COVID relief still available, and risk returns to the market

Despite the (admittedly shaky) roadmap to recovery from the pandemic having been recently unveiled in Victoria and NSW, there are still some relief payments available to businesses and individuals, so it’s worth checking what you might be eligible for.
 
In NSW and Victoria commercial tenants struggling with rent payments will benefit from rent relief, with the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme. Depending on which state you are in, the scheme will help small and medium businesses with an annual turnover of less than $50 million that have experienced a fall in turnover of more than 30 per cent during the pandemic. 
 
Eligibility for rent relief has been broadened, with tenants now able to choose three consecutive months between 1 April and 30 September 2021 to compare to their turnover in the same three months in 2019. 

And from an individual point of view, if you have had your pay or your hours cut through no fault of you own, you can register for the appropriate payments here.

In other news, volatility and risk have returned to the markets. In my opinion, there are four risks spooking markets at the moment:

1.    Natural gas prices are at 7-year highs and up a whopping 11% overnight, with cold European and US winters yet to hit markets.

2.    Oil prices are on a rising streak with BP conceding that 30% of its UK network had no fuel.

3.    Uncertainty about the implications of the Evergrande default.

4.    Concerns about the US Debt ceiling being extended.

And that doesn’t include financial advisers sneaking into Perth to watch the AFL Grand Final!