We are updating our website
So that we can direct you to the right page,
please select your product from the list below.
Retirement
Wealth Protection
Investment market performance Q3 2025
As we navigate the complexities of the financial landscape, it’s important to stay informed about how investment markets are performing. The third quarter of 2025 (July 1 – September 30) presented both challenges and opportunities for investors. In this article, we take a closer look at how investment markets performed over the quarter, and we highlight some of the key economic factors from across the world that influenced these outcomes.
Australia
Share market: The Solactive Australia 200 Index, which represents Australia’s top 200 companies, was up +4.7% over the quarter. Positive returns were largely due to strong performance in the mining sector, led by BHP Group Ltd, followed by strong performance in the banking sector.
Interest rates: Australia’s inflation rate remained within the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) target range at 2.1% in Q2, down from 2.4% in Q1 2025. Core inflation, which excludes volatile items like food and energy, slowed from 2.9% in Q1 to 2.7% in Q2 2025. The RBA reduced the cash rate from 3.85% to 3.60% during the quarter but kept the rate on hold in September, as markets had expected. Markets view another cut this year as unlikely.
Housing market: The Australian housing market, as measured by CoreLogic's Home Value Index (HVI), recorded an increase of +1.4% in Q2 2025, following a +0.9% increase in Q1 2025. The increase was attributed to falling interest rates, which have acted as a catalyst for renewed momentum.
Australian dollar: The Australian dollar (AUD) continued to recover against the US Dollar (USD) over the quarter, rising 1.1% from 65.7 to 66.1 cents. The continued recovery is due to factors such as a softer USD, caused by expectations of modest interest rate cuts in the US, along with stronger economic data that reduces the chance of further interest rate cuts in Australia.
New Zealand
Share market: The Solactive New Zealand Top 50 Index saw a +5.9% rise in Q3 2025, with the positive return due to strong performance in key infrastructure and food production companies.
Housing market: The QV House Price Index showed a -0.8% drop in house prices nationally in the three months to the end of August 2025. That is 0.2% higher than the same time in 2024 and is 13.4% below the market peak in January 2022. The average property value nationally is now NZ$906,977.
Interest rates: The official cash rate was reduced from 3.25% to 3.00% during Q3 2025, with the market expecting a further reduction to at least 2.75% by the end of 2025. New Zealand’s economy, which exited recession in Q4 2024 as the economy began to grow again, saw a contraction in Q2 2025 of -0.9%, which was a lot worse than markets had expected. Inflation was 2.7% in Q2 2025, slightly higher than the 2.5% recorded in Q1 2025.
United States
Share market: US stocks had a strong quarter, supported by a strong earnings season. With the effect of tariffs on inflation less than feared, a Federal Reserve rate cut also supported US stocks.
Interest rates: The Federal Reserve cut interest rates from 4.5% to 4.25% in Q3 2025. This is in line with their goals of achieving maximum employment and price stability. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation rate stood at +2.7% at the end of August 2025, while core inflation had eased to +3.1%.
Global trade and geopolitical uncertainty
As trade tensions eased, Q3 2025 saw positive returns across financial markets, with technology giants again seeing large gains as optimism around AI continued. Bond markets also saw positive returns, despite the market focussing more on the sustainability of government’s fiscal spending plans.
We continue to monitor the major drivers of markets and their impact on Resolution Life Australasian portfolios. While investing always involves managing uncertainty, the current environment is mired in elevated uncertainty. The best form of defence for portfolios is to continue to be well diversified, with exposure to a range of asset classes that can help during volatile times.
Sources:
1. Solactive Australia 200 Index Performance - Solactive
2. Solactive New Zealand Top 50 Index Performance – Solactive
3. Reserve Bank of Australia Monetary Policy - RBA
4. Reserve Bank of New Zealand Official Cash Rate - RBNZ
5. Australian House Prices – CoreLogic Home Value Index
6. NZ house Prices – QV House Price Index
7. FactSet
8. U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics
9. Trading Economics
Important IGB updates: Direct Debit now available and a New PDS
We’re pleased to announce two important updates for our Investment Growth Bond (IGB), making it easier to invest and enhancing the client experience:
- We're now supporting Direct Debit for IGB
- We have a new, updated Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) which is available on our website.
