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Why now is the sweet spot for active bond management
The global bond market is in flux. Yield curves are steepening, volatility remains elevated, and policy decisions are moving markets in ways that upend some of the more reliable patterns of the last decade. In this environment, active management and selective risk positioning across the curve isn’t just preferable – it’s essential.
Are SMSFs better investors; or beneficiaries of a free ride?
SMSFs’ net assets have grown as fast or even faster than Large Super over recent years; and their investment returns have been vastly better. There is a simple explanation for this — and it’s one that you can be sure Treasurer Chalmers is all over.
Light-bulb leads to long-term Levera leverage
It is so often the case, that a successful product or service arises from necessity. For financial adviser Steve Sloane, managing director of Link Wealth Advice, it came from a clogged-up workflow.
Aged care roots run deep in the fabric of this advice career
Like many advisers we profile for The Inside Adviser, Claudia Rigoni-Brazzale did not set out to be a financial adviser. But careers can develop in unforeseen ways.
The overlooked gem that’s not in Australian portfolios
The broadening menu of yield-bearing investments available to Australian investors in recent years has given much broader scope for diversified allocations. But there is one segment that is noticeable by its absence.
Navigating uncertainty, finding opportunity
As we move into the second half of 2025, volatility remains elevated but so too does opportunity. The view from the investment coalface can be gleaned from the underlying managers of the Third Link Growth Fund, which are
navigating a highly dynamic environment.
Credit specialist posits “all-weather” alternative to private credit
Australian investors love the story of private credit; transfixed by its potential for reliable, steady income that is a step-change higher than returns from traditional fixed-income investments; its protection against inflation, and diversification away from public markets. But maybe, private credit is something itself from which investors should be looking to diversify.
Commodity contrarian sees a sector on the cusp of a climb
Adam Rozencwajg has been to Australia many times, looking for under-valued mining and oil and gas stocks for his portfolio: and there’s nothing he loves more than getting out among the red soil, the ore trucks, the pits, shafts and processing plants, and the high-vis clothing. But this time, he was looking for investors.
When can SMSFs be treated as wholesale?
It’s a vexed question as to when SMSFs can be treated as wholesale investors. Here, senior AFCA representatives run through what financial advisers need to know.
Escala doubles-down on alternatives
Escala Partners, one of Australia’s leading private wealth investment and advisory groups, is strengthening its commitment to alternative investments.
Swimming with FIS: Navigating the data ocean
The investment industry has a problem: it is drowning in a digital ocean of data. From a regulatory point of view, advisers need to collect a huge (and growing) amount of data; from their clients; and then, there is data on the clients’ investments, and how they are performing.
Global, growing, and undervalued: Is healthcare the opportunity of the cycle?
Healthcare, according to Perennial’s Victor Windeyer, is in the eye of the perfect storm— but in the best possible sense. Speaking at The Inside Network’s recent Equities & Growth Symposium, Windeyer laid out a compelling argument for the sector’s enduring strength.
The generational opportunity in commercial real estate
There was an unmistakable clarity to Steve Bennett’s message at The Inside Network’s Equities & Growth Symposium: office real estate, long cast as the problem child of post-pandemic investing, is once again in play — and in a big way.
Versatile and robust: The renaissance of investment bonds
The resurgence of investment bonds as a strategic financial planning vehicle was laid bare in the recent insiders INPractice Online Masterclass, “The Practical Application of Investment Bonds.”
Beyond the honeypot: Why investment bonds are back in vogue for inter-generational wealth
Speaking at The Inside Network’s INPractice Masterclass, Tom Huntley of KeyInvest highlighted the resurgence of investment bonds as a flexible, tax-effective solution for intergenerational wealth transfer amid tightening super caps.
Once in a decade: The return of real value
Reece Birtles doesn’t see value investing as a relic. Far from it. The chief investment officer at Martin Currie Australia believes the strategy is not only relevant in today’s market — it’s poised for a resurgence.
Assetora builds a platform for growth in alternatives
With a couple of difficult years receding in the rearview mirror, reconstituted investment platform company Assetora is enjoying having only the normal challenges of business, says chief executive Darren Younger.
The case against complacency: Why the S&P/ASX 200 is holding advisers back
Dion Hershan, head of Australian equities at Yarra Capital Management, doesn’t believe in sugar-coating market narratives. His message to The Inside Network’s recent Equities and Growth Symposium was that the main Australian sharemarket index was “broken.”
Process first: The compounding power of consistency and curiosity
In a profession where egos inflate as easily as bubbles, Trent Masters, portfolio manager at Alphinity Investment Management, brings a refreshing combination of humility, process discipline, and wide-eyed curiosity.
Bell tolls for Stewart, in a good way
Having parted ways with its external distribution partner, Bell Asset Management is ramping-up its strategy to augment its internal capabilities, having hired former Allianz Retire+ wealth distribution lead, Andrew Stewart, in a newly created role of head of retail sales.
Finding yield without the landmines: An alternative playbook for sub-investment grade credit
Private credit may be booming, but according to Joe Unwin, head of portfolio management at Apostle Funds Management, the volume of capital flooding into the asset class is becoming a problem. Speaking at the Investment Leaders Forum in Byron Bay, Unwin warned that not all growth is healthy—and not all yield is worth chasing.
Filling the advice gap, with the human touch optional
There is no doubt that Australia has an advice gap, and it is arguably getting worse. Digital advice stands ready to fill a big part of the gap, and it can benefit advisers as much as investors.
Back in black: the new rules of fixed income
At the recent Investment Leaders Forum in Byron Bay, Dr. Christian Baylis, the founder and CIO of Fortlake Asset Management, delivered a dense, high-speed exposition of credit markets today: what’s broken, what’s misunderstood, and what’s ripe for reinvention.
Craft, curiosity and capital: Inside the Cooper Investors Endeavour Fund
It’s easy to forget, when listening to Marcus Guzzardi and Geoff Di Felice speak about investing, that their job is fundamentally about numbers. Not because they ignore the maths – on the contrary, both men are steeped in detail – but because the way they describe their work sounds more like anthropology than asset management.
When investment strategy meets public-policy imperatives
The attraction of a specialist managed fund should be in the manager’s ability to position the fund to tap into strong and sustained tailwinds. The Barwon Healthcare Property Fund is doing exactly that.
Rehabilitating duration: the hidden strength of fixed income
For much of the last decade, fixed income has been the dinner guest that no one wanted to sit next to. Low yields, scarring losses, and correlation breakdowns left duration firmly out of favour. But, argues Haran Karunakaran, Investment Director at Capital Group, that sentiment may be both outdated and dangerously misaligned with the realities of today’s market.
Recognising the risk and reaping the reward: Hollie Briggs on bias, behaviour and disciplined investing
Thankfully, Byron Bay’s voracious shark population spared Hollie Briggs, as she swam off Tallow Beach for an hour. That meant the head of global product management for the Growth Equity Strategies Team at Loomis, Sayles & Co. could take the Investment Leaders Forum audience on an entertaining journey through the world of behavioural biases in investing.
Luck, skill, and the case for spread-based investing
In a wide-ranging and deeply considered contribution at the Investment Leaders Forum in Byron Bay, Hugh Selby-Smith, co-chief investment officer at Talaria Asset Management, delivered a compelling challenge to conventional portfolio thinking.
Industry calls for bipartisan commitment to rule out taxation of unrealised gains
With the election campaign entering its final stages, a coalition of leading industry associations is calling on the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader to “immediately and unequivocally rule out any move to tax unrealised investment gains in any part of the tax system.”
Smaller platforms have starred on ASX, but brokers back them to keep rising
Since the banking and financial services royal commission, smaller, independent, specialist wealth platforms have been able to grow their market share at the expense of their much larger ‘legacy’ rivals — and share investors have jumped on for the ride.
In private equity, it’s best to be swimming with the tide
Nick Miller prefers swimming with the tide. He definitely realised this when swimming around Hong Kong Island as part of a six-person relay team that set a world record for that feat; but in practice, it guides his private equity (PE) investment philosophy.
Evergreen secondaries exposure striking a chord with advice market
The secondaries market for private credit and private equity is finding growing appeal from an advice industry constantly searching for yield plays in the alternatives space.
Delving further and deeper in the PE ocean improves the catch
When Tyler Jayroe told a friend he was visiting Australia for The Inside Network’s Alternatives Symposium, the friend – a marine life enthusiast – told him how envious he was, as he has always wanted to experience Australia’s rich sea-creature endowment. The friend gave Jayroe the perfect private equity analogy to use for his Australian audience.
