From Spartacus to Cristiano Ronaldo, a six-pack may be men’s most coveted muscle group of all time. One man, however, flies (throws?) in the face of such mythology, proving visible abs are not necessary to decimate your opposition. That man? Tom Brady.The former Patriots star (now the Tampa Bay Buccaneers main man) has blown minds again and again, breaking records and showing it is possible to perform at a higher level, at an older age, than many previously thought.To list just a few of his accolades, Brady led the Patriots to nine Super Bowls and six world championships, his nine Super Bowl starts are the most by any player in league history and he is the record holder for career Super Bowl attempts (392), completions (256), yards (2,838), touchdown passes (18) and MVP awards (4).

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A post shared by Tom Brady (@tombrady) on Jul 30, 2020 at 6:06am PDT

It’s no accident he achieved these feats: Brady sticks to a ruthless regimen of smart eating, training and recovery. Fortunately for those of us who would like to emulate it, Brady often takes to social media to share some of his smartest tips (or at least to give you a teaser in an effort to attract you to his TB12 method and book).Enter: his latest Instagram story. Brady just shared a professional “performance and recovery game plan checklist” which may explain why so many amateurs fail to achieve their more humble goals in the gym. The reason? It takes quite a rare specimen, we’d argue, to have the discipline to stick to all 12 rules.While most of us might comfortably tick off rule number one (stretch before and after your workout) and while few of us work out hard enough to justify implementing rule number two (which boils down to: drink special sports drinks), after this things get a more complex.Rule three: “fuel your body to perform and recover” is easier said than done (but is certainly achievable if you put your mind to it). For more advice on how to make that happen, we’d recommend starting here.As for rules four, five and eight (“adapt your workout to your goals”; “prioritize form first” and “consume protein to support your recovery”) we’d say many gym-goers are well aware of them (and perhaps even putting into practice). But the overlap ends there.

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A post shared by TB12 (@tb12sports) on May 14, 2020 at 3:27pm PDT

Rules six (“train to avoid injury”) and seven (“make active recovery part of your routine”) are rarely seen in amateurs (from our experience, most people deal with injuries reactively, not proactively). Rule nine (“supplement according to your goals”) sees a similar issue, with most of us guessing how many sips of that protein shake we really need, or convincing ourselves McNuggets are an acceptable post-gym protein hit.The last three rules are perhaps the most crucial, and the most overlooked (or simply unachieved). Rule ten (“make cognitive fitness a priority”) is ambiguous but transformative, rule eleven (“get your eight hours of sleep”) is depressingly uncommon and rule twelve (“have a purpose and stay determined”) is for many a pipe dream.We’d argue, though, if you look after the first eleven rules then number twelve will look after itself.The gym awaits.

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The post Tom Brady Shares Smart 12 Step Checklist For Maximum Recovery & Gains appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Men being outrageously thirsty online is a phenomenon as old as the internet itself. Any woman with a public profile who shares even the most innocent photo of themselves is likely to attract attention from guys who, behind the veil of anonymity, will share lurid thoughts they’d be unlikely to express in public.Whether someone’s in a poncho or in lingere, it’s no excuse to be a creep. The bulk of well-adjusted humans are all in agreement on that (or at least should be). It’s 2020 after all.RELATED: The Social Media Flirting Rules You’re Probably Getting WrongHowever, a recent selfie by American actress Sydney Sweeney has shown men’s pick up game is still woeful, even after four months of virtual dating.The star of Euphoria and The Handmaid’s Tale recently shared a shot of her posing in a bikini on an outdoor lounge, guarded by her beloved dog Tank. Naturally, hordes of men (and some women) were quick to comment on the shot – hardly a new occurrence.What’s worse is that the pick-up lines commenters were dropping aren’t just thirsty, but utterly unimaginative.

believe it or not but selfie timer pic.twitter.com/AwcnKfxwzL

— Sydney Sweeney (@sydney_sweeney) August 2, 2020

Some were absurd (“believe it or not my wee wee is 7.54 inches”), some were boring (“what’s up”), some were an attempt at humour (“respectfully. im looking respectfully”) and some were creepy (“i’m free everyday if you are also free everyday please call me so we can hang out everyday”).

“I am always free everyday like you can hang out with me everyday please call me text me and hold my hand everyday when I’m free”.“You single?”

