In New Zealand, the latest forecasts are for further economic growth, but not on a scale that looks to deliver strong growth in corporate profits...

World economic growth is still supportive for global equities, and fund managers currently expect equities to make further gains. But the outlook, particularly this late in a sustained global business cycle, is becoming more vulnerable to various risks, notably higher bond yields (especially in the U.S.) and various geopolitical risks...

In New Zealand, the current business expansion has further to run, but the pace of growth has slowed down and growth asset valuations may be overstating likely profit growth...

World equity and bond markets fell in recent weeks, and although equities have recovered somewhat since, the episode is a reminder that expensive equity, bond, and bond-proxy prices are at risk from the end of ultra-low cash and bond yields...

In New Zealand, the new government's likely changes to previous policies, while still not fully clear, have raised the level of uncertainty about future economic performance...

World equity markets have continued to recover from their North Korea related setback in August/September. Income-oriented asset classes (property, infrastructure) have lagged as the prospect of higher bond yields draws nearer.