ASX

Building on a solid first half, the global boutique investment manager has remained in a generous mood in the September quarter, with shareholders set to receive a handy early Christmas present.

A commitment that provided solid returns to investors while offering them flexibility via a reinvestment plan was the enviable choice from this investment management group.

In a year when many companies cut or even axed their dividends, this real estate investment manager went against the flow, using a strong financial result to reward loyal investors with a seven per cent increase in the annual payout.

A net loss of $185.3 million in the 2024 financial year, coupled with a dividend pause, had Insignia shareholders less than impressed. But the first quarter results for the 2025 financial year have justified the rising share price over the past 10 weeks.

A slowing economy has prompted S&P/ASX 200 companies to keep a lion’s share of their earnings by tightening shareholder distributions, with fund manager Martin Currie identifying the resources sector as a real cause for concern regarding future income.

Company results are all about meeting investor expectations. So, despite a falling profit, Telstra shares were in demand yesterday while Cochlear, which posted a 27 per cent increase in earnings, found investors had a tin ear after the group forecast a slower 2025.

The ASX 200 fell 3.8 per cent over the month, the biggest fall this year, as investors sought to understand the impact of war, economic factors and other concerns on markets at home and abroad, according to Selfwealth.

Australian companies are poised to play a key role in the clean energy transition, with major projects in critical minerals emerging to meet new demand for rare earths elements. Here are four ASX stocks likely to benefit from the new mining boom.

Australian companies’ dividend payouts are down 24 per cent from a year ago, as higher interest rates and cash flow challenges darken the outlook. Payouts from miners decreased significantly, although the dividend picture remains positive for banks.

In addition to falling for the ‘big market delusion’ that competitors won’t emerge and current performance expectations are rational, investors are also overplaying Nvidia as a ‘safe’ hand in the AI game, according to a new research paper.

One of the most surprising outcomes from the better-than-expected August reporting season was the strong performance of consumer discretionary retailers, as Australians continued to weather higher interest rates and inflation better than many analysts had feared.

Despite continuing strong economic data for Australia, markets have forecast significant earnings downgrades, and results have been mixed so far. But a main highlight – CBA’s record $10 billion profit – may not be enough to improve investors’ outlook on the banking sector, analysts say.