How to outperform while going defensive
Top portfolio managers like Paul Xiradis can beat the benchmark without a one-eyed focus on growth.
What to expect from the next correction
The next significant market downturn will be short and sharp, Millinium says, and the culprit is well known.
Spring test looms for property
Underlying strength of Melbourne and Sydney’s property markets faces litmus test.
Overnight: Wall St flat
Bulls take break from recent frenetic buying that has taken markets up to record highs.
Why spinoffs work
There’s been a lot of angst over BHP’s NewCo, but history shows that investors in spinoff stocks are rewarded.
ASIC says $100k SMSFs OK
The corporate regulator stops short of recommending hard and fast minimum balances for SMSFs.
Three stocks digging up
Pockets of value remain in the contracting sector for savvy investors to find.
Australian Equity Indices
| Points | Change | % Change | Value | Volume |
| S&P;/ASX 200 | 5,622.2 | - 29.0 | - 0.51% | $ 1,837,285,780.0 | 497,394,913.0 |
| ALL ORDINARIES | 5,619.2 | - 29.7 | - 0.53% | $ 1,900,766,274.0 | 612,175,113.0 |
| S&P;/ASX 100 | 4,670.3 | - 22.8 | - 0.49% | $ 1,107,028,799.0 | 157,120,734.0 |
| SMALL ORDS | 2,269.6 | - 17.3 | - 0.76% | $ 760,539,340.0 | 387,332,411.0 |
Thirty years of returns in just one chart
There’s been good times and bad along the journey. From deregulation of banking to the GFC, we’ve got it covered.
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Market Summary
Currencies
| AUD | USD | EUR | JPY | GBP | |
| AUD |  |
0.9356 | 0.7081 | 97.06 | 0.5639 |
| USD | 1.0683 |  |
0.7569 | 103.74 | 0.6027 |
| EUR | 1.4112 | 1.321 |  |
137.04 | 0.7962 |
| JPY | 0.0103 | 0.0096 | 0.0073 |  |
0.0058 |
| GBP | 1.7722 | 1.659 | 1.2557 | 172.14 |  |
Stock price lookup
Shares
Qantas posts $2.8b loss
Hefty restructuring charges and write-downs see national carrier post worse-than-expected result.
Overnight: Wall St flat
Bulls take break from recent frenetic buying that has taken markets up to record highs.
Three gaming stocks poised for a trifecta
Once considered recession-proof, the gambling sector has lost a lot of heat. Opportunities abound, though, for those who bet on the right horse.
Property
Spring test looms for property
Underlying strength of Melbourne and Sydney’s property markets faces litmus test.
Property bear warns on bust
Expert compares Australia’s banks to Lehman Brothers and Bernie Madoff.
Stricter lending hurts first-time buyers
War against risky lending is locking some buyers out of the booming property market.
Topics
Fixed Income
Make the most of rates
Rates will not stay low like this for ever. We show you how to get the best out of interest rates.
Challenger unveils hybrid issue
Financial services group follows high-profile hybrid offer from CBA with $250 million offer of its own.
Hybrids could plunge in crisis
Are bank hybrids really the risk-free alternative many claim?
Specialist Investments
Are banks scared of ETFs?
Cheap products pay a reputational dividend, says Jon Howie of iShares.
Smart money goes passive
Investors are avoiding vanilla active funds that fail to add value, according to BlackRock’s Jon Howie.
Douglass takes aim at leeches
Top fund manager blasts rivals who charge exorbitant fees in exchange for pedestrian returns.
Topics
Market Intelligence
What to expect from the next correction
The next significant market downturn will be short and sharp, Millinium says, and the culprit is well known.
Earnings spur director buying
Directors in G8, Energy Action, Magellan, Slater & Gordon and Telstra all increase stakes.
Rich families get richer
Australia’s wealthiest families are growing their wealth and branching into new investments.
Superannuation
Super defends tax breaks
Australia’s $1.8 trillion retirement fund industry goes in to bat for its generous tax breaks.
ASIC says $100k SMSFs OK
The corporate regulator stops short of recommending hard and fast minimum balances for SMSFs.
Why excess contributions are more than a headache
While most of the more unpleasant DIY super rules have been relaxed, paying too much into your fund can still cost you dearly.
Topics
New Investor
How to outperform while going defensive
Top portfolio managers like Paul Xiradis can beat the benchmark without a one-eyed focus on growth.
Blue Ribbon 2014 winners
The best financial products in Australia presented in one easy-to-navigate list.
Thirty years of returns in just one chart
There’s been good times and bad along the journey. From deregulation of banking to the GFC, we’ve got it covered.