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24 January 2025
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The US election is not far away and the result will have a key bearing on a host of markets and sectors. Here's a look at the possible ramifications for the global energy infrastructure industry, and the opportunities and risks.
Investors remain fixated on stocks exposed to megatrends like AI and digitisation. Another less appreciated asset class offers significant structural growth without the excessive valuations that usually come with it.
Listed infrastructure companies often have fabulous assets, with monopoly positions and extremely reliable cash flows. But how do you identify the very best companies, and how do you pick them up at a reasonable price?
Members of First Sentier Investors’ Global Listed Infrastructure team hit the road to see what’s happening in key industries across the United States. What they found has big implications for utilities.
Trillions need to be spent upgrading grids, transmission distribution and charging infrastructure. Electric utilities are a low-risk way to play this multi-decade growth theme to energy transition.
In 2002, the share price of the company that became Sydney Airport (SYD) hit 80 cents from the $2 IPO price. After 20 years of astute investment driving revenue increases, it sold to private hands for $8.75 in 2022.
When investors focus on the EV revolution, not enough think about the investment opportunities with the 'E'. The charging infrastructure underpins the whole sector and will undergo its own revolution.
Given the current environment it’s easy to wonder if there are any safe ports in the investment storm. Investments in infrastructure assets show their worth in such times.
There may be serious flaws in the plan to replace the generation capacity from the accelerated closing of Eraring Power Station. Tony Dillon critically assesses the proposed approach.
In theory, unlisted infrastructure should be priced at discounts to listed assets due to their illiquidity. In fact, the opposite has been the case, but both types are positioned to withstand the inflation threat.
Infrastructure assets experienced varying fortunes during the pandemic, from less travel at airports to strong activity in communications. On the road to recovery, what role does infrastructure play in a portfolio?
Howard Marks updates his views on markets and whether we are in a bubble, but his comments on fund managers in public markets, liquidity premiums in private markets and the role of SPACs were most original.
The housing market was subdued in 2024, and pessimism abounds as we start the new year. 2025 is likely to be a tale of two halves, with interest rate cuts fuelling a resurgence in buyer demand in the second half of the year.
This examines the performance of key asset classes and sub-sectors in 2024 and over longer timeframes, and the lessons that can be drawn for constructing an investment portfolio for the next decade.
The renowned investor has penned his first investor letter for 2025 and it’s a ripper. He runs through what bubbles are, which ones he’s experienced, and whether today’s markets qualify as the third major bubble of this century.
Key lessons include expensive stocks can always get more expensive, Bitcoin is our tulip mania, follow the smart money, the young are coming with pitchforks on housing, and the importance of staying invested.
Check out the most-read Firstlinks articles from 2024. From '16 ASX stocks to buy and hold forever', to 'The best strategy to build income for life', and 'Where baby boomer wealth will end up', there's something for all.
2024 was a banner year for equities, with a run-up in US tech stocks broadening into a global market rally, and the big question now is whether the good times can continue? History suggests optimism is warranted.