Opinion

Most of us have not experienced the current level of government and institutional direction of our lives. The impact on business is likely to be profound. Banks are possibly the best example, where their every move is dictated by policy from monetary and political authorities. Who can they lend to, at what rate, where should…

Investors in residential property may have to rethink their revenue strategies, following the commencement of new short-term rental accommodation rules in New South Wales last month. The tightening of the rules in NSW follows a similar move in Victoria last year. Western Australia has plans in development. The new rules, which cover rentals for three…

This week I had the pleasure (not sure if that is the best word) of settling on the sale of our first home. An interesting experience at the best of times, let alone amid the COVID-19 shutdown. The entire settlement was completed virtually via the PEXA platform and could not have been more seamless. Given…

Growth managers continue to show their wares in the first quarter of 2020, holding up better than their value counterparts across Australian equity funds, declining only slightly less than the benchmark. The COVID-19-induced volatility over the first quarter led investors to assume that value strategies would come out on top. Morningstar says: “Looking at the…

Significantly higher impairment charges will be a feature of the upcoming interim reporting season for three of the big banks and will continue to rise next financial year. Macquarie Securities has issued a report on the banking sector, saying: “We now incorporate in our forecasts a credit cycle with impairment charges peaking at around 50…

This month we take a look at the well-known job advertisement business, Seek Ltd, led by the formidable Paul Bassat. Seek was founded in 1997 by Paul Bassat, utilizing its first-mover advantage and network effects to entrench itself into the Australian employment market. It is one of Australia’s true technology leaders driven by a management…

One of the shining lights in Australian equity portfolios during a very difficult March quarter was Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, a global leader in the manufacture of respiratory humidifiers. Demand for the company’s products, which are used in intensive care units (ICUs), has grown strongly during the COVID-19 crisis, but the company believes there is…

Superannuation funds have held up well despite ongoing market volatility. Members are encouraged to hold on to their current option and avoid making “knee-jerk” reactions. Members have reaped the benefits of diversification with different portfolio options performing in line with their allocation. Research house SuperRatings estimates that the median balanced option fell 8.9 per cent…

ASX investors looking for dividend income are likely eyeing off Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Co. Ltd (ASX:SOL) and licking their chops. Together with BHP (ASX: BHP), CSL (ASX: CSL) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), “WHSP” has established itself among the best ASX-listed shares for income. Even now, as COVID-19 isolation measures take…

This week’s pick tends to divide opinion; some love it and some hate it. The company is Australia’s leading investment bank, Macquarie Group. It was founded in 1969 as Hill Samuel Australia, employs over 15,000 people and according to its website, it has delivered a profit over 50 consecutive years. Macquarie was one of the…

There are plenty stepping up to criticize industry super funds for their apparently overloaded weight to real assets that can’t be realised or readily valued in a period of market turmoil.

The Afterpay (ASX: APT) share price has jumped at the open after the buy now, pay later company gave a COVID-19 update. The share price is up 9 per cent in early trading.