Recession jitters? Why clients need to hear from advisers now
GFC. COVID-19. 2023… and now 2025?
With recession fears once again dominating headlines and markets rattling investor confidence, financial advisers are being called on to do more than just manage portfolios — they are being asked to provide clarity, calm and connection.
The alternative asset class that can change people’s lives
Healthcare and life sciences is emerging as an economically resilient alternative asset class, given that the industry has huge tailwinds in the form of the demographic force of an ageing population around the world. Plus, there is the growing demand from lifestyle diseases – illnesses that arise from day-to-day life habits of an individual – and the expansion on the back of digital health and AI.
Helping portfolios weather the storm: the many attributes of ILS
If the holy grail of investing lies in the concept of non-correlated return streams with which to build truly diversified portfolios, insurance-linked securities (ILS) should emerge as one of the options for investors; but they are still not well-understood. That was the message that John Wells, co-founder and chairman of London-based Leadenhall Capital Partners, had for The Inside Network’s recent Alternatives Symposium.
Getting a grip as gold goes ga-ga
Gold’s spectacular rise has been a feature of the markets over the last couple of years, and judging from how the investment banks are sharpening the pencil on their price targets, that trend seems likely to continue, as gold’s ‘NETGO factor’ intensifies.
Europe becomes flavour of the month as US equities hit a roadblock
Investors are right to diversify overseas. What they must remember is, it’s not just a US story focused on the ‘Magnificent Seven.’
From work experience to GM, the journey continues
As a Curtin University commerce student in the early 2000s doing a financial planning major, Bree Stevens was delighted to be offered a part-time job with Perth advice firm Blueprint Wealth. She figured she could work a day a week, pick up some industry experience and get a feel for whether real-world financial planning matched the way she was starting to think about the profession from her coursework.
‘Monumental’ task has private infrastructure poised to surpass real estate in value
Private markets is clearly a rapidly growing part of the investment ecosystem, with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) recently citing data showing global private capital assets under management (AUM) having tripled over the past decade, to reach an estimated US$14.6 trillion ($23.2 trillion).
And within that, infrastructure is the asset class that is streeting all others in terms of growth, driven by a colossal and multi-pronged funding task.
Quiet-achiever asset class gets on with the job
The Australian image of the taciturn farmer, hard at work completely out of the spotlight, carrying a large part of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) on the shoulders of resilient rural families, has a similar feel to the investment performance of the land on which they work. Agricultural land is the quiet achiever of the Australian investment landscape.
Deploying alternatives: A practical framework for advisers
In an evolving investment landscape, alternative assets are no longer a fringe consideration—they have become an essential component of a well-structured portfolio. Advisers are increasingly looking beyond traditional equities and fixed income to seek diversification, uncorrelated returns, and improved resilience.
Navigating market extremes: Looking beyond the conventional
Equity markets continue to defy expectations, but investors face mounting risks as valuations stretch to historical extremes. Hugh Selby-Smith, co-CIO of Talaria Capital, recently presented his insights at The Inside Network’s Alternatives Symposium, warning that today’s market environment demands a critical reassessment of diversification strategies.
Close your eyes, relax and enjoy the wealth
Relax, stop worrying; you’re well-off. Australian household wealth per person is now $623,000, putting us right up there with the richest in the world. Not all may feel it, however.
The ART of deploying alternative investments
Institutional investors have increasingly turned to alternative assets as a means of improving portfolio resilience, managing risk, and capitalising on opportunities unavailable in public markets. Australian Retirement Trust (ART) has been a key participant in this shift, developing a strategic approach to investing in unlisted assets that balances risk and opportunity.
Better than hybrids, but hiding in plain sight
The planned transition of $44 billion worth of additional Tier 1 (AT1) bank hybrids to Tier 2 capital by 2032 will see the last bank hybrid disappear by March 2032, bringing to an end an era that income-oriented Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) investors will remember mostly fondly. In this guest article, Simon Dawkins, Partner and Head of Capital Markets at Escala Partners, lifts the lid on a better alternative for sophisticated investors.
An alternatives lens: What to do with a problem like liquidity
The world of alternative investments is at a crossroads. As markets defy expectations and liquidity concerns take centre stage, investors find themselves forced to rethink how they deploy capital in an increasingly complex environment.
Rethinking Diversification: Foreign Exchange as Portfolio Protection
For decades, advisers have relied on bonds as the go-to counterweight in a balanced portfolio. But as the correlation between bonds and equities turned positive in 2022–2023, shock ensued; and many investors are rethinking what they thought was a truism.
Receiving and giving back drives the advice career path forward
What do you do when you finish high school? “Go with your strengths,” Peta Nunn’s school careers counsellor told her. So, she found herself in a maths degree at university. But something didn’t feel right.
Private credit’s power play: why direct lending is reshaping markets
Private credit investing has seen exponential growth in recent years, fueled by structural shifts in financial markets and a growing demand for flexible, non-bank lending solutions. Private credit is no longer a niche – it’s a major force in the market.
ASIC right to get to grips with private markets
The release of a landmark report by corporate and financial regulator the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) into the nation’s rapidly expanding private markets – and shrinking public markets – has brought this dichotomy into the spotlight, as indeed it has around the world.
Market concentration, macro headwinds slam active managers in 2024
In case any active managers needed reminding, asset consulting firm Frontier Advisors has confirmed that 2024 was the most challenging year for global active equity managers in more than two decades.
Alignment a welcome sight in private equity investing
Investors always have to trust the fund managers to which they entrust their capital; but even better than trust is alignment.
Placing clients at the centre has built Centaur
There are plenty of people in the investment industry who say they have been influenced by legendary investor Warren Buffett, but for Gold Coaster Hugh Robertson, the obsession with the “Oracle of Omaha” started when he didn’t really know anything about him. It was the start of a journey that led to his advice firm, Centaur Financial Services.
Local PE market facing $25 billion value-at-risk reckoning
Australian investors have poured money into private equity (PE) investments in recent years, but asset valuations are prone to the same combination of multiple and margin compression, and interest-rate pressure, that affects the listed markets. A big chunk of the pile of PE value is potentially facing high fire risk.
Levera Filling the Missing Link for Tasmanian Advice firm
Melbourne-based Link Wealth Group has acquired its fourth advice practice, buying a majority stake in Hobart-based full-service financial advisory firm, Sky Advisers.
New Calvary John James Hospital exemplifies Barwon’s healthcare expertise
Often you will speak to a fund manager that will talk about its specialist approach, the market niche that it understands well and can leverage, and how the expertise of its team is a differentiator. It’s rarer, however, to see that manager make an investment that exemplifies all of the talk.
Good roadmap needed for updated AML law
In September last year, the Australian government fixed a glaring anomaly in the country’s laws, under which Australia had embarrassingly fallen short of global standards in fighting financial crime.
Mutual funds double in nine years, bond funds in driver’s seat
Managed funds inflows surged five-fold in Australia in 2024, but exchange-traded funds (ETFs) left them in the dust, as investors continued to prefer the listed vehicles.
Out of the blue, and keeping clients in the black
Like any profession, financial advice benefits from its practitioners having the broadest range of life experiences possible. Marcus Nyholm, of Mornington-based Live Financial Planning fits this bill, and more.
Why a regional base is a ‘superpower’ for this advice firm
Despite the success of this regional advice firm, advisers like Kane Leersen aren’t out to rule the world. Instead, they have an ambition to “grow by good” by serving the people that make up their local community.
‘Intelligence, empathy and respect’: Escala’s Amanda Fong
Like many successful advisers, Escala’s Amanda Fong has had a “strange” career path. But the Melbourne-based founding partner at Escala Partners has thrived by mixing the art and science of client care with savvy investment management.
Super funds push ‘vulnerable’ bank stocks into stratosphere, elevating risk levels
The super funds’ collective willingness to pay inflated prices for bank shares is starting to make them look like outliers. With about 30 per cent collective ownership of the banks, APRA sees “stability risk” as a salient concern for all stakeholders that can’t be ignored.
Defusing the behaviour bomb that blows up client contentment: Jonathan Blau
Dramatic market events aren’t the problem for client portfolios, but the way clients react to them can be. Once New York adviser Jonathan Blau started shaping this realisation around his advice delivery process, things changed in a big way.
Expectations tempered as analysts forecast a choppy and volatile market in 2025
In what could be a harbinger for the coming year, the S&P/ASX 200 index has been on a roller coaster ride since the market opened on January 3. What’s making investors extremely jittery are fears incoming President Donald Trump’s policies will fuel inflation.
