For many years we have had articles published in different media outlets.

Our recent article “Concerns about China's rise to power seem overblown” was published in Firstlinks on 11 June 2025. FirstLinks is an important publication in the investment area particularly for High Net Worth (HNW) individuals with Self-Managed Superannuation Accounts (SMSF) as you will observe by the number of sponsors and quality of the articles. 

This article explores the differences in Chinese and Western statecraft highlighting that China's distinct governance and historical approach differ from Western norms. The article raises thought-provoking questions on whether concerns over China's rise as a global power are overstated. You can view the full article on Firstlinks by clicking here. 

At the time of preparing to publish this newsletter we were in Qatar when the Israel/Iran war broke out.  Seeing firsthand the reporting differences between Middle Eastern and Western media highlights the propaganda war that is also being played out.

From an investment perspective the impact is already apparent. Oil prices have jumped up to about USD74 per barrel when a month ago they were around USD63 per barrel. Partially offsetting the impact of these oil price increases has been the recent steady revaluation of the Australian dollar up from USD0.60 cents to USD 0.65 cents over the last 2 months. Increasing energy prices directly and indirectly impact consumers driving up the cost of living. If the Straits of Hormuz are closed, or Iran refineries and oil fields are destroyed or badly damaged the price of oil could increase to over USD100 per barrel which will likely produce a global recession. 

If you have any questions in relation to the article or any other matters, please feel free to contact us. 

General Advice Warning: Any advice or information provided is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any General Advice provided, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs. If you wish to discuss the contents of this newsletter, please do not hesitate to contact us.