None were good.Maybe we shouldn’t be expecting fine literature from Twitter, but it’s sad this is the best men can come up with. You’d think that all the time in lockdown poring over social media would mean that we’d have plenty of time to practice, but… nope.There were also plenty of people clowning the thirsty commenters – good to see there’s still some self-awareness on social media, at least.

simp

— connor (@suckscockhours) August 2, 2020

Sweeney made an impression on her female followers too. Three of the (near) top comments apparently came from women – two naughty, one nice.

“Need a photographer next time?”“THINKING SOME THOUGHTS.”“Thanks for making me realise I look like a potato.”

We can’t believe people missed Sweeney’s obvious joke about “nice puppies”, too.We’ll see ourselves out.

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• Emily Ratajkowski Reveals The Woeful State Of Men’s Pick Up Game
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The post American Actress' Risqué Selfie Reveals The Woeful State Of Men's Pick Up Game appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

BMW drivers are an oft-stereotyped group in motoring society – and that’s putting it mildly.But just like not all Saab drivers are bohemian wankers and not all WRX owners are boy racers, not everyone who has a BMW is a prick. Like any other major car brand, the Bavarian marque attracts all sorts. It’s unfair to pigeonhole those who choose to drive them.Except for this particular BMW; you’d have to be an absolute cad to want to own this one (and we mean that in the best way possible).This fiendishly cool 1981 323i John Player Special E21 Manual is fit only to be driven by the devil himself. One of only 70 ever released (and exclusively in the Australian market), this ultra-rare, ultra-suave, ultra-evil Beamer on sale in Sydney’s Dulwich Hill on Carsales is automotive proof that nice guys finish last.

Why is this car so evil? Because for those not in the know, John Player Special is a brand of cigarettes, and this E21 is a special edition that replicates the branding of the deadly durries.“Effectively, this model was the Motorsport Special Edition given a new lease of life, with black paintwork, actually bronze tinted windows and a wooden gear knob. On arrival in Australia… gold stripes, JPS C-Pillar badges, JPS wheel centre caps, JPS steering wheel boss and JPS dash plaque were all added. The BBS wheels had the centre gold anodised or, as an option, replaced with 15″ gold centre Simmons BBS lookalike wheels,” wrote Trade Unique Cars back in 2016.JPS has had a long history of involvement in motorsport, sponsoring the Lotus Formula One team, the Forsythe Racing Champ Car team, the Norton motorcycle racing team, and most relevantly, JPS Team BMW competed in the Australian Touring Car Championship – hence the Australia-specific E21 offering.

BMW’s not the only brand to offer consumers a special JPS package: Ford also offered a JPS trim for the Ford Capri MkII in the 70s. JPS’ black and gold livery is up there with Gulf Racing Team’s blue and orange or Porsche Martini Racing’s white with blue stripes.The JPS package isn’t just cosmetic: it’s got a 3.9 LSD, 5 speed manual, A/C (an option BMW Australia demanded Munich add for this Aussie-only model), power steering, cruise control, 4 wheel disc brakes, Bilstein shocks, Recaro seats, and the aforementioned Simmons wheels.From the factory, this car came with a 2.3L M20 straight-six putting out 107kw, but could also be stroked out to 2.7L (an option very few Australians chose due to its cost and complexity). Luckily, it’s a version of that rare 2.7L beast that this 323i has under the hood. The owner gives more details:“Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injected DOHC inline six-cylinder, 323i E30 head, ported high compression pistons with Alpina throttle body and ported inlet (sale will include original engine). Engine was built swapped in 2011 at 149,429km according to receipt.”

“The car is in exceptional, unrestored, original condition, although not perfect,” the owner adds.“The car has not been in an accident. The paint and interior is in excellent condition for its age. Well maintained appreciating classic, any test welcome.”The E21 was the first generation of the popular 3 Series of compact sports sedans and is widely regarded as one of BMW’s finest cars ever. While not quite as iconic as its successor, the fan-favourite E30, the E21 more than holds its own.The E21 never had an M3 variant (that model was introduced with the E30 generation), so this JPS 323i is arguably the best version of the E21 an Australian can hope to buy.For $45,000, this JPS E21 (#28 of only 70, remember) is a diabolically good car. If you’re a smoker, put down the cigarettes and save your money to buy this: it’s a way better indulgence than a cancer stick.