ClearBridge Global Value Improvers Fund
The Why? What is the fund’s value proposition and purpose? The ClearBridge Global Value Improvers Fund focuses on global companies that the Portfolio Manager believes are undervalued and are improving on certain ESG measures, either through transforming their own products and services or enabling other entities to advance ESG objectives. It combines value investing with […]
Building a ‘formidable’ advice business the real test for this former cricket star
Patience, discipline and leadership are all fine qualities for a test cricketer. Now a financial adviser at Viola Private Wealth, Peter Nevill doesn’t like to indulge in parallels between his sporting and business careers, but the current runs clear through the two.
Borderless world still needs advice moored in jurisdictional expertise
Despite the high levels of demand, there are still very few providers that cater specifically to expats. It’s a problem Edward Cole identified early on, and sought to rectify in three main markets.
What’s in a name? Ask advisers, as they ponder an upgrade
The evolving nature of advisers’ client bases, and the work they do for different parts of those, is leading to title creep. But there is little in the way of official guidance on what titles are appropriate.
Amie Baker: From furniture fabric to a financial advice career
It was a long and circuitous route to financial planning for the busy mother, but after seeing the harm financial distress could cause, Amie Baker was determined to help people stand on their own two feet.
‘Deep in the trenches’ with clients: Adviser Rebecca Pritchard
With two kids under five and a passion for personal finance, Melbourne adviser Rebecca Pritchard is well placed to help other young women and their families shape the life they truly desire.
CFD market ‘active’ again after ASIC crackdown
Contracts for difference are sophisticated investment tools that can magnify both gains and losses, which is why the regulator
Navigating minefields and the lobster pot to unlock UK pensions: Sara Lucas
Dealing with the complexity of her own UK pension led the adviser to specialising in helping clients to do the same. Since then, she’s become an expert in a field most other advisers shy away from.
Yarra Capital’s Dion Hershan on the value of humility and conviction
“Some kids read cartoons,” the equities manager recalls, “and some read the sports section, but I used to read the stock market tables and try to figure out what was going up and what was going down.”
Plugging the advice gap with new-to-market innovation: Leesa Swain
After witnessing the horror of the GFC, a young Leesa Swain decided to help mitigate the ‘ripple effect’ of bad financial management and start a journey in financial planning that has led her to a new, digitally led solution provider.
Brigid Asquith-Hunt and the language of legacy in financial advice
Making a connection is at the heart of any financial adviser’s value proposition, the consultant says. But to do that, the right language must be leveraged to understand what a client’s legacy values truly are.
Funds management marketing set to change with new wave of generative AI tech
The task of standing out in a crowded market place is not getting easier for product providers. Generative AI may hold the key, Michael Kollo says.
Iron-ore prices push higher, bolstering Australian miners
The S&P/ASX 200 Index rose by 0.5 per cent, driven by the increase in iron ore price. This surge propelled Rio Tinto up by 1.7 per cent, while Fortescue advanced by 0.4 per cent, and BHP increased by 1.5 per cent. The materials sector led gains, adding 1 per cent, followed closely by the technology […]
Private equity players breach the final frontier: Space investment
The “NewSpace” field has opened up in the wake of government entities pulling back their spaceflight programs across the world, which has given rise to a whole new class of Infrastructure-as-a-Service investment opportunities.
A shotgun ride with Dad put this adviser in pole position
“We’re all humans trying to make a fist of it,” says Muirfield Financial Services adviser Matt Torney. “And sure, finances matter, but people and relationships matter more.”
The four ‘D’s of opportunity in healthcare investment
Melbourne-based specialist investment firm Horizon 3 is backing its knowledge in what is a very broad sector, but one that offers investors the chance to achieve a high level of return with low correlation.
The three buckets behind Perennial’s private growth capital push
Money managers are rising to meet the capital demands of companies wanting to stay private for longer. These days, though, they’re doing it with a strategic mindset that properly encapsulates a spectrum of investment maturity periods.
Full circle tree-change brings Mark Folpp’s adviser journey back home
It was a long and winding road that took Mark Folpp from accounting to broking, funds management and ultimately financial advice. He still gets to channel his “inner fund manager”, but the context is a whole lot different this time.
Forget recession: Japan didn’t get the memo
Far from entering a recession, the Japanese stock market is off on a tear. For investors looking to belatedly enter the market, however, pocket of opportunity do still remain.
What economic data actually means, and what really matters to investors
Historical information may have limited value, but its ability to assist investment managers in identifying trends cannot be understated. Of course, understanding (let alone pulling apart) economic data is not always straightforward.
7-Up for Aussie market
The Australian sharemarket climbed for a seventh consecutive session on Tuesday, its longest winning streak since June, led by sharp gains across growth stocks. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index added 21.8 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7600.2 at the closing bell, with seven out of the 11 sectors finishing in the green. The All […]
Oil and gas lifts local market on Monday
Energy stocks carried the Australian sharemarket on their back on Monday, enabling a sixth consecutive rising, as escalating tensions in the Middle East fed into a rally in oil prices and producers. The S&P/ASX 200 closed up 23 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7578.4, around 50 points shy of its all-time high reached in […]
‘We stick absolutely to our knitting’: Simon Growden’s journey with Shadforth Financial Group
Over his 28 years as an adviser, Growden has learned a lot about investing: his mantra now is “stick to what you know”. His best investment, he says, was buying equity in what became Shadforth 25 years ago, while his worst came from moving outside rule number one.
The ASX rises buoyed by Australian Big Banks and Technology
The S&P/ASX 200 closed 0.8% higher on Monday aligning with a surge in US equities that propelled the S&P 500 to new record highs last week. However, gains were tempered by cautionary statements from local mining companies regarding declining commodity prices. Technology and financial sectors experienced notable gains, building on the momentum from Friday. Buy […]
ASX pushes higher, spurred on by optimism in US Markets
Australian stocks surged on Friday, breaking a four-day losing streak, following a robust US labour data report that instilled optimism in the economy and propelled Wall Street and risk assets into positive territory. The S&P/ASX 200 concluded the day 1 percent higher at 7421.2, rebounding from Thursday’s one-month lows. The All Ordinaries also recorded a […]
Australian sharemarket slides across the board
It was a comprehensive setback for the Australian sharemarket on Tuesday, with all sectors ending the session in the red. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 surrendered 81.5 points, or 1.1 per cent, to 7414.8, while the broader All Ordinaries was also down by 1.1 per cent, losing 83 points to 7,647. Softer commodity prices dragged energy, […]
Uranium gives the local market a glow
Uranium and gold miners led the way on Monday on the Australian sharemarket, but slumping lithium producers tempered that enthusiasm, as did the big bulk miners. Weaker iron ore prices saw BHP shed 53 cents, or 1.1 per cent, to $47.18, while Rio Tinto lost 83 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $128.32, and Fortescue […]
A real measure of wealth: Paxton Bridge’s David Murdoch
When adviser David Murdoch founded Paxton Bridge in 2009 he implemented a slow-burning idea; to manage wealth with ‘activism’ front of mind, which meant finding a way to help clients activate their wealth for the right reasons.
