Reasons sharemarkets are charging higher

Contributor: Don Stammer

Expectations of a slowdown — even a recession — in the global economy have been widespread in recent months. As a result, bond yields have fallen over the year to date, causing bond prices to surge.

However, most sharemarkets have continued tracking higher, with US and Australian shares having delivered returns, in cluding dividends, since the start of the year of more than 20 per cent.

Here are pointers on why average returns to share investors in the US and Australia have been buoyant.