Vanguard

After a three-month run as the most-traded ASX stock on Selfwealth’s platform, Neuron Pharmaceuticals ceded its spot to CBA in June as healthcare, mining and banking stocks jostled for investors’ attention.

True to form, US stocks are outperforming Aussie shares on the back of a resurgence in technology-related company valuations. Economists warn against straying from diversification, however, with Aussie miners still offering investors capital returns on top of an underlying hedge against a US downturn.

Younger Australians expect to retire earlier, and earn more in retirement, than older generations even as they redefine the traditional path to retirement by taking more career breaks, new Vanguard research shows – and these ambitious expectations may not be “aligning to reality”.

The market for exchange-traded products posted 5 per cent year-over-year growth in March, while listed investment companies continued to see assets under management fall, new ASX data shows. As rising interest rates and cost-of-living bite, though, the trend has begun to slow, with investors seeking safety in defensive ETFs.

At the peak, there were 30 challengers nipping at the heels of established industry and retail superannuation funds. Less than half still exist today, with the survivors demonstrating the value of member engagement and well-designed product offerings.

With economists expecting the Australian dollar to strengthen this year, investors are looking to currency-hedged funds to remove FX exposure that threatens to erode the value of their international investments.

Australia may have fared better than its international peers, but markets still took a pummelling in 2022, with traditional safe havens and equities alike bearing the brunt in a wildly dislocated market.

The respected lawyer will not see out his contract with the corporate regulator after accepting a role in the commercial sector.

Australians who consider themselves expert in financial investment knowledge are nearly as likely as beginners to speak with a financial adviser, a recent survey shows, reflecting the impacts of rising inflation and interest rates on investors’ confidence and highlighting an important role for financial experts.

This year’s recalibration of bond prices now reflects the higher interest rate environment, making future returns attractive again for fixed income in 2023 as deteriorating fundamentals threaten other asset classes.