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The post BMW E21 John Player Special 3 Series For Sale In Australia appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

A New South Wales Government stamp duty freeze will help first home buyers gain a crampon in the market, and support the building industry during these unprecedented times.

The year-long initiative will benefit “thousands of people” and “get more keys into more front doors of more new homes,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told media.

Starting on the 1st of August 2020 and running for 12 months, the threshold for having to pay stamp duty on new homes for first home buyers will jump from the current $650,000 to $800,000 with the concession reducing on higher values before phasing out at $1 million.

“The stamp duty threshold on vacant land will also rise from $350,000 to $400,000 and will phase out at $500,000,” McGrath reports.

“The changes to the threshold will only apply to newly built homes (houses and apartments) and vacant land, not to existing homes,” (McGrath).

Edward Brown, director at Australia’s leading real estate provider Belle Property and one of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs’ leading real estate agents told DMARGE there are plenty of homes that meet this criteria in NSW.

Specifically, when it comes to Sydney, he said there would be opportunities for first home buyers to take advantage of the stamp duty freeze in places like Alexandria and Western Sydney.

“It will make buying a fist home more achievable.”

The government expects 6000 first homebuyers to benefit from these changes and will save them up to $31,335 on a new $800,000 home.

As The Australian reports, this comes amid a first home buyers’ loan scramble, inspired by various other state and federal government stimuli.

These incentives are threefold – and broken down perfectly in a recent article by McGrath.

First Home Buyers Grants

The NSW Government already had a scheme in place (which will continue per usual) offering a $10,000 first homeowner grant, which is available to people buying a new first home worth no more than $600,000 or buying land and building a new first home worth no more than $750,000 in total.

“This means the maximum benefit a homeowner could be entitled to is $32,335 if purchasing a new home and accessing the grant,” (McGrath).

Government Stimulus

“In June 2020, the Federal Government announced a new HomeBuilder scheme which can help add even more money to first home buyer budgets,” McGrath. “This initiative is designed to boost the construction sector, but has the added benefit of supporting first home buyers who are looking to build a new home.”

“Historically, the first home buyer grants have proven to be a successful driver of demand and now with the ability to combine it with the HomeBuilder scheme, we anticipate first home buyers, who have stable employment, will continue to drive demand between now and the end of the year.”

First Home Loan Deposit Scheme second intake

“This is an Australian government funded initiative which partially guarantees some low deposit loans by helping eligible first home buyers avoid paying lenders mortgage insurance,” McGrath explains.

“If a first-time buyer has less than 20% deposit, they will normally be required to pay lenders mortgage insurance which can be quite hefty. However, under this scheme, eligible first home buyers can purchase a modest home, with a deposit as little as 5% (lenders criteria applies) and the Commonwealth Government will guarantee the difference between what the first home buyer has saved and the 20% deposit threshold lenders usually require before they’ll provide a loan without lenders mortgage insurance.”

“The government says this could save first home buyers as much as $10,000.”

Also important to note is that the property price threshold varies depending on where you are buying.

Happy house hunting!

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The post NSW Stamp Duty Freeze Gives Sydney's First Home Buyers New Hope appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Rubber lovers are a notoriously fickle bunch. Before you jump down our throats, we’re sneakerheads too: there’s nothing we like more than a crisp new release… And nothing gets our blood boiling more than someone disrespecting fine footwear, like Jake Paul did to his ‘Air Diors’.But let’s be honest: sneakerheads can be pests online. Whether it’s ruthlessly critiquing someone’s crep choices or crashing websites trying to snap up new drops, modern-day foot fetishists are a bit of a scourge.Commenters nitpicking celebrity sneaker choices has to be one of the most irritating trends on social media. Virtually any time someone famous steps out in something that isn’t a pair of ‘fresh’ Air Force 1’s (or doing something slightly unconventional with their kicks), sneakerheads are quick to give their opinion – often en masse.Case in point: Mr Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr (or OBJ for the rest of us), wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL, just shared a photo of his latest streetwear-inspired fit, complemented by his blinged-out Rolex GMT-Master II ‘Everose’ worth a tidy 140,000 USD.Sneakerheads weren’t looking at the watch, however: they were complaining that him popping a squat resting on the balls of his feet was going to crease the toebox of his Nike Dunk Low ‘University Red’ sneakers.

