was weaker in May, with the All Ordinaries index closing the month 3.1% lower at 5,761.3 points. The Australian Dollar fell by 0.8% in May, with 1 Australian Dollar currently buying 74.26 US cents. Once again, the Reserve Bank of Australia left the official Cash Rate on hold at 1.50% per annum.

Global share markets provided positive returns in May. The United States Dow Jones index gained 0.3%, the London FTSE gained 4.4%, the Japan Nikkei 225 gained 2.4% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index gained 4.2% for the month.

April was a month of consolidation for the Australian share market. The All Ordinaries index closed the month 0.7% higher at 5,944 points.

The Australian Dollar fell by 2.0% in April, with 1 Australian Dollar currently buying 74.87 US cents.  Once again, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left the official Cash Rate on hold at 1.50% per annum.

March was another positive month for the Australian share market, with the All Ordinaries index closing 2.5% higher at 5,904 points. The Australian Dollar was steady in March, with 1 Australian Dollar currently buying 76.41 US cents. Once again, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left the official Cash Rate on hold at 1.50% per annum.

Global share markets provided mixed results in March. The United States Dow Jones index fell 0.7%, the London FTSE gained 0.8%, the Japan Nikkei 225 fell 1.1% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index gained 1.6% for the month.

February with a positive month for investment markets, with the All Ordinaries index closing the month 1.5% higher at 5,761 points. The Australian Dollar increased 1.3% in the month, with 1 Australian Dollar currently buying 76.78 US cents. The Reserve Bank of Australia left the official Cash Rate on hold at 1.50% per annum.

After a strong finish to the 2016 calendar year, investment markets took stock in January. The All Ordinaries index closed the month down 0.8% at 5,675 points. The Australian Dollar increased 5.3% in the month, with 1 Australian Dollar currently buying 75.85 US cents.

Global markets were also generally flat in January. The United States Dow Jones index gained 0.5%, the London FTSE fell 0.6% and the Japan Nikkei 225 fell 0.4% for the month. Once again bucking the trend was the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index, gaining 6.2% for the month (after falling in December).

Key investment markets took-off towards the end of 2016, with the All Ordinaries index gaining 3.9% to close the month of December at 5,719.1 points.  For the 2016 calendar year, the All Ordinaries index gained 7.0%.

International markets were generally stronger in December (and for the 2016 calendar year for that matter). In December, the United States Dow Jones index gained 3.3%, the London FTSE gained 5.3% and the Japan Nikkei 225 gained 4.4%.

November marked one of the most extraordinary election upsets in political history. Donald Trump defied polls, pundits and markets in a stunning upset to become the 45th president of the United States.

The Australian share market gained  1.9% in the month of November, closing at 5,502.4 points. The United States Dow Jones index gained 5.4% and the Japan Nikkei 225 gained 5.1%.

The Australian share market declined by 2.2% in the month of October, closing at 5,402.4 points. The Australian Dollar declined by 0.8% for the month, with 1 Australian Dollar currently buying 76.1 US cents.

Global investment markets were mixed in October. The US Dow Jones Index fell 0.9%, the London FTSE gained 0.8%, the Japan Nikkei 225 gained 5.9% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index fell 1.6% in the month.

The Australian sharemarket was flat in the month of September, closing at 5,525.2 points. Last month, the Reserve Bank left the official Cash Rate on hold (at 1.50% per annum) and the Australian dollar gained 1.98% (currently buying 76.75 US cents).

Global investment markets were also relatively subdued in September. The US Dow Jones Index fell 0.5%, the London FTSE gained 1.7%, the Japan Nikkei 225 fell 2.6% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index gained 1.4% in the month.

The Australian sharemarket retreated a by 1.9% in August, following the strong gains (+6.3%) recorded in July. As expected, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut the official Cash Rate to a new record low of 1.5% per annum early in the month.

Global investment markets were mixed in August. The US Dow Jones Index fell 0.2%, the London FTSE gained 0.9%, the Japan Nikkei 225 gained 1.9% and the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index gained 5.0% in the month.