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24 January 2025
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Consensus expectations have finally centered on a long-term outlook characterised by tepid growth and inflation, but there is risk that a cyclical rebound in economic fundamentals could cause a market repricing, ultimately mistaking ‘the trend for the cycle’.
As we head into the end of the year, many parents are thinking about the onset of school fees and how to afford them.
The e-commerce giant’s entry into the Australian market has been a constant source of discussion for several months, and the likelihood of a large disruption for our local retailers appears to have already been priced in.
The essential service nature and large environmental footprints of infrastructure assets make sustainability considerations a vital part of doing business.
A large part of the return from investing in emerging market assets comes from currency exposure. However, Australian dollar investors typically lose out on this due to the economic links between Australia and Asia, and the impact of changes in commodity prices.
It’s been over 12 months since BetaShares launched a range of ETFs providing Australian investors with exposure to portfolios of sector specific global companies in a single ASX trade.
SMSFs primarily invest in three asset classes – cash, domestic shares and direct property. Commentators often suggest that home bias – a behavioural trait of investors who disproportionately prefer more familiar domestic assets – is responsible for the lack of international asset holdings in SMSFs.
How should an investor allocate across active and passive investments? It’s a challenging decision with many components. In the absence of a structured decision-making process, investors are left making arbitrary decisions based on implicit assumptions.
The Australian ETF industry grew by over $1 billion this month, with the industry rising to a fresh record high Total industry funds under management at the month end was $32.0 billion, a growth rate of 3.5% or $1076 million for the month.
Starting and running an SMSF can be a great way to build wealth for the future, but it also comes with some serious responsibilities.
Despite small gains in balances, investment returns will be lower for longer and many SMSFs are further away from achieving their retirement goals than previously.
Australian investors, as young as 18, are turning to the sharemarket in record numbers to build their wealth, according to new data released by nabtrade.
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.
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.
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.