March 2016
The Australian market had a difficult month during February, with the S&P/ASX 300 Accumulation Index falling 1.72%. Falls in the Financials and Consumer Staples sectors were offset by large gains in the Materials sector. Locally, the market was focused on reporting season – a key driver of stock movements during the month – with most companies reporting earnings in line with expectations and dividend support coming through lower costs and rising payout ratios. Globally, uncertainty continued with investors concerned about possible deflation in Europe, ongoing weakness in China and the effectiveness of central bank measures.
View the February 2016 performance reports: