After many years of underperformance, 2022 could finally be the year that Australian shares outperform the US market, thanks to higher commodity prices and heavy falls in technology stocks.
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Buffett on markets, cash and seizing opportunities
The Oracle of Omaha's latest annual letter is full of lessons for investors, including waiting for value, keeping a buffer, trusting the quality of your investments, and recognising new and important trends.
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Follow the market trajectory and stop the usual mistakes
It gives me pain to hear the finance industry telling people to invest in 'balanced' portfolios to reduce risk. At no stage do they ever tell people the opportunity cost so they repeat the same mistakes.
10 little-known pension traps prove the value of advice
Most people entering retirement do not see a financial adviser, mainly due to cost. It's a major problem because there are small mistakes a retiree can make which are expensive and avoidable if a few tips were known.
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It’s time to reveal the 2021 X-Factor in investment markets
For 40 years, recording the market's X-Factor has become an obsession. In weighing up four big candidates for the most likely X-Factor emerging from 2021 and likely to hit in 2022, there is a clear winner.
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Five global trends point to buys and sells for 2022
Global companies offer investment opportunities not available on the ASX. Coming out of COVID, strong trends are accelerating or reversing, creating potential on both the buy and sell sides of a long short fund.
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Highlights of reader tips for young investors
In this second part on the reader responses with advice to younger people, we have selected a dozen highlights, but there are so many quality contributions that a full list of comments is also attached.
Firstlinks survey: the first 100 tips for young investors
From the hundreds of survey responses, we will select them in blocks of 100 over several weeks to help manage your time. There are consistent themes in here from decades of mistakes and successes.
Rising bond yields complicate the COVID recovery
Investment returns have defied initial expectations set in the early stages of the Covid pandemic, but where to from here? Which asset classes offer the best opportunities?
RBA signals the end of ultra-cheap money. Here’s what it will mean
The Melbourne Cup day RBA meeting confirms the cessation of the 'yield control' strategy that's been in place since July. What might this signal for interest rates in the near term?
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What’s the truth about stagflation?
Stagflation occurs when economic growth slows (stagnation) and prices rise (inflation), and while this scenario has been evident for a while now, is it really the same as the last time, over 40 years ago?
9 ways to position the business of today for tomorrow
David Gonski is one of Australia's most-respected business leaders and Chancellor of UNSW. In this talk to the Australian Graduate School of Management, he describes nine lessons for long-term business success.
Know more of Gonski’s future-proofing insights here
Why do investors earn less than the funds they invest in?
Investors with a consistent investment approach which avoids chasing performance should reap rewards over time. A recent US study reveals a persistent gap between reported returns and what investors actually receive.
Investing basics: 5 Steps women can take to improve their retirement readiness
Women’s superannuation is not so super. At retirement, Australian women on average have $157,050 whereas men have $27,0710 - a gap of $113,660, according to data released by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australian in 2018.
There’s no easy fix for the problem, but women should consider the following steps - Read more
Downturns and Recoveries
Morningstar
Investors in shares must expect market shocks as part of the long-term benefits of owning part of a company, and on average over time, stock markets fall one year in every five. History provides a valuable guide to how markets normally recover from shocks, showing the missed opportunities of exiting equities and not re-entering.