July 2020 Report

The US stock market continued to rise as the US dollar fell. The Australian Dollar rose from USD 0.6884 to 0.7159. The MSCI World Index rose 5.33%, the S&P 500 5.64%. The ASX 200 only rose 0.50%. All these are total returns including dividends. We gained 1.76% in Australian Dollar terms and gained 5.82% in US Dollar terms. The target portfolio gained 1.57% in Australian Dollar terms and the HFRI hedge fund index 3.24% in US Dollar terms. So, unusually, we outperformed all benchmarks. Here is a report on the performance of investments by asset class:

The returns reported here are in currency neutral terms. Gold performed best and futures worst. Gold contributed most to the total return.

Things that worked well this month:

• Gold gained AUD 39k as the metal hit a record high. It is now our fourth best investment ever in dollar terms. Only the CFS Geared Share Fund and the Unisuper and PSS(AP) superannuation funds have made us more money.
• Tribeca was the next best performer gaining AUD 15k.

What really didn't work:

• Pengana Private Equity lost AUD 4k.
• My Virgin Australia bonds lost AUD 3k. In the coming month we'll find out how much they are really worth.

We moved further towards our long-run asset allocation. The share of private equity rose most while the shares of bonds and futures/cash fell:

On a regular basis, we invest AUD 2k monthly in a set of managed funds, and there are also retirement contributions. Other moves this month:

• We participated in the Pengana Private Equity (PE1.AX) rights issue buying 18,000 shares.
• I bought AUD 50k of Australian Dollars and used 40k to reduce my margin loan at CommSec.

It was a fairly uneventful month.

 

P.S. 8th August

I just realized we hit a new high net worth in US Dollar terms this month, exceeding the previous high in December. Details are at NetworthShare Quite remarkable given the circumstances. In Australian Dollar terms we are 3% below the January high.