Apple: good news story for your investments

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With all the bad news in the press about Greece’s economic difficulties and the impact on global markets, it’s important not to let macro economics blind us to the significant opportunities that still exist for both companies and investors. Because in the end, it is the long-term profitability and growth of companies (and your willingness to stay the course), that will impact on your investments – not short-term economic volatility.

Take Apple – the largest holding in your international share portfolio,* making up 1.4% of investment in international shares. Just this month, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Apple had overtaken Microsoft as the world’s largest technology company, with shares surging 2.8% on Nasdaq on 26 May 2010.

The report said:

“Shares of Apple are worth more than 10 times what they were 10 years ago, as it has profited from revolutionizing consumer electronics with its stylish, easy-to-use products such as the iPod, iPhone and MacBook laptops.”

And with ipads hitting stores worldwide in May, and the next generation of iphone due for release in the US, Japan and Europe this month and Australia next month, Apple shows no sign of disappearing anywhere in a hurry.

This is just one example of how companies continue to innovate and build profitability and grow market share. So while government and household debt mean we should expect slower growth than we’ve see in the past twenty years, the technological revolution we are seeing in not only electronics, but material science and biotechnology means there will be no shortage of investment opportunities going forward.

Of course, your portfolio is invested in a diversified range of companies and asset classes, and managed by a number of the world’s leading fund managers, so there is no need for you to keep up with specific stock stories. However, with all the hype in the press about Europe, it may ease your mind to know some of the positive factors impacting on your investment long-term.

So sit back and relax because when you’ve got a diversified range of quality investments, it’s only a matter of time until you see the results.

*Applies to international exposure in ipac’s Pathway Portfolios as at May 2010