It’s been a remarkable year for the Australian share market, approaching all-time highs
The S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.4 per cent, stepping back from its 10-month high recorded the day before! Most sectors, including technology and real estate, showed declines on Thursday. Within the materials sector, gold and lithium explorers, such as Newmont and Allkem, dragged the market down with falls of 1.6 per cent and 5 per cent […]
The Santa Rally continues, as the Australian market continues its ascent
The S&P/ASX 200, surged by 0.7 per cent with 10 of its 11 sectors showing gains, the index stands merely 1.3 per cent below its peak in August 2021. Meanwhile, the broader All Ordinaries index also closed up by 0.6 per cent. Additionally, the Australian dollar climbed to a five-month high against the US dollar […]
The Australian market pushes forward, with broad-based gains
The S&P/ASX 200 rose by 0.8 per cent, showing widespread growth across all 11 sectors as hopes for 2024 rate cuts emerged. The index is now just 1.9 per cent shy of its peak. Market enthusiasm persisted despite a more cautious stance on inflation revealed in the Reserve Bank’s December meeting minutes, leading to a […]
Real Estate drags the Australian market lower, and merger/acquisition activity heats up
The S&P/ASX 200 dipped down 0.2 per cent, as eight out of the 11 sectors ended in negative territory. The real estate sector, sensitive to interest rates, faced the most significant setback on the ASX, plummeting by 1.4 per cent. Vicinity Centres, Mirvac, Scentre Group, and Dexus dropped by 2.4 per cent, 2.9 per cent, […]
Sigma goes skyward
Australia’s sharemarket pushed higher on Wednesday, as the big miners tracked iron ore prices higher. At the close the S&P/ASX 200 was up 23.8 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7,259.1 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 22.7 points, also 0.3 per cent, to 7,469.1. On the industrial side, the highlight of the […]
Takeover talk fails to inspire Australian market
The Australian market retreated on Thursday, but in a barely noticeable manner; the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 slipped 5.1 points to 7,173, while the broader All Ordinaries index lost 2 points, to 7,384. Financial services house Perpetual jumped $1.59, or 6.7 per cent, to $25.35 after the firm formally rejected a $3 billion buyout proposal from investment […]
Economic data sparks Australian market
The Australian sharemarket had its biggest one-day rally in more than a year on Wednesday as traders raised their bets on the Reserve Bank cutting interest rates. Weaker-than-expected GDP for third quarter boosted speculation the central bank could start lowering rates again in 2024. Australia’s economy grew just 0.2 per cent in the September quarter, […]
Rate hold sees local stocks retreat
Australian shares slipped back on Tuesday, led by a sell-off in commodity stocks, on a day when – as widely predicted – the Reserve Bank left the cash rate at 4.35 per cent at its final meeting of the year. The S&P/ASX 200 closed 63.1 points, or 0.9 per cent, lower at 7061.6, while the […]
Volatility on the Atlantic House local menu in ‘24
“Volatility is the most persistent diversifier,” says Atlantic House Australian head Andrew Lakeman. “People are starting to realise that, as well as realising that diversity of assets in a portfolio – with different names – does not necessarily mean that you are diversified.”
Bond yields lead ASX (ASX:XAO) to weekly gain, Aus Super dives into Pilbara, Premier upgrades
A rough finish to the week wasn’t enough to reverse a strong finish to November, with both the All Ordinaries and S&P/ASX200 (ASX:XJO) falling 0.2 per cent on Friday. The energy sector was a rare winner, adding 0.1 per cent, benefitting from a quick reversal of supply cuts agreed at the latest OPEC+ meeting. Both […]
ASX lifts & headline inflation falls
The S&P/ASX 200 concluded the day up 0.3 per cent, led by interest rate-sensitive real estate, technology, and consumer discretionary sectors, all closing over 1 per cent higher. This surge came after the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a drop in annual inflation from 5.6 per cent in September to 4.9 per cent in October. […]
Australian miners drag the ASX lower
The Australian share market saw a decline driven by a slump in mining stocks, notably affected by a drop in iron ore value amid concerns about potential intervention by Beijing to stabilise prices. This decline resulted in the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index dropping by 0.8 per cent, driven primarily by the materials sector’s poor performance, […]
Market (ASX:XAO) rallies, but finishes week lower, energy, utilities in focus as Origin jumps
The Australian share market finished the week on a positive note, gaining 0.1 per cent, once again on the back of a rally in the energy and utilities sectors, which gained 1.3 and 1.6 per cent. The standout was Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) which added 2.8 per cent as the market continues to digest the likelihood […]
Blood, booms and ‘barefoot millionaires’: The Anthony Menico story
You can’t judge a book by its cover in the far north of Australia, says adviser Anthony Menico. Sometimes it’s the most unassuming clients that have the most complex financial advice needs.
Australian market tumbles with the oil price
On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.7 per cent primarily driven by a sell-off in energy companies, with eight of the 11 sectors falling, overshadowing robust labour force statistics revealing the creation of 55,000 jobs within the Australian economy last month. Despite noteworthy data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicating job increases, including a revised […]
From Hero to Xero for tech star
From Hero to Xero for tech star Australian shares rose for the second straight day, with healthcare leading the way, and netting out a tech slump. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index advanced 19.5 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7014.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index rose 16.7 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 7,215. […]
Tale of two telecoms
The Australian share market built on a solid lead-in from Wall Street, with the tech sector leading the way, up 1.9 per cent on the back of enthusiasm emanating from the so-called “Magnificent Seven” US tech stocks. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 added 18.3 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 6995.4, while the broader All Ordinaries […]
Cup Day rate rise as Governor Bullock debuts
The Australian dollar and bond yields slid after the Reserve Bank of Australia lifted the cash rate by 0.25 per cent on Melbourne Cup Day, to 4.35 per cent. It was the first change to the official rate in five months – and the first under new governor Michele Bullock – coming after a run […]
Embracing the loneliness mindset: Rich Pzena and the deep value dilemma
“I wouldn’t employ someone from a growth house and try to turn them into a value investor,” says Rich Pzena. “It doesn’t work, they’re different people.”
Inflation surprise halts Australian indices in their tracks
Surprisingly high inflation data stopped the Australian market from consolidating early gains on Wednesday, turning the day into a stalemate in terms of the indices. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed 2.6 points lower, at 6,854, losing early gains. The broader All Ordinaries index, however, managed a 0.7-point gain, to 7,046. Australia’s headline consumer price index […]
Miners lead Aussie market higher
It was a bounce-back session from the miners on the ASX on Tuesday, which helped the market gauges elevate slightly. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index added 12.8 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 6,856, while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 15.6 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 7,045. The heavyweight mining sector was the […]
Australian market turns red for 2023
The Australian stock market has given up all of the gains that it had made in 2023, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 losing 56.6 points, or 0.8 per cent, on Monday to 6,844.1, with resources weakness the major culprit. That puts the index in the red by 2.8 per cent for the year. The broader […]
No slowing down for the Indiana Jones of Emerging Markets
The emerging markets pioneer turned a $100 million fund into a $60 billion behemoth over 30 years. And even now, well past 80, Mark Mobius still spends 250 days of the year on the road researching companies.
Strong US jobs figure closes week
The Australian share market finished higher on Friday ahead of the United States jobs report, with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index gaining 28.7 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 6,954.2, while the broader All Ordinaries added 25.5 points, also 0.4 per cent, to 7,143.0. For the week, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.3 per cent, in its […]
Local market marks time ahead of US jobs figure
The Australian sharemarket rebounded from 11-month lows on Thursday, notching a small gain as markets braced for the official US jobs data on Friday night Australian time. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index gained 35.3 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 6,925, while the broader All Ordinaries index managed an identical 35.3-point, 0.5-per-cent rise, in its […]
The deceased-estate detective with a nose for lost shares
Handling emotionally charged phone calls as a Lifeline counsellor taught Jon Moses the patience required to conduct forensic searches for lost shares and dividends belonging to deceased estates.
Banks lead Aussie market lower
The Australian sharemarket closed at its lowest point in 11 months on Wednesday, hampered by a weak lead-in from Wall Street, and its interest-rate worries. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 ended the session down 53.2 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 6890, its lowest close since November 3. Banks had a bad day, with the financials […]
Share market feels the rates heat
Share market feels the rates heat The Australia share market retreated to a six-month low on Tuesday, as global markets felt the pressure from surging bond yields – despite, in Australia’s case, the Reserve Bank leaving the official cash rate on hold at 4.1 per cent, for a fifth straight month. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index […]
Traders stay on sideline ahead of October rates call
It was relatively quiet on the ASX on Monday with traders eyeing the Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest interest-rate decision, to be announced today (and a public holiday in most states dampening activity further). The market slipped close to three-month lows with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index down 15.4 points, or 0.2 per cent, at […]
Critical mass: Four potential winners in the booming critical minerals space
The inimitable James Dunn picks a handful of niche critical minerals off the conveyor belt and discusses which ones have the most inherent stock potential.
Local market slides ahead of Federal Reserve meeting
The local share market fell for a second straight day on Tuesday, ahead of a flurry of central bank meetings, and following the release of a set of minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia that were taken as implying that the local central bank is considered raising rates. With the US Federal Reserve’s policy […]
Federal Reserve meeting weighs on stocks
The local share market started the week lower, ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting, which begins on Tuesday. The betting is that the Fed will not move on rates this week, but there is less consensus about what the Fed will do in November. The Open Market Committee hands down its rates […]
Miners lead positive week for local market
A positive mood on Friday lifted the benchmark Australian index, the S&P/ASX 200, by 92.5 points, or 1.3 per cent, to 7,279 points, in its best day since July. That helped push the index to a 1.7 per cent rise for the week. The broader All Ordinaries rose 99.9 points, or 1.4 per cent, to […]
Jobs data points to rate rise
After a stronger-than-expected US inflation figure for August, the Australian August job report blew expectations out of the water, with a 64,900 jobs created in the month, well above the 23,000 anticipated by economists. The unemployment rate stayed at 3.7 per cent in August. The data was viewed as boosting the case for the Reserve […]
Local market trades lower ahead of US inflation print
A tech slide dragged the ASX indices lower on Wednesday, ahead of the US inflation data coming in overnight. Consensus expectations were for the US headline consumer price index (CPI) to show core inflation at 3.6 per cent for the year to August, up from 3.2 per cent a month ago – a significant rise. […]
In the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, reinvestment is the Rock of Ages
Edinburgh-based Dundas Global Investors sees dividend growth, rather than dividend income itself, as the key to long-term outperformance. The numbers bear out the wisdom of that approach.