 

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A post shared by Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) on Aug 2, 2020 at 4:28pm PDT

“Nah the creasing gettin to me”, one commenter summed it up best. There’s a lot of love for the fit in the comments but just as many people salty about OBJ affecting the longevity of his sneakers by his choice of pose.It wasn’t just random strangers angry about his posture.“Boyyyyyyyyyy you creasing the fuck out them dunks ,” Miami Dolphins running back Kalen Ballage also weighed in.On the other side of the fence, some came to OBJ’s defence. “They’re just dunks lol,” various commenters pointed out.The University Reds saw a limited release by Nike last month to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Nike Dunk. One of Nike’s most enduringly popular sneakers, the Dunk originally debuted as part of the 1985 Nike College Colours Program that delivered footwear in the school colors of 12 popular basketball programs. In particular, this re-release references the Red Storm men’s basketball team of St. John’s University in Queens, New York – one of the first collegiate colorways Nike ever released.Dunks have since been adopted by skaters, and were particularly popular in the early 00s – their desirability up there with other shoes like Jordan 1s and Bapestas. Dunks have seen somewhat of a renaissance in recent years, their collectibility skyrocketing after collaborations with Virgil Abloh and Travis Scott among others. These University Reds retailed originally for 100 USD but have since skyrocketed in value on the aftermarket, fetching prices sometimes four times as high.

Sneakerheads go to great lengths to make sure their kicks look box fresh. Leather sneakers with flat toeboxes like Dunks crease easily, damaging their appearance and desirability in the eyes of Nike aficionados. OBJ squatting like this is a sure-fire way to crease his Dunks, which people are clearly unhappy about.We reckon people should just stop being so salty that they didn’t get their hands on the University Reds and just let OBJ do his thing. Yes, it annoys us too when celebs are nonchalant about their rare sneakers, but shoes are meant to be worn. You have to accept that your sneakers will crease eventually.Call us when he spills sauce on his shoes. Then we can talk.

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The post Odell Beckham Jr Sneakers Outrages Sneakerheads appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Everyone knows pushing yourself too hard can lead to injury. Despite this, we all want to outdo our mates in the gym (and live up to the Arnold Schwarzenegger posters on the walls). As always, balance is key.However, if (as a recent study has found), even the US military, with their advisors, physios and medical staff is experiencing, “An alarming frequency”, of bench press injuries, what hope does the average civilian have of getting it right?A study (reported by Science Daily), conducted by Loyola Medicine orthopaedic surgeon Dane Salazar, in which nine active duty soldiers and airmen were treated for pectoralis tears—all of whom were injured while doing bench press training – during just four months, suggests that this is a difficult muscle to successfully build.For anyone looking to avoid the surgery (plus the four month rehabilitation period) required to overcome a serious pectoral injury, D’Marge spoke to fitness expert and the Biggest Loser‘s Commando Steve, who said these injuries usually occur when you lift beyond your capabilities or without a spotter. And how do you know when you’re ready to increase the weight?

“That’s a tough one depending on your goals and intentions. If it’s muscle building: your ability to complete 3 sets of 10 reps with a 60 sec to 90 sec rest. Strength: 5 sets of 5 reps with a 90 sec to 3 minute rest.”

We also asked Blake Thompson, a personal trainer, fatloss and performance coach, about the implications of this study on the average Australian guy.

“You just need to go to the gym on a Monday night and you’ll see all the boys doing bench. The thought of shoulder mobility, balancing your anterior (front of your body) with your posterior (back of your body) doesn’t even exist within the boys programming. I don’t think it’s anymore dangerous than other exercises, it’s just that shoulder health isn’t something we consider.”

So there you have it. Go forth and bench your little heart away with care.

The post Personal Trainers Explain The Secret To Avoiding Injury While Bench Pressing appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

A brief scan of the weekend’s news suggests Australia is falling apart. Confirmed cases are on the rise in Victoria, the recession is just getting twanging (despite some positive noise from the ASX) and Sydney real estate agents’ favourite joints (yacht clubs, Fitness First) keep being shuttered.

Forget all that for a minute though; indulge in a slice of sweeter news. A mother and calf whale put on a show in Sydney’s North on Sunday afternoon, frolicking within 10 metres of surfers at Manly beach, in a display most tourists would kill to experience.

Though some were initially worried the whales might be stuck, surfers said that was not the case.

