Investing

Jarrod Harbrow of the Suns looks to break to break a atackle by Scott Lycett of the Eagles.

EVISER

Why most trading software doesn't work

Richard Livingston   The thought of using the skills of a trading expert, via a computer program, can be alluring.

SUPER & FUNDS

Telstra dividend still a good call

MON00-Collett

John Collett   BHP Billiton has cut its dividend and there's speculation about the big banks, but Telstra's dividend looks secure.

SHARES RACE

Great start to the Shares Race for all-female line-up

The Another Bottle Please Wine Drinker's Club were the only contestant to lose ground after week one.

Vanessa Desloires   A fresh Shares Race has kicked off and a strong rally on the Australian sharemarket has sent all but one contestant off to a flying start.

INVESTMENT 101

It's time for equality to arrive for investors

Women participate fully in the economy but there is a gender imbalance when it comes to investment.

Scott Phillips   I've written many, many column inches, trying to encourage people to invest. I truly think that – after looking after your health and your relationships – it's perhaps the most important thing you can do for yourself and your family.

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INTELLIGENT INVESTOR

Three steps to ease the investing pain

Computershare founder and chairman Chris Morris.

James Greenhalgh   No one said investing was meant to be easy.

MONEY BRAIN

Why women make great investors

Many of the traits that make Warren Buffett a successful investor come naturally to women, a new book argues.

Catherine Robson   To say that Warren Buffett invests like a girl is somewhat controversial, but the book of this name posits that many of the attributes which make him so successful are natural to women. 

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QUIRKY INVESTMENTS

The $135,000 number plate

Shannons national auction manager Christophe Boribon with the number plate that sold for $135,000 last month.

James Cockington   There are people driving around today with number plates worth more than their cars.

THE HONEST BROKER

When 'defensive' assets turn dangerous

Infrastructure stocks such as Sydney Airport have bubbly valuations as investors look for safe havens.

Marcus Padley   At some price every stock becomes dangerous, even so-called defensive assets such as Transurban and Sydney Airport.

QUIRKY INVESTMENTS

The currency of World War II refugees

Mossgreen sale of internment bank notes: One shilling banknote. Estimated price $12,500.

James Cockington   There's a rare chance to buy banknotes used by refugees in internment camps during the Second World War.

INTELLIGENT INVESTOR

The other great duopoly

Sonic Healthcare and Primary Health Care have grabbed another 12 per cent of market share since 2010.

Graham Witcomb   There's Coles and Woolies, Qantas and Virgin, but the new duopoly in town is Primary Health Care and Sonic Healthcare.

THE MOTLEY FOOL

What we learnt from earnings season

Blackmores chairman Marcus Blackmore and chief executive Christine Holgate have enjoyed a stunning period of ...

Scott Phillips   Let's look at some of the highlights of earnings season and their implications.

Shares Race: It's as good as gold for the dartboard

The Dartboard hit a bullseye with Beach Energy this week

Vanessa Desloires   At the end of the five week shares race, it was the dartboard that hit the er, bullseye.

INVESTMENT 101

Dividends, so much better than rent and interest

Dividends are like turbocharged bank interest.

Scott Phillips   Have you ever wondered why so many investors are enamoured with dividends?

ASK NOEL

Are volatile shares worth the pain?

Illustration: Michael Mucci

Noel Whittaker   A reader asks Noel Whittaker how dividend income overcomes the volatility of shares.

SHARES RACE

Chartist edges out the Dartboard to take lead

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John Collett   The chartist, Richard Pritchard, has swapped places with the Dartboard to take the lead in week four of the shares race.

THE MOTLEY FOOL

Don't invest by looking backwards

The rear view mirror doesn't work for investing.

Scott Phillips    The rear vision mirror isn't for looking forwards - extrapolation from the past can lead investors astray.

INTELLIGENT INVESTOR

Seven steps to start investing in shares

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

James Greenhalgh   Believe it or not, now is a great time to begin investing in shares.

INSIGHT

Reasons for bank shareholders not to panic

The big four banks are being punished for the performance of banks overseas.

Clancy Yeates   The plunge in bank shares may not be as scary as it looks.

SUPER & FUNDS

Fear drives surge in gold price

Nervous investors have been switching to gold.

John Collett   The gold price has risen about 20 per cent since the start of this year.

QUIRKY INVESTMENTS

Vintage skateboards in hot demand

Don Stuart in his shop with a Surfa-Sam skateboard.

James Cockington   Prices for vintage skateboards have taken off over the past 10 years or so.

WELL HEELED

Why shares are like shoes

When it comes to shoes, and shares, a cheap price does not always mean good value.

Melissa Browne   If you think investing in the sharemarket is just a form of gambling but know you should learn more about it, read on.

INTELLIGENT INVESTOR

Why small investors should welcome volatility

Value-driven small investors should welcome the rise of robo-advisers – it's less competition.

John Addis   Volatility on global sharemarkets is scaring the pants off professional and retail investors alike. It shouldn't.

SHARES RACE

Shares Race: Week 3 - Horror week on markets relegates most racers into the red

Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens gave a slapdown in central banker speak.

Gareth Hutchens   The Dartboard still reigns. Richard Pritchard is still coming second. But they're the only contestants who remain in the black.

THE MOTLEY FOOL

Icarus stocks return to Earth

A2 Milk chief executive Geoff Babidge. The company is yet to deliver a full-year profit.

Scott Phillips   Flying too high can be dangerous, as companies such as Ansell, A2 Milk and Blackmores are experiencing.

INVESTMENT 101

The real definition of risk

Investing is like horse riding: risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.

Scott Phillips    Throw away the textbooks: investment risk is not the same as volatility.

THE HONEST BROKER

A rubbish week but let's keep perspective

Share investing, like pinball, is a matter of timing.

Marcus Padley   The slump in market sentiment is getting out of hand.

HOT STOCK

Ardent Leisure on track for growth

Ardent Leisure chief executive Deborah Thomas has the performance of the health clubs business high on her list of ...

Ardent Leisure's share price has experienced some headwinds recently due to market-wide falls.

QUIRKY INVESTMENTS

Paintings by late Judy Cassab to go under the hammer

Judy Cassab's 1982 portrait of art curator Anna Waldmann is expected to sell for $12,000 at auction.

James Cockington   Painter Judy Cassab left "an indelible mark on the story of Australian art", with her portraits of everyone from prime ministers to princesses. Now, three months after her death at 95, some 47 art works are on sale.

INVESTMENT

Chinese on the investment menu

The Year of the Monkey could be an auspicious time to invest in the undervalued Chinese sharemarket.

Ben Hurley   The rise of China's middle class makes long-term investment in China a good bet.

QUIRKY INVESTMENTS

When a dollar is worth $1500

A set of specimen notes from the introduction of decimal currency recently sold for $35,000.

It's 50 years this week since Australia introduced decimal currency but only some early specimens are worth anything more than face value.