Streamlining contributions with Direct Debit
This enhancement simplifies the investment process, making our IGB a more flexible and user-friendly solution for your clients. With Direct Debit as a payment option, clients can make effortless one-off or regular contributions.
New PDS in effect
The new Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for our IGB became effective on 1 September 2025.
For all applications dated on or after 1 September 2025, clients must have been provided with and considered the new PDS, before the application can be submitted. To maintain compliance and avoid processing delays, please refer to our adviser support page for the most current PDS and application forms before commencing any new applications.
Processing instructions for advisers:
- For new business: Please use the latest Investment Growth Bond Application Form available on our website.
- To use Direct Debit, please instruct your client to select this payment option in Section 7 for one-off or regular contributions.
- For existing clients: To set up regular contributions using Direct Debit for an existing client, please complete the Change of Details Form, also available on our website.
Introducing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for adviser logins
We're pleased to announce a new security enhancement for the My Resolution Life portal. We've introduced multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all adviser logins, to provide an extra layer of protection for your clients' confidential information.
In today's digital world, protecting sensitive information requires a layered approach. By adding MFA, we're creating a powerful barrier against unauthorised access. This simple extra step ensures that even if your password were to be compromised, your account remains secure, providing essential peace of mind for you and your clients.
What to expect
The next time you log in to the My Resolution Life portal, you'll be prompted to select your preferred channel (SMS or email) to receive a one-time security code. You'll then need to enter that code to complete your login.
This new process is quick and easy, ensuring your information stays protected with minimal disruption to your workflow. Each time you sign in to the portal moving forward, this additional step will be a required part of your login process.
This is a key step forward in our shared commitment to protecting client data and maintaining the highest standards of security. By working together, we can ensure the My Resolution Life portal remains a safe and trusted platform for your business. We appreciate your partnership in making this transition as smooth as possible. For any questions or support, please contact us at 133 731 or adviserregisters@resolutionlife.com.au.
Osara Health recognised by TIME as a top global Health-tech company
Osara Health, one of Resolution Life’s trusted support providers, has been named amongst TIME ’s World Top HealthTech Companies for 2025, in the telehealth & treatment category.
Osara Health’s digital cancer support services are available to eligible Resolution Life customers across Australia and New Zealand. This recognition reflects Osara’s leadership in delivering personalised, evidence-based care through digital channels -support that complements the broader wellbeing services offered by other providers on our panel.
A global leader in specialised cancer support
Osara Health’s flagship solution, Cancer Coach, combines specialised telehealth coaching, behavioural science and digital tools to create a structured, whole-person care model.
This specialised support assists customers with guidance on:
- Symptom management and tracking
- Emotional wellbeing and mental health support
- Nutrition and exercise tips and tools
- Preparation for returning to work and daily activities.
Dr. Raghav Murali Ganesh, Co-Founder and CEO of Osara Health, said: "Being recognised by TIME as one of the world's leading HealthTech companies is an incredible honour and a reflection of the impact our team, partners and customers are making every day. Our mission has always been to empower people with cancer to live fuller lives, and this recognition validates the importance of that mission on a global stage."*
What customers are saying
Here’s what a recent Resolution Life customer who completed the Cancer Coach program in September had to say:
“It’s helped me to recognise eating and sleeping habits—if I didn’t go through this, I wouldn’t have known this stuff. The chats have been good, as I’ve only spoken to the doctors about this before. Now I know who else I can call if I need more assistance. You were always good to keep our appointments. It wasn’t forceful conversations, just genuine caring of my needs. Five modules is good—five things you can work on. I really liked the voice of fear and voice of calm.”
Our commitment to holistic claims support
As part of Resolution Life’s commitment to holistic claims support, Osara Health is on a panel of rehabilitation and wellbeing specialists we work with, who help ensure eligible customers receive the right care at the right time, based on their needs.
