Australia’s ten best private health funds
We analyse comprehensive hospital and extras plans from 23 private health insurers to find the 10 best funds.
The four worst mining stocks of 2015
Stocks have generally had a terrible year but these tales of woe will have you thanking your lucky stars.
Westpac joins rate cut calls
Bill Evans, one of Australia’s most accurate economic forecasters, adds his voice to the growing numbers predicting a rate cut.
Why you shouldn’t buy the dip
Buying the dip has proved to be a winning strategy so far this year but it won’t always work.
SMSFs $1b share splurge
Analysts say that DIY funds can be expected to buy $1 billion in shares each month in 2015/16.
Will gold’s shine return next year?
The precious metal has been out of favour for years but some think there is a comeback in the making.
NAB’s green bonds swamped
The first “green” bank bond in Australia offered by NAB received double the $150 million the bank was seeking.
Australian Equity Indices
| Points | Change | % Change | Value | Volume |
| S&P;/ASX 200 | 5,395.1 | + 59.8 | + 1.12% | $ 1,250,068,442.0 | 206,686,721.0 |
| ALL ORDINARIES | 5,370.1 | + 56.5 | + 1.06% | $ 1,284,287,908.0 | 300,271,387.0 |
| S&P;/ASX 100 | 4,499.4 | + 51.0 | + 1.15% | $ 1,137,492,819.0 | 125,715,173.0 |
| SMALL ORDS | 2,030.7 | + 13.0 | + 0.64% | $ 127,536,685.0 | 126,508,013.0 |
Six reasons why oil has rocked the ASX
The falling price of oil is a plus for global growth however there are good reasons for the nervousness.
Eslake: $A to hit US73c
Respected economist says that the Reserve Bank won’t be satisfied until the Australian dollar is much lower.
Lisa Ho’s lost super victory
Fashion designer wins back close to $1 million in super after being duped by a banned financial adviser.
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Market Summary
Currencies
| AUD | USD | EUR | JPY | GBP | |
| AUD |  |
0.8319 | 0.6764 | 101.1 | 0.534 |
| USD | 1.2018 |  |
0.8133 | 121.53 | 0.6419 |
| EUR | 1.4772 | 1.2294 |  |
149.38 | 0.7891 |
| JPY | 0.0099 | 0.0082 | 0.0067 |  |
0.0053 |
| GBP | 1.8714 | 1.5573 | 1.2665 | 189.24 |  |
Stock price lookup
Shares
Fall from grace not over yet
Once a small-cap success story, Atlas Iron appears headed for even more trouble.
Will gold’s shine return next year?
The precious metal has been out of favour for years but some think there is a comeback in the making.
The four worst mining stocks of 2015
Stocks have generally had a terrible year but these tales of woe will have you thanking your lucky stars.
Property
The secret formula for shares and property
The best property assets share many of the same characteristics as the best performing shares.
Mortgage fees under fire
Annual commissions paid to a broker on a typical home mortgage are likely to total nearly four times the upfront payment.
Property faces hot summer
Clearance rates reamined buoyant and new apartment sales were strong for the final spring weekend.
Topics
Fixed Income
Future Fund set for rate cuts
The $100 billion fund has cut its exposure to the dollar and positioned itself for more cuts from the RBA.
NAB’s green bonds swamped
The first “green” bank bond in Australia offered by NAB received double the $150 million the bank was seeking.
Westpac joins rate cut calls
Bill Evans, one of Australia’s most accurate economic forecasters, adds his voice to the growing numbers predicting a rate cut.
Specialist Investments
Eslake: $A to hit US73c
Respected economist says that the Reserve Bank won’t be satisfied until the Australian dollar is much lower.
Citi: Oil prices have bottomed
Global investment bank predicts that the rout in oil is overdone and may soon recover from five-year lows.
Iron ore fall claims scalps
As the price of iron ore plunges below $US70 one of the most established junior miners cuts three directors.
Topics
Market Intelligence
Bull or bear? It’s not that simple
Experts are divided over whether the rallies and routs of the last fifteen years foreshadow more gains or just pain.
Oil price spurs mega mergers
The plunge in the oil price to a five-year low may trigger a new wave of mergers and acquisitions.
Why you shouldn’t buy the dip
Buying the dip has proved to be a winning strategy so far this year but it won’t always work.
Superannuation
ASIC boss shutters his SMSF
Greg Medcraft, the chairman of our corporate regulator, reveals why he closed his self managed super fund.
What you need to know about David Murray’s Report
Review of our financial system finds that fees are too high and recommends a total ban on gearing within super.
SMSFs $1b share splurge
Analysts say that DIY funds can be expected to buy $1 billion in shares each month in 2015/16.
Topics
New Investor
Hard yakka pays for Metals X
It’s a been a long road, but after a decade of hard work there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The 6000-year-old bubble
It is the most prized of all the commodities has no practical value. So why can’t investors see through it?
Australia’s ten best private health funds
We analyse comprehensive hospital and extras plans from 23 private health insurers to find the 10 best funds.