Where to now for global equities?

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As Australian investors expand their offshore holdings to take advantage of the buying power of the strong $A, we asked Amit Lodha, portfolio manager of the Fidelity Global Equities Fund,... Read more continue reading

Economy limping, not leaping, into 2012

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We should never forget that the economic growth data is ancient history. The Reserve Bank sets monetary policy by looking forward, not back. And in terms of published economic data,... Read more continue reading

Reserve Bank acknowledges pain in community

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The Reserve Bank Board has left official rates at 4.25 per cent. Last year the Reserve Bank cut rates at both the November and December meetings, each by 25 basis... Read more continue reading

Profits barely budge in 2011 while inflation is subdued

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Company profits slumped by 6.5 per cent in the December quarter to stand 2.2 per cent higher than a year ago. In 2011 profits rose by just 2.1 per cent... Read more continue reading

Has the government stemmed the flow of SMSFs?

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Self Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) statistics released by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for the December 2011 quarter which show some slowing in the growth in the sector raise some... Read more continue reading

Expense ratio decline for Vanguard’s International Shares ETF

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Vanguard has announced the expense ratio for the Vanguard All-World Ex-US Shares Index ETF (VEU) has declined from 0.22 per cent p.a. to 0.18 per cent p.a*. Keeping investment costs low... Read more continue reading

Could ASEAN stocks outperform for a fifth year in 2012?

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ASEAN economies are expected to grow between 3% and 5% this year – will their sharemarkets echo this? Many of Asia’s biggest stock markets had a poor 2011. That helped... Read more continue reading

Battle-scarred companies winning the fight – corporate profit season

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CommSec has assessed the results of 131 companies from the ASX 200 index that reported half-year (HY) results to December 2011 (results for the six months to December) and 24... Read more continue reading

Oliver’s Insights: will the world slip up on oil again?

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World oil prices are rising again. Since its low last October, US West Texas Intermediate is up 40% and Asian Tapis oil prices (which drives Australian petrol prices) are up... Read more continue reading

RBA Testimony conveys confidence in domestic economy

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The Reserve Bank Governor has delivered the clearest message yet that the Central Bank has a strong degree of confidence in the outlook for the domestic economy. The tone and... Read more continue reading