January 2016
The December quarter was a positive one for the Australian share market, rounding out a mixed year for the index. The S&P/ASX 300 Accumulation Index (including dividend) returned 2.8% for calendar year 2015, with each of the Ralton portfolios achieving a higher return for the period.
Financial markets were focussed on the US Federal Reserve for much of the final quarter, which, by the time the ‘Fed’ raised rates in December, the market naturally focused on the speed and rate of future increases in the coming years.
The major US indices ended 2015 lower with the S&P 500 falling 0.73% after three straight years of double-digit gains, while the Dow Jones fell 2.23% for the year – its first negative year since 2008.
With this backdrop, the performance in recent times of ‘bond-sensitive’ stocks was notable. Utilities for example was the market’s top performing sector for calendar 2015, with many of the transport infrastructure stocks also performing strongly.
Key contributors to performance for the quarter across a number of Ralton’s portfolios were Super Retail Group, Aristocrat Leisure and CSL.
View the December 2015 performance reports: