Indexed annuity bonds (IAB) - how they work and their many benefits

While IAB bonds are sometimes perceived as being complex for their unique features, they are not so complicated once you know how to think about them. IABs pay quarterly payment that has it’s purchasing power preserved through indexation to inflation. Because the cash flow is indexed to inflation, the yield includes an inflation assumption. The par value needs to be calculated, but works in a similar way to a mortgage, with each quarterly payment having both an interest and a principal component.

Education (basics)

Dynamics in the labour market are very material to the RBA

The RBA keeps an eye on the Australian labour market as it is one of the most important indicators of the growth of the economy. Labour data is a direct target of monetary policy via the RBA’s employment mandate, but also an indirect one since it so clearly affects inflation dynamics. Over the last six months or so, the unemployment rate has trended sideways and still remains at extremely strong levels. While the unemployment rate remains low and inflation elevated, there is little reason for the RBA to cut interest rates.

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Education (basics)

How bonds can help you retire with a stable income

We have put together this article to help you understand the role bonds play in retiring with a passive income, whether you're thinking of the ideal retirement, planning for retirement, or have retired. In retirement planning, bonds should be a cornerstone investment, providing regular interest payments and returning your principal investment at maturity. This stability forms the bedrock of a passive cash flow strategy, allowing retirees to sustain their lifestyle and meet essential expenses regardless of market volatility.

BBSW - what is it and how is it used

In this article, our Head of Research, Philip Brown, summarises what BBSW is, how it behaves, and what is meant by bank bills, BBSY, swaps and benchmarks. The Bank Bill Swap Rate, commonly known as BBSW, is the most common measure of short-dated interest rates in Australia. Strictly speaking, it is the rate at which Australia’s prime banks borrow money for short periods, like three months or six months. BBSW is normally near, but just above, the RBA cash rate.

Macroeconomic Questions and Answers

As part of the recent FIIG webinar on the Macroeconomic Outlook, we opened the (digital) floor to questions. Working on the theory that if one person is curious enough to publicly ask the question, a lot more people are curious enough to know the answer, we present the questions from that webinar with answers written by FIIG’s Head of Research, Philip Brown.

The Macro Landscape: Taking a second look at 2024

FIIG research has published a detailed analysis of the outlook for 2024 and then followed it up with a detailed webinar on the same topics. For both the outlook for 2024 and for analysis of the RBA, the key to understanding is, in our view, to take a second look at the question to understand the details a little below the surface. In this article, we will take a closer look at the state government capex spending, cash rates around the world, labour markets in Australia and a LOCK strategy to guide successful bond market investing in 2024.

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