The TIME accolade evidences the calibre of specialised services we make available to our customers, and underscores the value of our partnerships, which aim to deliver meaningful support and excellent health outcomes. By seamlessly integrating Osara Health into our existing offering, we’re making impacted customers feel supported and informed.
Read TIME’s full list of the World’s Top HealthTech Companies of 2025 here.
Source:
* https://osarahealth.com/blog/osara-health-named-to-times-worlds-top-healthtech-companies-of-2025/
A modern threat: staying alert to phishing and vishing
Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly bold and creative in how they target both companies and individuals. Recent high-profile breaches across airlines, other insurance companies and well-known retailers, highlight how effective modern social engineering can be.
These attacks are no longer just aimed at corporate systems. Criminals can and do also target customers directly, especially when stolen data gives them the means to personalise their approach.
How these attacks work
Today’s cyber scams often blend multiple techniques to appear convincing and to bypass security checks. Below is an overview of some of the tactics being used by scammers:
Vishing (voice phishing): Fraudsters call pretending to be company staff member, technical support, or a trusted service provider. They may used spoofed phone numbers and scripted conversations to pressure people into providing their login details, resetting passwords, or granting remote access to their account.
Phishing: Fraudsters send realistic looking emails or text messages, that appear to genuinely have come from legitimate sources such as your bank, a retailer, or even your own employer. These often contain links to fake login pages or provide urgent instructions designed to trick you into revealing your information, providing your Multifactor details, or enabling the fraudster to deliver malicious software that might spy on your activity .
Credential acquisition: By combining phone calls, fake emails and SMSs’, attackers can capture passwords, deliver fraudulent multi-factor authentication requests, or take over your accounts entirely, which can lead to identity theft.
Why this matters to you
Even if you’re not part of a targeted organisation, stolen customer data can make it much easier for criminals to craft highly believable scams. This means you could be contacted by someone who appears to know genuine details about you - making their request seem more legitimate and harder for you to identify.
How to protect yourself
• Pause before you act: Treat any unexpected call, email, or text asking for credentials or computer access as suspicious.
• Check the source: Independently verify requests by contacting the company. Use official contact details and never the ones provided in the message or call.
• Be wary of urgency: Messages or calls creating pressure to act quickly are a red flag.
• Protect your accounts: Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible. Consider using a password manager (one example is Proton Pass but there are many others) to create unique passwords for each of your accounts.
• Check if your details have been exposed: Use a trusted service like haveibeenpwned.com to see if your email or passwords have appeared in recent breaches. If they have, change those passwords immediately and avoid using the same password across multiple accounts.
Your awareness and quick action are the best defence against scammers, so it’s important to be vigilant.
If something feels off, trust your instincts. It’s far safer to double-check something, than to respond in haste. Stay alert. Stay cautious. Stay safe.
Introducing Andrew O’Sullivan – National Retail Retirement Lead (QLD and NT)
Andrew joins Resolution Life, bringing his extensive experience and knowledge in key advice areas such as investments, superannuation, retirement and estate planning. His background includes senior sales and distribution roles at leading organisations including Aviva, MLC Wealth & Life Insurance, MetLife and Australian Unity, which has given him a deep understanding of the adviser landscape.
With over three decades of experience in the financial advice industry, Andrew will be focused on working with advisers across Queensland and the Northern Territory to capitalise on the retirement planning opportunities with advisers, to help their pre-retiree clients.
Outside of work, Andrew is a husband and father of two. He enjoys staying active and supporting his kids in Aussie Rules, basketball, netball and touch.
Important information
Where the information on this website is factual information only, it does not contain any financial product advice or make any recommendations about a financial product or service being right for you. Any advice is provided by Resolution Life Australasia Limited ABN 84 079 300 379, AFSL No. 233671 (Resolution Life), is general advice and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs, as well as the product disclosure statement and policy document for the product. Any guarantee offered in the product is only provided by Resolution Life. Any Target Market Determinations for our products can be found at resolutionlife.com.au/target-market-determinations.
Resolution Life does not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of material on this website nor accepts any liability or responsibility for any acts or decisions based on such information.
Resolution Life can be contacted at resolutionlife.com.au/contact-us or by calling 133 731.
