Friday, October 02, 2026
My cancer journey: First 2 months of costs – steep learning curve for me, plus some surprises
The two months since my positive bowel cancer scan result in December has been a wild ride – tests, scans, colonoscopy, surgery, oncology, and now prepping for chemotherapy. All of this over the Christmas-New Year break! I cannot imagine this would have been possible in any other country. Total cost for first two months was $29,000. Sounds like a lot, but I had no idea what to expect. Private health insurance covered 51% – much less than I had expected. Medicare covered 13%, so I was out of pocket $10k, or 36% of the total. Private health insurance is a lot CHEAPER than the Medicare Levy/Tax. I found at least eight different ways in which medical costs are paid - very confusing (for me anyway!) I’m lucky to live in a country with a vast array of world-class public and private health facilities and professionals.
My latest IFPA webinar: Rate hikes, Gold, Silver, Bitcoin. Has ‘ai’ killed the ‘ai' boom?
Here’s a link to my latest webinar for the IFPA ‘Investment Insight’ series. Topics covered in this episode include: share markets, inflation, interest rates, Mag-7 pricing, Bitcoin, Gold, Silver. Plus audience questions on inflation targeting, gold, and shorting. Aimed at portfolio managers and advisers managing client wealth portfolios – discretionary and non-discretionary. Designed to arm advisers with clear, fact-based analysis and insights to assist in answering client queries about what is happening in investment markets and what is driving returns. Enjoy!
126 reasons NOT to invest! ‘This time is different’ – or is it?
It’s that time of year again – time to review threats and risks that might blow up our investments in the coming year. In the past we have had wars (including ‘World Wars’), revolutions, recessions, depressions, inflation spikes, deflation, pandemics, political crises, nuclear strikes, etc. They may have been devastating for human life and whole economic systems, but you would have trouble spotting their impacts on the chart. For 2026, we have Trump’s threats against Canada, Greenland, military actions in LatAm and Iran, ICE waging war on US soil, escalating US deficit/debts, Trump’s new Fed chair hired to cut rates, ‘ai’ destroying jobs, industries, and even destroying the ‘ai’ bubble itself! All scary stuff! Given the ‘uncertainty’ and expensive pricing, is it NOW time to sell up and wait for things to 'settle down' and become
Who wants to buy US debt? – ie lend to the profligate US government? Most of the world except me!
No sign of ‘de-dollarisation’ here – most of the world loves US dollar debt, and have been buying up more! Especially UK, Japan, Europe, and even Canada and Mexico. China has been the big seller, and has halved its holdings over the past decade. But most of the rest of the world (apart from Russia), have been increasing their holdings of US debt – ie racing in to lend more to the profligate US government. The Brits have been by far the biggest fans, buying up even more than China has sold. Despite soaring US deficits and debt, there is no sign of worry from lenders (debt owners) about debt stress or default. The flood of buying across the world has kept yields US relatively low to date. What worries is me is another bond scare – like in 2022 when soaring yields caused the biggest losses on US bonds in a century. More of
How the RBA scores on its inflation goal? Somewhere between 3 & 10 out of 10. Overall 8 out of 10
Since the RBA gained ‘independence’ in pursuing its 2% to 3% target range, inflation has only been in the target range just 32% of quarters, and 36% of calendar years. It has missed its target TWO THIRDS of the time – so 3 out of 10 for short-term inflation outcomes. But it was never a short-term target. Overall inflation over the period has averaged 2.6% pa which is in the MIDDLE of its target range. 10 out of 10 for long-term inflation targeting. Measured by decade, inflation has been WITHIN its target range EACH decade. Inflation averaged 2.3% in the 1990s, 2.8% in the 2000s, and 2.1% in the 2010s. In the 2020s inflation has averaged 3.8% pa so far, but the decade is not over yet. Inflation over the past 10 years to December 2025 averaged 3%, which is within target. So, through a host of major global and local crises over the past 30+ years,&
January 2026 snapshot – essential wrap-up of global markets for Aussie investors
Here’s my new, improved, slimmed-down monthly wrap-up of global markets for Aussie investors. It’s a simpler format for my new more complex life (with this pesky cancer thingy) Covers key global events, share markets, inflation, interest rates, bonds, commodities, currencies, crypto, and more. Where are we now? and where to next?
“Ashley’s unique fact-based analyses and insights into Australian and global markets are always worth reading. He has an incredibly deep and comprehensive store of financial markets data.”
Chris Cuffe, AO – One of Australia’s best known and most experienced investment managers – former CEO of industry giants Colonial First State, then Challenger Financial; founder and Chair of Australian Philanthropic Services, and Third Link Growth Fund; current/former chair, director and/or investment committee member of numerous funds including UniSuper, Argo Investments, Hearts and Minds Investments, Paul Ramsay Foundation, and many others.
“Ashley is one of the best writers and thinkers on financial markets in Australia. His unique analysis and research is always fact-based and insightful, not the usual uninformed market noise and waffle that infects the mainstream financial media.”
Graham Hand - Editorial Director of Morningstar Australia, including Founder/Managing Editor of FirstLinks, Australia’s leading newsletter and publishing service on wealth management, superannuation, and personal finance.
“Ashley has the rare ability to ground insightful analysis in solid data and to present it in readily understandable ways. His wry, detached style and focus on the long term is rare and willingness to share a lifetime of learning and thinking appreciated by all who come to know him.”
Toby Potter - Chair, Institute of Managed Account Professionals (‘IMAP’), the peak industry body for the discretionary managed accounts industry in Australia, representing investment managers, advisers, Managed Account providers, and technology companies. It is the primary thought-leader for the industry in Australia, and provides training and industry events and conferences.
“What sets Ashley Owen’s analysis apart from investment banks and the financial press is his deep fact-based understanding of long-term financial data, rather than getting caught up on the daily noise over issues that may generate trades or sell newspapers today, but will be irrelevant and misleading two years from now.”
Hugh Dive, CFA. Chief Investment Officer, Atlas Funds Management, and frequent expert commentator quoted in the AFR.
‘For many years, Ashley has been my go-to source of information and analysis on what’s going on in financial markets and why.’
“Ashley has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the markets – I call him Mr Google!”
Noel Whittaker, AM – Australia’s best-known personal finance writer, columnist, and media commentator for the past three decades. He has written more than 20 books on personal finance, his regular columns on personal finance are published in almost every major Australian newspaper, and he appears regularly on radio and TV as an expert on finance and investing.
"I read all of Ashley's research on financial and economic issues. His data resources, deep knowledge, and original analysis put him in a class of his own."
Ian Macfarlane AC - Former Governor, Reserve Bank of Australia (Australia's central bank), 1996-2006. Former Director, Woolworths, Leighton Holdings, and ANZ Bank. Also on the International Advisory Boards of Goldman Sachs (2007-2016), the China Banking Regulatory Commission (2011-2014), and director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy (2004-2017).
“Over the past 20 years, Ashley has been an invaluable assistance to me, as a reliable source of unbelievably strong and interesting data, and many good investment ideas.”
"The depth and quality of Ashley’s research and analysis of investment markets is the best in the business.”
Dr Don Stammer - Australia’s most respected economic writer, commentator, and speaker for the past 40 years, with a distinguished career including the Reserve Bank of Australia, Chief Economist at Deutsche Bank Australia for 21 years, chair of nine ASX companies, plus numerous non-listed and not-for-profit boards.