Succession and the rise of ‘skin in the game’ managed funds
The Inside Network’s Jimmy Dunn takes a good, long, drama-filled look at the latest wave of equity funds that base their investment philosophy on companies that are exclusively founder-led.
Global supply chains sweating on Panama precipitation levels
It’s deja vu for global supply chains, but this time it isn’t a wayward tanker in the Suez Canal, but rather a lack of water in the Panama Canal that is threatening to derail trade, curb company profits and drag GDP all over the world.
Diversification is a free lunch, but you get what you pay for
Diversification is one of the most effective tools an investor can use, for the simple reason that spreading risk means you are unlikely to get wiped out if one or two investments go bust. But it is not a foolproof concept, and in fact it is laden with potential traps.
Healthcare heavyweights boost local market
The local share market has finished higher, helped by gains from healthcare companies CSL and Cochlear as they delivered upbeat profit results. Also, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that Australian wages rose 0.8 per cent in the June quarter, and 3.6 per cent year-on-year, which was slightly below consensus forecasts. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 […]
China woes weigh on local market
The Australian share market’s major indices dropped on Monday and the Australian dollar slipped to a nine-month low, after a Chinese developer’s potential collapse raised fresh concerns about China’s economy. Property giant Country Gardens was on the brink of default after missing payments on two bonds last week, and that spells worries for the country’s […]
Strike action pushes LNG price higher
The Australian share market rose in a muted fashion on Thursday, assisted by the energy sector as a potential strike by Western Australian gas workers helped to cause a spike in European gas prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index finished 19.4 points, or 0.3 per cent, higher at 7,357.4, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up […]
CBA strength helps market over China woes
A post-result bounce in Commonwealth Bank helped lift the Australian share market on Wednesday, despite renewed worries about a softening Chinese economy, after the Middle Kingdom slipped into deflation. Chinese data showed consumer prices fell 0.3 per cent in July from a year ago, the first decline since February 2021. Producer prices also retreated for […]
Indices stay anchored on Aussie market
The Australian sharemarket eked out a tiny gain in terms of the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index on Tuesday, with the gauge lifting 1.9 points to 7,311.1, while the broader All Ordinaries index went the other way, albeit by an even smaller quantum, down 0.2 points at 7,519.7. National Australia Bank’s monthly survey showed that Australian […]
Earnings, US inflation weigh on market
The local share market slipped on Monday ahead of US inflation numbers on Thursday, and as Australia’s first full week of earnings season kicked off. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index retreated 16.1 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 7,309.2, while the broader All Ordinaries dropped 16 points, also 0.2 per cent, at 7,519.9. Earnings season begins […]
Market mulls strong jobs, retail sales numbers
The major Australian induces were becalmed on Thursday as stronger-than-expected retail sales and jobs data suggested the Reserve Bank might need to lift interest rates again next week, in an attempt to slow a still-strong economy. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that Australia’s jobs market remains resilient despite the Reserve Bank’s historic […]
Inflation reprieve cheers market
A softer than expected headline inflation figure sparked a rally in the Australian sharemarket on Wednesday, as the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that consumer prices rose 5.6 per cent for the year to end of May, down from 6.8 per cent in April, meaning the consumer price index (CPI) actually fell 0.4 per […]
Market up ahead of Inflation Day
The Australian share market bounced back from four straight days of losses on Tuesday, as investors prepare for a crucial inflation figure. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index finished up 39.5 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 7,084.2, while the broader All Ordinaries rose 35.9 points, or 0.5per cent, to 7,300. The market is awaiting today’s consumer […]
Mondayitis for Australian market
Shares posted their fourth straight days of losses on Monday, as investors were unnerved by a failed military uprising in Russia over the weekend, which had all sorts of worrying geo-political, macro-economic and energy-market implications. The S&P/ASX 200 lost 20.5 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7078.7 points, for its lowest close in nearly three […]
The famous Baltic Dry finds its place in the post-pandemic world
With ETF providers offering a slew of products aimed at shipping exposures, the ‘esoteric legend’ of the Baltic Dry Index still has a place in the hearts and minds of investors.
Rates concerns derail Aussie market
The Australian sharemarket had a poor day on Thursday, in fact its worst loss in more than three months, spooked by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell telling the US Congress that higher rates might be needed, albeit at a slower pace of rising. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index sank 119.4 points, or 1.6 per cent, […]
Local market down ahead of Fed Chair’s chat with Congress
The local share market ended its seven-day winning streak on Wednesday, with investors and traders wary ahead of Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell’s testimony to the US Congress later that night. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index eased 42.9 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 7,314.9, while the broader All Ordinaries walked back 42.9 points, also […]
Coin-toss on rates boosts local market
The Australian sharemarket sailed to a two-month high on Tuesday, after the minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia’s June meeting showed that the bank’s policymakers were less hawkish than the market had expected. Only healthcare of the 11 sectoral sub-indices went backwards, and that by only 0.02 per cent. The gains ranged as high […]
Aussie market posts seven-week high
The Australian sharemarket lifted to its highest level in seven weeks on Monday, boosted by decent gains in nine out of the 11 sectors. The benchmark ASX/S&P 200 rose 43.7 points, or 0.6 per cent, or to 7294.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index advanced 38 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 7,489.2. Healthcare was […]
Art investment in SMSFs ‘not easily done’, but trustees backing their taste
With almost $600 million worth of SMSF assets held in art – up 54 per cent since 2016 – the original alternative investment is seeing a significant resurgence in popularity.
Strong jobs number points to rate rise
The Australian share market rose for a fourth straight day, buoyed by Chinese stimulus measures in China, even as a booming domestic jobs report raised expectations for rate hikes, pushing the Australian dollar to its highest point since February. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index gained 13.6 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 7,175.30, while the broader […]
Miners offset CSL slide
The Australian sharemarket closed in the green on Wednesday as gains among the miners were balanced by a slide for healthcare – and index – heavyweight CSL, after its profit guidance for financial-year 2024 disappointed the market. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index finished the day up 22.8 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7161.7 points, […]
Tech stocks to market’s taste, instead of pizza
The Australian share market struggled to a small gain on Tuesday, reflecting an upbeat session overnight on Wall Street. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed 16.4 points, or 0.2 per cent, higher to 7138.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index also edged up 16.8 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 7329.1. Among the banking majors, Commonwealth […]
Down the Snake, Three Days Straight
The Australian sharemarket slid for a third straight day on Thursday after the Bank of Canada followed the Reserve Bank of Australia by lifting interest rates to beat high inflation, heightening concerns that the US Federal Reserve will lean hawkish, too. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 softened 18.3 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7099.7, while […]
Weak data weighs on market
The local share market has finished slightly lower as investors mulled weak economic data and the implications of higher rates for longer, following a perceived shift in stance from Australia’s central bank. Before markets opened, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) governor Philip Lowe told a Morgan Stanley business summit that “some further tightening of monetary […]
Market peeved by rate hike
The Australian sharemarket fell after the Reserve Bank surprised markets with another interest rate hike, lifting the cash rate to 4.1 per cent. The S&P/ASX200 Index fell 86.7 points, or 1.2 per cent, to 7,129.6, while the broader All Ordinaries dropped 81.3 points, or 1.1 per cent, to 7,319.9. Ten of the ASX’s 11 official […]
Is Appen shaping up as a local stock alternative to AI wunderkind NVIDIA?
The meteoric rise of Nvidia (NVDA) parallels generative AI’s own stratospheric journey. Dataset provider Appen provides an interesting local proxy stock, alongside a new wave of AI-themed ETFs.
