We commenced the year by looking at a comparison of conditions that could affect investing in the Share Market as compared with February of 2014 to 2017. The variation is the all ordinaries, iron ore price and Australian dollar fluctuation were all interesting. However, the increase in the American DOW index was perhaps the most remarkable of the conditions we looked at.
As it was the start of 2018 we also looked at the ASX 200 winners and losers for 2017. Commsec had published some Economic Insights into the Big Issues of 2018, and we studied a précis of these Issues.
The final Topic for the afternoon was Medical Cannabis and the changing scenario behind several companies listed on the Stock Exchange. Changes in State and Federal Government legislature is encouraging these companies, which are still in their infancy, to develop both medicinal and other products for the Australian market and to export these products if appropriate.
The next meeting of Investment will be on Friday 2 March 2018 at 1.30pm in the U3A room at the Seniors Complex, Faulkner Drive, Benalla.
Margaret Jenkins