Insights

G8 Education, Commonwealth Bank's share offer and Inside Line.

It would be naïve to think that 'confirmation bias' doesn't exist in financial markets. It goes a long way to explain the failings of most Australian equity portfolios.

Investor hopes that share market volatility had been put behind them have proven short lived. Market action itself has again become the dominant concern for investors. The kind of concern implied by last night's three per cent drop in US stock markets is itself enough to make investors nervous and is a more likely candidate as catalyst of the last days for selling over the last 24 hours than China's PMI reads.

Nervous investors are selling down shares as markets anticipate the release of globally sensitive manufacturing data from China. Moderate losses in overnight trading in the US are turning to substantial selling in after-hours trading as futures markets treble the drop during the US session. Naturally, this is weighing on the opening in Asia Pacific markets today.

Woolworths' recent run of bad news is only going to worsen. Could the company be snatched away before you get the opportunity to buy?

Stand by for our biggest webcast of the year and a one-on-one with Slater and Gordon's Andrew Grech.

A closer look at the correction shows that borrowed funds played a minor role in the downturn... phew!

Market retracements are not unusual. Here's how international investors can play this one.

IVF business Virtus Health is a growing company with healthy cash flow.

These four LICs deserve special attention during these uncertain markets.

Vita Group has been one of the best performing local retailers in recent times, while Empired reported a solid result and is eyeing further contract wins.

Financial porn can do real damage to your portfolio. Here's how to protect yourself.

Early indications are that reaction to the weekend comments of Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer will provide a nervous start to trading this morning. Mr. Fischer expressed his belief that inflation will move higher as the current forces holding it down dissipate.

After another strong market open, investors are starting to wonder what the recent sell-off was all about. Another day of strong buying looks likely as investors scramble to take advantage of what looks like a value opportunity before it closes down.

Shares markets in the Asia Pacific region are set for further gains today after a strong night of trading in the US fuelled by better than expected economic data. Volatility remains elevated, and a sudden shift in sentiment is possible.

Most people don't like seeing the value of their investments depreciate, which seems sensible enough, but what most people fail to consider is that market declines can be a positive outcome for value investors. By investing the same amount, you automatically buy more assets when prices are low, and fewer when they are high. Meaning that when the market is down your average entry price is lower.