Local market on debt ceiling hold
Like all markets, the Australian stock exchange is refusing to make any substantial move until clarity comes from the negotiations in Washington over the looming US debt ceiling breach. On Tuesday the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index finished down 3.4 points at 7,259.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index dropped 3.3 points to 7,447.4. A positive trading […]
US debt negotiations transfix market
The Australian share market gave up a small amount of ground on Monday, amid ongoing negotiations on raising the US debt ceiling and avoiding a potentially catastrophic default. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index finished down 16.2 points, or 0.22 per cent, at 7,263.3, while the broader All Ordinaries index walked back 20.8 points, or 0.28 […]
Capping upside the trade-off for predictable share investing
Strategies that seek to deliver a pre-determined rate of return over a specified period of time are uncommon, but defined-return investing may be finding its place in the Australian market.
Local market lower on US debt ceiling worries
Global share markets are transfixed by the latest US debt ceiling crisis, and the Australian bourse is just like all of them – very much in wait-and-see mode. The S&P/ASX 200 index ended 35.5 points, or 0.5 per cent lower, at 7,199.2, after falling as much as 1.1 per cent, while the broader All Ordinaries […]
Market doesn’t like the plural
The Australian sharemarket finished lower on Tuesday as investors digested the prospect of further tightening by the Reserve Bank, after the minutes of the central bank’s latest meeting mentioned the possibility of rate “increases,” with any potential move depending on how the economy and inflation pan out. Markets also assessed weaker-than-expected economic data from China, […]
Mining heavyweights, gold diggers power index
There was not much change in the major share market indices on Monday, but they did end in the green; the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index regained a small loss in the morning to close up 10.4 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 7267.1 points; while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 7.3 points, or 0.1 […]
One day makes the week for Aussie market
Despite four straight losing days, the Australian share market’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index finished in the black for the week of 8—12 May, with a 0.8 per cent gain on Monday doing all of the heavy lifting for an eventual 0.5 per cent weekly rise. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Friday closed 4.8 points lower […]
Lithium leads local market
Australian shares closed slightly weaker on Thursday, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index finishing down 3.8 points at 7,251, while the broader All Ordinaries fell 2.6 points to 7,449. In the materials sector, lithium producer Allkem was the focus of attention after its $15 billion merger announcement. The Brisbane-based company, which produces lithium in Argentina […]
Active bond managers careful what they wish for
Many end-investors might assume that it is equities managers that are most at risk from whipsawing jerks in market sentiment, but fixed-income managers, too, can find themselves out of position very quickly, as something they did not see coming… comes.
Budget bores bourse
The Australian sharemarket yawned on Wednesday when it came to factoring-in the Budget announced the previous night. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed the session down 8.4 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 7,255, while the broader All Ordinaries index barely moved, down 4.4 points to 7,452. Some of the healthcare stocks rose, attributed to hopes […]
Upbeat start to week – and month – likely for Aussie market">
Upbeat start to week – and month – likely for Aussie market
After a strong session for global markets on Friday, Australian shares will take a positive lead into the new week – and month. The Australian benchmark index, the S&P/ASX 200, added 16.5 points, or 0.2 per cent, on Friday, to 7,309.2, but eased 53 points, or 0.7 per cent over the week. ASX futures trading […]
Inflation figure taken as bringing rate relief">
Inflation figure taken as bringing rate relief
After a poor lead from Wall Street, the S&P/ASX 200 index recovered some of its early losses on Wednesday to close 5.7 points lower at 7316.3, after Australian core inflation for the first quarter came in weaker-than-expected. The broader All Ordinaries index was down 9.4 points, at 7,502.8. Annual inflation fell to 7 per cent […]
Broadway, financial advice and Kilimanjaro: The Anne Graham story
Anne Graham and her fellow co-founders named their advice business Story Wealth because they believe every client has a compelling story to tell. Turns out Anne’s own story is quite the odyssey, as well.
Another solid week for local market">
Another solid week for local market
A positive mood on Friday lifted the benchmark Australian index, the S&P/ASX 200, by 0.5 per cent on Friday, to 7361.6, with gains in mining companies offsetting losses in health and property sectors. The index added 2 per cent over the week, notching its third consecutive week of gains, and ended at its highest closing […]
Healthy job market surprises Aussie market">
Healthy job market surprises Aussie market
On Thursday the Australian share market had to deal with the release of robust jobs data, which sparked predictions that the Reserve Bank of Australia could again lift interest rates. Employment rose by 53,000 in March, while the unemployment rate remained steady at a 50-year-low of 3.5 per cent, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics […]
Aussie market makes it ten of eleven">
Aussie market makes it ten of eleven
The Australian market did not appear overly concerned about tonight’s US inflation figure, with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 notching its tenth rise in 11 trading days. The ASX200 closed 34 points, or 0.5 per cent, higher, at a five-week high of 7,343.9, while the broader All Ordinaries index finished 34.7 points higher, also 0.5 per cent, […]
What winning fundies go through when they lose
After posting a 16.6 per cent average annual return since 2014 and 31.8 per cent in FY20/21, the Cyan 3G Fund lost 35.8 per cent in FY21/22. So how does it feel, as a fund manager, when things head south in dramatic fashion? The fund’s co-founder, Dean Fergie, speaks to The Inside Network’s James Dunn.
Miners move local market">
Miners move local market
Broad gains across the materials sector drove a 2.2 per cent rise in the sub-index on Tuesday, which in turn flowed into an advance in the main Australian indices. The S&P/ASX 200 advanced 90.9 points, or 1.3 per cent, to 7,309.9, while the 500-stock All Ordinaries index gained 92.2 points, or 1.2 per cent, to […]
Aussie market’s winning streak ends at eight days">
Aussie market’s winning streak ends at eight days
The Australian share market couldn’t continue its run of consecutive daily gains, closing it out at eight, making its longest winning streak since October 2017. The streak came to an end on Thursday, with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index losing 22.3 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7,219, while the broader All Ordinaries index lost 26.8 […]
One point, but we’ll take it">
One point, but we’ll take it
The Australian share market managed its eighth straight winning day on Wednesday, but only just; with the S&P/ASX 200 eking out a gain of 1.2 points, to 7123.2. Nor could the broader All Ordinaries index work up any momentum, ending the day 2.8 points higher at 7,434.3. The ASX’s 11 official sectors mostly rose, with […]
Rate hold, but reassessment time">
Rate hold, but reassessment time
Australian shares advanced for a seventh consecutive trading day on Tuesday after the Reserve Bank held interest rates steady, as the central bank assesses whether its ten-month hiking program is getting on top of inflation. The RBA left the cash rate at 3.6 per cent, but Governor Philip Lowe warned some further rate rises may […]
Rates dilemma for Reserve Bank">
Rates dilemma for Reserve Bank
The Australian stock market moved higher on Monday, ahead of today’s Reserve Bank board meeting, which is widely expected to see a pause in interest rate rises. Market pricing expectations clearly expect the RBA to leave the cash rate on hold at 3.6 per cent, but economists think the decision will be a closer call, […]
Sunny days continue for local market">
Sunny days continue for local market
Australian shares closed stronger on Thursday, boosted by strong gains in the financial and information technology sectors. The optimistic mood was widespread, with ten out of 11 sectoral indices gaining over the day. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 ended the day up 71.9 points, or 1 per cent, at 7122.3. The All Ords gained 76.40 points, […]
Aussie market absorbs energy woes">
Aussie market absorbs energy woes
Energy shares sank on Monday, with Woodside among the worst hit, after the lower house passed an emission reduction plan in a deal with the Greens. Energy’s woes dampened the market, but the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index managed to add 6.8 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 6962, while the broader All Ordinaries advanced 6.2 points, […]
Crisis fears cause jittery market
The cauterising of the Credit Suisse wound over the weekend, as emergency talks in Europe ended with UBS buying its embattled rival in a $4.5 billion acquisition – half the value Credit Suisse had at the end of last week – calmed markets to some degree on Monday, but the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index still finished […]
Credit investing more art than science
What worries Harry Sugiarto most about the current investment environment is the possibility that he doesn’t get a chance to fully exploit the opportunity it presents.
US Bank woes hurt market despite deposit news">
US Bank woes hurt market despite deposit news
The failure of two major banks in the United States on Friday continued to roil markets, with the US indices – and bond yields – falling over the weekend, and the inevitable follow-on effect saw the Australian market under pressure, too. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Monday finished down 35.9 points, or 0.5 per cent, […]
Not-for-profit world a path to a wealth of personal experience
An adviser with a non-traditional background, Liz Wheatley has developed into a specialist in guiding charitable organisations and philanthropists. The non-investment side is just a important as the rest, she tells James Dunn.
