Insights

Yield-seeking behaviour is causing some stocks to skyrocket - but starving our businesses of capital.

What ails Woolworths (ASX:WOW)? Once regarded as the best business in the land, the supermarket giant has lost market share at the hands of resurgent competitors. The problem, as many have identified, is that Woolworths returns were too high for too long. Those super profits enticed competition which are now the source of its woes.

Making sensible decisions whilst we're anxious and emotional is a challenge. In fact, I'd say this is the challenge in investing.

What does it take for a seller to become a buyer? A stock price fall, of course.

The Australia 200 Index looks like being sold down towards levels not seen since October last year as investors react to Friday's violent sell off in US equities.

Australian stocks crumbled to the pressure of weak leads offshore. Wednesday's 80 point advance was all but erased in morning trade.

Today looks like one of those days when anything could happen on markets. Strong downward momentum on international equity markets has led to another weak opening this morning.

Deteriorating industrial sentiment and a flight to safety overnight are set to meet a local bullish impulse head on in local trading today. Further complicating factors include releases from more than twenty top companies at the halfway mark of reporting season and the return of extreme volatility to share trading in mainland China.

Post-results, we increase our exposure to the retailer while cutting our valuation.

Although both asset classes are a great investment at this point, one looks cheaper than the other.

Two established fund managers are each set to float their own Asia-focused LICs.

We profile a value manager with an eye on discounted European stocks.

Understanding the difference between retirement villages and aged care, and preparing for the death of an SMSF trustee.

This week we look at Asciano, Iluka, Computershare and Ainsworth.

Share trading, LIC coverage and asset allocation.

Both the Australian and Chinese stock markets closed on their lows at the end of a weak trading session yesterday. The immediate question for markets this morning will be whether yesterday's selling momentum can be arrested.