It’s January 2017 and the start of a new year. The sights and sounds of the Australian summer are everywhere, with test cricket, the Australian Open, surf, sand and cicadas. While 2016 may seem like a distant memory, December was a big month on the economic front.

It’s generally contended that financial markets hate surprises. And from Brexit to Trump and a stunning rebound in commodity prices in between, 2016 was certainly a year of surprises. Yet, surprisingly, markets finished the year with a positive burst of energy. In this month’s snapshot, we look at the year that was, what it meant for your portfolio and what’s in store for the year ahead.

As always, if you would like to discuss the contents of this article in the light of your investment strategy, don’t hesitate to call.

You can read our January newsletter by clicking on the PDF attached.