Myer, Xero provide Thursday highlights
There was not much action on the Australian share market on Thursday, if you are judging that by index movements: the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index added 3.3 points, to close at 7311.1, while the broader All Ordinaries edged 10.5 points higher, to 7,514.40. On the industrial screens, accounting software giant Xero surged $89.38, or 10.7 […]
Gold, coal hit the skids
Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed down 56.9 points, or 0.8 per cent, on Wednesday, to 7,307.8, while the broader All Ordinaries was 58.8 points lower, also 0.8 per cent, at 7,503.9. It was a particularly bad day for gold miners, caught in a gold price slide in the fall-out of US Federal Reserve chair Jerome […]
Lowe might not go as high
While the Reserve Bank of Australia, as expected, lifted the country’s official cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.6 per cent, in the tenth consecutive hike, the semantics of Governor Philip Lowe’s policy statement galvanised the market. A slight change of wording in the crucial final paragraph, which discarded a specific reference to “further […]
Market marks time ahead of rates call
Ahead of what is expected to be another 25-basis-point interest rate rise announced today, it was a reasonably positive tone from the Australian share market on Monday. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index gained 45 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 7,328.6, while the broader All Ordinaries was up 41.7 points, also 0.6 per cent, to 7,525.7. […]
Firming iron ore steels Australian market
Rising iron ore prices helped mining heavyweights BHP Group, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and Mineral Resources on Thursday, and in turn that helped to push the major indices higher. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index finished Thursday up 3.8 points at 7,255.4, while the broader All Ordinaries gained 3.9 points to 7,460. Iron ore has risen 15 per cent since the start of 2023, on optimism […]
China optimism surge sparks miners">
China optimism surge sparks miners
Optimism for mining stocks battled a downturn in the big banks in deciding the direction for the Australian share market on Wednesday, with the banks prevailing just enough to see the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 close 6.8 points, or 0.1 per cent, lower at 7251.6, while the broader All Ordinaries Index retreated 1.9 points to 7456.1. The bullishness for the miners […]
Retail rally points to rising rates
Australian retail sales rebounded in January as household spending defied inflation and higher borrowing costs, strengthening the case for the Reserve Bank to keep raising interest rates, and run a “higher for longer” rates scenario, taking its cue from its central bank peers in the US and Europe. Retail sales rose 1.9 per cent in January after […]
US inflation hammers local stocks
Local investors had the weekend to digest Friday night’s alarming report of the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation metric, and they decided they didn’t like it. On Friday night Australian time, the US personal consumption expenditure (PCE) figure showed that US consumer spending rose 4.7 per cent in the year to January, well above the market […]
Negative-yielding debt and the limitations of benchmarking
Negative-yielding debt topped US$18 trillion at its height in late 2020, representing a quarter of global bonds outstanding at the time. With the stock of negative-yielding bonds now yielding in the positive, owners of the debt face ugly marked-to-market losses – but counter-intuitively, there were investors willing to buy them.
Liam Shorte’s route to advice via the desert kingdom
The SMSF adviser took an unusual path to joining the profession, one that involved almost a decade playing rugby on the hot sand and gravel of Saudi Arabia.
The envelope tested further: ETF issuers get ever-more creative
ETFs have revolutionised the investing universe for many good reasons. But ultimately ETFs are just like stocks – there are the good, the bad and the ugly.
SMEs persist with advice subsidy push to new government
It was a COVID-inspired idea that fell foul of the electoral cycle, but the nation’s small business advisory peak bodies continue to push for subsidised advice for small businesses.
Guiding hand of serendipity working for Invesco’s Ashley O’Connor
Like many people, Ashley O’Connor, head of investment strategy at Invesco Australia, did not exactly plan for the career he ultimately embarked upon. But some serendipity brought him to a role he truly values.
Aussie market catches mining fever
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index rose 86.5 points, or 1.3 per cent, on Tuesday to 6,806.4 points, while the broader All Ordinaries gauge added 81.4 points, or 1.2 per cent, to 7,030. Nine of the ASX’s 11 sectors gained ground, with real estate and healthcare the only ones to retreat. The mining sector was the […]
If you can’t beat ’em – the secret of late-stage private equity
The quantum of US companies has halved since 1996, which plays into the hands of late stage venture gurus.
The View from the Oasis of Optimism
It’s a cliché that sometimes, the best way to view a problem is to go somewhere else and look at it from a different perspective.
‘Diversity of thought’ key to better decision-making: Neuberger
If managing a bond portfolio is a daily tug-of-war between art and science, Adam Grotzinger, senior fixed income portfolio manager at Neuberger Berman in Chicago, is on the side of the former.
Fiduciary mindset, nuance key to success in real estate
Many people at the top of funds management travel around the world to work in various locations, to build a career.
‘Safety first’ pays off for Ruffer
All fund managers like to talk about protecting capital, but at Ruffer Investment Management, it is a more embedded philosophy than most. The firm was founded by Jonathan Ruffer on the principle that “investors like making money, but they hate losing money more.” Ruffer is built to preserve capital for the long-term: centred on “absolute-return investing with […]
“Seeing their anxiety wash away” – why Ty Cockle loves advice
Ty Cockle, chief executive officer of Financial Foundations Australia (FFA) initially wanted to be a teacher, and trained to be one, but it was difficult to escape the pull of the family business. The son of renowned Victorian adviser John Cockle, he found the conversations of his childhood inexorably pulled him back to advice. “I’ve […]
Slicing and dicing the stock market for risk – and reward
All-weather investing has a simple aim – consistent positive returns, regardless of how the financial markets perform. It follows that all-weather investors typically have highly flexible investment strategies, that allow them not only to diversify across asset classes, but back their judgment in a wide range of areas to manage for – and benefit from […]
Alceon rides tailwinds to deliver for yield-conscious investors
Investor awareness of the private debt sector is growing, and will only grow more as the dedicated funds in the marketplace continue to rack up strong performance, adding to the options available to hard-pressed yield-oriented investors. The Alceon Debt Income Fund is certainly one of the products to which yield-focused investors have turned, with its […]
Eleece Quilliam discusses the power of communication
If the financial advice industry needed a passionate advocate, it only has to call on Eleece Quilliam. The National Manager of Invesco Consulting in Australia is impressively adamant in her belief in the importance of advice. “I love working with advisers, because I genuinely believe that what they do is up there with the likes […]
Getting in sync with the mega-trends
One of the more unique offerings in the active global equity sector is the Insync Global Quality Equity Fund, run by the fund manager of the same name. Established in October 2009 as the Insync Global Titans Fund – its name was changed in July 2018 – the fund is a high-conviction, active manager that […]
Factor investing ‘more science than art’
Is it the chicken, or is it the egg? Does a certain kind of personality gravitate to becoming a “quant” manager, or do quant managers end up thinking in a systematic way? “I’m pretty sure that a large part of it is innate,” says Andre Roberts, senior portfolio manager in the Invesco Quantitative Strategies (IQS) team. “Certainly, […]
NAOS shows nouse in going private with new fund
Specialist small- and micro-cap Australian equities investment manager NAOS Asset Management has taken its philosophy into the private markets, with the launch of its Private Opportunities Fund, for which it is seeking to raise at least $35 million. The fund will invest in up to 20 private companies that NAOS identifies as being profitable, having […]
Directing advice at the advisable – But who are they?
Every advice firm is interested in growing its business – in tapping-into the addressable market. But what is the advice market? Is it those that receive financial advice today, or is it those people who are not receiving advice, but should (or at least) could receive it? The ASX-listed investment platform and wealth management fintech […]
Atchison on solving the retirement riddle
The issue of retirement income has arguably become far too politicised in recent years, with rational debate seemingly scarce. While the focus inevitably falls on the political football that is superannuation, the Age Pension doesn’t get the attention it deserves. The federal government’s retirement income review, released late last year, showed that the pension will […]
Iron ore banks Fortescue’s hydrogen ambitions
So, Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG) shareholders have learned that their company is to become a hydrogen and steel superpower. Andrew Forrest, the founder, non-executive chairman and largest shareholder of Fortescue, says Fortescue will lead the way in building a steel-making industry in Australia, making “green” steel – zero-carbon steel, using zero carbon-dioxide-emissions energy. There […]
Future fund prepares for worst
One of the most eagerly awaited updates in the investment market is that of the $171 billion Future Fund, Australia’s sovereign wealth fund – and the December 2020 update was even more closely watched than normal. Because of its initial purpose – to invest in order to fund large unfunded Commonwealth public-sector superannuation liabilities which […]
Vaccines to the rescue, says Atchison, but how much optimism is baked-In?