Humpback whale appears to be in a shark net at Manly, unfortunately. Skin-diver appears to be assisting #abcmyvideo #sharknet #removesharknets #humpbackwhale @abcsydney pic.twitter.com/CZUjtRkw1D

— John Martin (@Wingtags) August 2, 2020

Guardian Australia reported this is quite early in the year to see a whale calf in Sydney: “Eastern Australian humpbacks migrate north from Antarctica, along the coast to tropical waters in north Queensland from April to July.”

“The whales give birth in the warmer waters and often mothers and calves are [usually] spotted heading south during the latter part of the Australian spring.”

One boardrider told Guardian Australia he had never seen a whale, particularly a calf, come so close to the beach at Manly.

“There was a bit of pointing going on and I looked round and the little one was just there.”

John Martin, the author of the above video, however, pointed out that despite initial media reports the whales were humpbacks, they were actually southern right whales (as well as admitting he was “wrong re nets” and that the whales were swimming freely).

Beyond providing ~refreshing~ news amid the pandemic, the incident also highlights one of the reasons Australians – particularly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches – love the beach so much.

 

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A post shared by Sprout Daily (@sproutdaily) on Jul 11, 2020 at 5:57pm PDT

Unlike Bondi, where there appears to be a larger emphasis on strutting your stuff, Sydney’s north is known for its more relaxed atmosphere, and beachgoing for the sake of beachgoing (knowing that if you go often enough, sooner or later you are likely to see something special).

There aren’t many other metropolitan hubs where you can do that, and be at the CBD in 17 minutes (#fastferry for the win), in the world.

The upshot? The fact that Sydney’s nightlife has become an international laughing stock may not matter in over the next few years. In fact, as we adjust to the ‘new normal’, places like Manly, where residents enjoy the best of both worlds, may become more sought after than ever, even as property prices drop across the board.

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The post Australian Beachgoers Enjoy Rare Moment Most Tourists Never Get To See appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

NBA players might look sharp on the court in their jerseys and high-top sneakers, but many players crumble under the pressure when it comes time to take off their uniform.Fashion in the NBA used to be somewhat of a punchline: ill-fitting suits; huge, flashy watches; wild streetwear ensembles; and a surprising amount of capri pants. Too many capri pants, if you ask me.These days however NBA players are far more sartorially impressive. Not only have they finally found some decent tailors, but young guns like Ben Simmons, Kyle Kuzma and Russell Westbrook consistently prove they’re just as savvy with their wardrobes as they are with a basketball.

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A post shared by Ben Simmons (@bensimmons) on Feb 18, 2020 at 5:58am PST

One unfortunate impact of 2020 for all basketball (and fashion fans) has been the lack of court action. A big part of the whole NBA experience is seeing players shed their pre-game outfit for their team kit – it’s a prime opportunity to flex before the three-pointers with luxury brands and crisp style. Simply put, fewer games have meant fewer impromptu fashion shows.Thankfully, the NBA resumed on July 30th and got straight back into the thick of it. But it looks like the time away from the court in social isolation has changed the style priorities of players. Indeed, there’s one NBA fashion trend that’s quickly been noticed by fans that perhaps speaks to the unique circumstances of this year: the matching shirt and shorts.LeBron James, arguably the best basketballer of all time and consistently snappy dresser, was spotted with a ‘dreamy’ Aimé Leon Dore seersucker ensemble before the LA Lakers vs LA Clippers game last Friday, staunch looking like the king of the resort.

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A post shared by UpscaleHype (@upscalehype) on Jul 30, 2020 at 6:50pm PDT

Other stars like Jaren Jackson Jr., Mike Conley and Danuel House have all been getting in on the action, stepping out in pyjama-like matching shirt and shorts combos similar to LeBron’s.It’s a trend that’s also been spotted outside of the NBA too: across the ditch, Cristiano Ronaldo showed off a full Louis Vuitton look, and celebrity swine merchant Scott Disick has also been spotted rocking a similar outfit.This comfy new fashion trend might seem a little too casual for one of the biggest professional sports leagues in the world, but we reckon it shows both fashionable forward-thinking as well as being practical.22 NBA teams from across North America (the 16 teams in playoff position and the six teams within six games) were invited to a special ‘COVID-19 bubble’ at Walt Disney World in Florida so that the NBA could continue its 2019-2020 season in safety. With so many players all in the one place, it’s like one big summer camp. And when you’re on camp, you’re hardly going to wear a full Thom Browne suit.A full matching ensemble like this is a pretty divisive choice, but in the sweltering heat of a Florida resort, a breezy shirt and shorts combo makes perfect sense. Staying comfortable whilst still looking like you’ve made an effort? It’s a clever move from LeBron and his fellow NBA fashionistas.It generally takes about 6 months for fashion trends at the pointy end to filter down to the mainstream, so come summer in the Southern Hemisphere, we predict many will be shopping around for matching shirts and shorts.Last week’s Lakers v Clippers was a tight game that saw the Lakers win by two points (103 to 101). It was another sterling performance for LeBron, who scored 16 of those points for the Lakers.As teams are starting to get eliminated from the competition, they’ll be allowed to leave the COVID bubble at Disney World. They’ll need to be careful, however: the bubble might be pandemic-free but the rest of Florida isn’t – in fact, Florida is one of the worst-affected states in the union, with over 480,000 confirmed cases as of the 3rd of August.So, other than their clothes, they might not want to get too comfy…

