Investment markets and key developments over the past week

Share markets have had another volatile week as worries about China and the US Federal Reserve (Fed) linger, but the major markets saw gains over the week. While expectations regarding the long talked about Fed interest rate hike continue to wax and wane, more stimulus measures and soothing words from China have helped. US shares rose 2.1%, Eurozone shares rose 0.5%, Japanese shares gained 2.7% (helped by talk of corporate tax cuts), Chinese shares rose 1.3% and the Australian share market gained 0.6%. Bond yields rose in the US and Australia but were flat to down in Europe. Oil and gold prices fell but metal prices rose and the Australian dollar had a decent bounce back above US$0.70. Read our round up of the key developments over the past week here: (VIEW LINK)