Asset consultancy Atchison Consultants expects 2021 to be a “recovery year” on global markets, based on the prospects for the COVID-19 vaccines that are being rolled-out, but says these prospects are themselves the major risk, given the amount of investor optimism that has been baked-into valuations on the back of the vaccine announcements. While the […]
Australian Unity issues Australian-first MCI
With interest rates at all-time lows, and term deposits lucky to be paying 0.5%, investors have simply been forced to look for alternative income-generating investments. The share market has obliged, but not only in the form of normal equity dividends – but in newer listed income-bearing investments. One of the most recent offerings came last […]
Taking a ‘whole of Asia’ view in the booming small-cap universe
One of the more impressive funds that The Inside Network has come across in recent years is the PineBridge Asia ex Japan Small Cap Equity Fund, which taps into the “long tail” of Asian exposure – the region’s small caps. Of course, what is a “small-cap” is in the eye of the beholder: PineBridge defines […]
Thinking forward: Three ASX biotech stars
And still they keep coming – here’s the fourth instalment of our series on the fascinating ASX cohort of medical device developers. As always, don’t let the impressive sexiness of the technology persuade you on its own that these stocks are headed for the stars. In each of the three cases presented here, previous investors […]
Spatium’s secret small cap sauce
Four years ago, old high-school buddies Nicholas Quinn and Jesse Moors were taking in the sunshine at a café on Melbourne’s Southbank, when they decided to take their mutual interest in stock market investment to the next level. Quinn, a former PwC global tax specialist, and Moors, formerly a business development manager at CPA Australia, […]
Will $5.20 Fill the Missing Link?
Shareholders of Link Administration Holdings (LNK), which provides services to the funds management and superannuation sectors and runs the share registry for many of the S&P/ASX 200 companies, have become the latest group to experience the tailwind that a takeover offer can suddenly blow on to a becalmed share price. Last weekend, a consortium of […]
Battleground: BHP vs RIO
Big Australian Wins Battle of the Bulks OK, so you want to own a big global diversified bulk miner, to take advantage of the impending commodities boom – let’s take a look at the contenders, BHP and Rio Tinto. Here’s the tale of the tape. BHP (BHP, $36.35)Market capitalisation: $183.7 billionOne-year total return: +6.9%Three-year total […]
Thinking ahead – ASX MedTech leaders
Here’s the fourth instalment of our series on the fascinating ASX cohort of medical device developers. ImpediMed (IPD, 8.1 cents)Market capitalisation: $83.8 millionThree-year total return: -52.7% a yearAnalysts’ consensus target price: 14 cents (Thomson Reuters) You would not know it from the share price performance over the last few years, but Brisbane-based ImpediMed has put […]
Riding for charity with Invesco
Like everyone, Eben Bowditch, head of sales at Invesco Australia, was trying to navigate the abnormal and difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic and wondering about the wellbeing of others. Was everyone feeling as disconnected as he was? Bowditch started to think about a way of creating stronger links among the financial services community. Other […]
Playing Tesla’s battery day via ETFs
One of the great investment success stories of the last 25 years has been the exchange-traded fund (ETF), which got under way in the early 1990s as a vehicle offering access in one listed stock, to the entire stock market through tracking an index. Gone were the worries of paying “active” management fees and failing […]
Lendi Listing Looks for Loan Liftoff
Another fintech is heading for the ASX screens, with online mortgage provider Lendi poised to push “go” on an initial public offering (IPO) that could see it list at a market capitalisation of between $500 million-$550 million. Lendi specialises in the home loan market: its software platform matches borrowers with more than 35 lenders. The […]
Device Stars Part 3
4DMedical (4DX, $1.58)Market capitalisation: $418 millionThree-year total return: n/aAnalysts’ consensus target price: $1.70 (Thomson Reuters) Imaging company 4DMedical (4DX) surged on to the ASX screens in its August float, at a 100% “pop.” Issued in the prospectus at 73 cents, the shares opened for trade on August 7 at $1.47, and reached $1.70 in August […]
Backing Buffett’s Big Japan Bet
It seems as if Japan does not get a lot of respect from external investors, for good reasons. The Nikkei index appears to disprove the theory that the sharemarket delivers superior long-term investment returns, being at the same level now that it was back in 1991. Almost 31 years on from its record high, the […]
Semi-Loved and Semi-Understood – but Semiconductors Rule
Semiconductors would have to be one of the most pervasive and critical pieces of technology in our daily lives – but they are usually not thought about very much. They certainly don’t seem to get the investment love like they should, or get talked about as much as, say, the FAANG stocks or electric vehicle […]
Get to know Troy Armstrong from Koda Capital
Troy is a Partner and Adviser at Koda Capital. Troy is a FASEA-compliant financial adviser holding a Bachelor of Commerce and SMSF Specialist Adviser designation. He became a member of the Inside Network and an inaugural member of the Advisrry Committee; seeking to learn from his peers and share his own wisdom from many years in the industry.
Look to Your Own Devices: Biotech Stars of the ASX
In the first of a series on Australian biotech success stories, we start with some of the outstanding medical device stocks on the ASX.
Earnings Season is Here – and It’s Going to be Ugly
With July coming to a close, it’s time for reporting season – and this year, it’s not going to be pretty.
Latin American E-Commerce Giant Worth a Long Look
While more and more Australian investors get comfortable with investing overseas, it’s fair to assume that Latin America is not on most people’s map of the investable universe – “there be dragons,” as the old mariners used to say.
Ways to Play the Tech Boom
Investors are realising that without meaningful technology exposure, their portfolios are missing a major growth driver. However, the difficulty of picking individual stocks should not be under-estimated, with the innovations and business models of many tech stocks hard to grapple with.
COVID Takes a Nibble at House Prices, That Could Widen to a Bite
The COVID-19 pandemic has begun to bite into the residential property market, with capital city dwelling values falling a cumulative 1.3% over the past two months – but this mild weakening could be just the start of a double-digit decline.
SAA a casualty of COVID-19, but TPA to the Rescue
The days of thinking wholly in terms of traditional asset classes when it comes to portfolio construction may have been numbered for some time; in Australia, the Future Fund’s statement of investment policies, when it started its investing life in July 2007, was perhaps the first sign that there could be a new way of thinking, with the usual categories of equities and debt securities subordinated to a distinction between “tangible” assets (defined as property, infrastructure and utilities, in listed or unlisted form); “alternative” assets, considered to include a range of risk premiums (for example, commodities and futures and insurance-based strategies); and skill-based absolute-return investments, or “intangible” assets.
On Values and Value, Sendle Delivers for Federation
When brand-new boutique investment house Federation Asset Management was introduced to “virtual” parcel delivery service Sendle, in 2018, it was a meeting of minds.
Looking past Qantas, to Aviation Green Shoot
If anyone was thinking that recovery from the Covid-19 economic downturn would be quick and perfectly V-shaped, Qantas certainly had news for them, with its commentary around its recovery plan and $1.9 billion capital raising. “It will take years before international flying returns to what it was,” said CEO Alan Joyce. Qantas foresees flying to only […]
Split personality the dual attraction for the quoted fund
The listing on the ASX this month of the Magellan Group’s Airlie Australian Share Fund as the first “Quoted Fund” – the first dual unlisted unit trust and active exchange-traded fund (ETF) structure in one listed unit – has been cited as a game-changer in many respects, with the primary emphasis being on its benefit […]
Investors want more Kangaroos in the top paddock
One of the bugbears of the Australian capital market has been that the country has struggled to develop a meaningful corporate bond market: we’ve really only had one for five years, and the non-financial side of it is still pretty small, at about $50 billion. But like many things that Australia wants, or need, we […]
Covid-19, market turmoil, prompt move to SMSFs
Preliminary unofficial data on registrations of self-managed super funds (SMSFs) points to resurgent popularity of the vehicle. While Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data has not been officially updated, unofficial numbers have been shared at conferences showing a spike in registrations, reversing a trend of the last few years – indicating that Australia’s army of 1.1 […]
Credit LITs surge back from discounts, but door is closing quickly
Of the many opportunities that were thrown up by the Covid-19 Crash, one of those that is still open – although weakening by the day – is that in the eight credit listed investment trusts (LITs). Most of this group were trading at small premiums to net asset value (NAV) prior to the crash, such […]
Wild swings, but bitcoin proves its digital mettle
Like most assets, bitcoin cruised into the new year in 2020, racking up a 44% rise until mid-February. Then, like the stock market, BTC took fright at the extent of the global disaster that Covid-19 rapidly proved to become. But while the S&P 500 index plunged by 33.7% before a floor was (at least temporarily) […]