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The post LeBron James Rocks 'Comfy' New Fashion Trend You'll Be Wearing A Year From Now appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Something that’s obvious to even the most financially illiterate right now is that the stock market and the actual state of the economy are worlds apart.The NYSE, NASDAQ, ASX and other markets have been steadily climbing for months, despite the fact that the global economy is in recession thanks to The Bat Kiss. The buoyancy of the US stock market is particularly odd, considering how dire the COVID-19 situation is in the States.This is hardly a new phenomenon. As AMP Financial Advisor Andrew Heaven recently told DMARGE, “it’s a common belief that the economy and stock market are one and the same… [but] it’s not always the case… the economy and economic data looks at today while the stock market is much more predictive of where we will be in the future as it’s based on future rather than present earnings.”Because the stock market is often such a poor indicator for actual economic conditions, particularly right now when it so glaringly disconnected from 2020’s on-ground reality, many have pointed to other indicators for clues as to where the economy’s headed.One that’s potentially very useful is luxury goods sales figures.A recent report by Business of Fashion broke down the quarterly results for many of luxury’s biggest names, such as LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, which owns brands like Dior, RM Williams and Fendi) and Kering (which counts Balenciaga, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent among its brands). The results aren’t pretty: LVMH is down 38%, Kering 44%.“Even Hermes saw second-quarter sales fall 42 percent. That brand is considered to be luxury’s most crisis-proof player thanks to demand that has long exceeded supply for its flagship Birkin and Kelly handbags,” BoF relates.

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A post shared by R.M.WILLIAMS OFFICIAL (@r.m.williams_official) on Mar 19, 2020 at 12:37am PDT

The argument to be made here is that the worrying sales figures recorded by the luxury goods industry are a more useful metric for how poor economic conditions are than the stock market, now more than ever.You might consider it a stretch to use just one industry and the sales figures from just a few companies as a barometer for the entire world economy, but using consumer goods as a canary for broader economic trends is not without precedent.One of the most valuable and easily-understandable methods for comparing the purchasing power parity (PPP) between two currencies is the so-called ‘Big Mac Index’, first proposed by Pam Woodall in 1986. Basically, because McDonalds is so ubiquitous, and a Big Mac is the same no matter where you are in the world, the cost of a Big Mac in any given country is a useful indicator of PPP.In a similar way, luxury goods sales are a good indicator for overall economic performance. At its core: when times are good, people are more likely to spend on luxury goods and when times are bad (like right now) luxury goods will see a decline in sales.While luxury goods are just that – a luxury – the fact that even the biggest brands in the space are struggling right now should give even the boldest ‘weekend warriors‘ pause for thought.That said, there are some signs of hope. As James Whelan, Investment Manager at VFS Group in Sydney recently told DMARGE, “Everything is rigged to inflate asset prices and to keep the market going – so the economy is actually not really going as badly as it seems.”“It looks bad – but China has pretty much turned it around quarter on quarter, and that’s a pretty big part of the world. Also, there’s not a problem that can’t [temporarily] be solved with untold government spending – we’re just kicking the can down the road.”Long story short? It’s highly possible that the economy will come up to meet the market. But in the meantime, luxury goods sales may be a better indicator of how we’re currently tracking than the ASX, which is presently (perhaps overly optimistically) looking six to twelve months ahead.

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The post Why Luxury Goods May Be A Better Economic Indicator Than The Stock Market appeared first on DMARGE Australia.