Insights

Behind the slowdown in share prices there are very negative developments happening in the real economy.

This fund capitalises on franchises' free cash flow to pay investors while ensuring capital growth.

Here's what I think investors should pay attention to when looking at LICs.

Your questions on the assets test, entitlement ages and working after 70.

This week we look at Brickworks, Sigma Pharmaceuticals, Woodside Petroleum and Nufarm Limited.

Managed funds codes.

Exchange-traded funds are far from "passive" when it comes to slaying baddies in a portfolio.

An often-overlooked advantage of ETFs over managed funds is visible in their buy-sell spreads.

Janet Yellen's speech last night changed market thinking on the Fed's monetary policy stance. This was reflected in a sharp drop in US bond yields, a weaker $US and a bounce in the US stock market. The question for local traders is whether this will be enough to give pause to the strong selling momentum in Australian bank stocks.

Trading in local shares is likely to kick off cautiously today in holiday affected trading, ahead of busy week for global economic data. Pressure on commodities prices could add to the weight on the Australian index, although the key question for the session revolves around the potential for last Thursday's trouncing of bank shares to continue.

Clear messaging from US Federal Reserve board members that US interest rates will rise faster than current market expectations has forced the US dollar higher. Shares fell in a re-pricing of interest rate risk.

These key issues will decide our market's performance for the rest of 2016.

The Australian hedge fund has gained 20 per cent in 2016 by betting on miners of lithium, cobalt, graphite and gold.

There's a unique opportunity to beat the benchmark with this long/short international portfolio.

Heard about changes to the pension assets test? Don't get too excited.

SMSF holders don't have to take out insurance - but consider these things long and hard first.