Buoyed by the global roll-out of multiple COVID-19 vaccines, we think the pace of global GDP growth in 2021 will be close to the fastest in 50 years. Of course, this comes after 2020 saw one of the deepest (albeit short) contractions on record, but it will be a remarkable recovery nonetheless with the global share market revival poised to extend through 2021.

As we close out the year and look ahead, the outlook for Australian Equities into 2021 remains very constructive with the prospect of double-digit total returns on offer. Both the market and economy are likely to move from recovery to outright expansion in 2021, albeit with the market continuing to lead the economy. In our final Australian equities weekly for the year, we address:

Wilsons are delighted to have acted Joint Lead Manager and Joint Underwriter on the $47m IPO of Top Shelf International, which listed on the ASX on the 10th of December 2020. Top Shelf is a Melbourne based producer and marketer of high-quality Australian spirit-based beverage brands, with an ambition to create high quality, authentic Aussie spirit brands.

With the likelihood of a COVID-19 vaccine and the US election result closing the chapter on two of the great unknowns of 2020, Wilsons Head of Investment Strategy, David Cassidy and John Lockton of Wilsons Australian Equities Investment Strategy Group look ahead to 2021.

With 2020 drawing to a close, we take stock of how the Wilsons Australian Equity Focus List has performed through the year and show how the List has significantly pivoted over the past 6-months as both the health and economic landscape have evolved. As well as looking back on 2020 we cast our eyes forward to our position for 2021. In our December Australian equities report we:

The Australian equity market recovery accelerated in November as US election clarity and vaccine success buoyed equities markets globally.

Oil prices averaged ~US60/bbl across 2018/2019 leading into the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the oil price is just $US45/bbl for both WTI and Brent. While oil has recovered from COVID-19 lows in the $US20s in 2Q20, global oil demand remains materially below levels seen in late 2019.

Conviction Insights represents our highest conviction calls from across our coverage universe. This month we remove United Malt (UMG) from our Conviction Insights lineup. A large commercial malt producer with processing plants in North America, Australia and the UK, its removal is driven by two factors: