Insights

Seven of our international stock picks have reported so far and the numbers are looking good.

A weak lead from the US and ongoing nervousness about commodity markets will see stock market trading start the week on a downbeat note.

What's a newspaper worth? Based on Pearson's sale of the Financial Times to Nikkei, a lot more than you might expect.

Rod Drury, ceo of New Zealand-based cloud accounting software firm Xero, is frustrated with local investors. The reason? He believes they don't understand software companies like Xero. Although listed on the New Zealand Exchange since 2007 and the ASX since 2012, Xero has found it easier to raise expansion capital from foreign investors such as Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and also an early investor in Facebook.

A night of selling on international markets suggests that some commodity markets may be entering another capitulation phase as prices in oversupplied commodities continue the process of adjusting to levels that will force production cuts.

While the advent of automated "robo-advice" holds huge promise for delivering accessible, low cost investment planning tools for ordinary Australians, much of the current crop of technology falls well short on delivery.

European and US shares traded under pressure for the second session in a row overnight as post Grexit increases were further trimmed. Bonds are the major beneficiary, rallying across the board, while US shares continued to retreat despite some upbeat company results and a positive surprise on existing home sales.

With house prices at all time highs, buying a listed property developer may be tempting. But don't be fooled.

We've been profiling a range of products designed to withstand a market downturn. Here's how they fared in the recent sell-off.

The conditions are perfect for a lift in gold prices. The recent tumble is intriguing.

Are your savings on track for a comfortable retirement? Here's how to check.

This week we look at a high-conviction portfolio with a local focus.

Understanding maximum caps on non-concessional contributions and contributing to super after retirement.

Investing in the K2 Select International Fund.

Selling pressure emerged across asset classes overnight. Many attributed the weakness in shares, the USD and bond markets to lower than expected result from IBM and market disappointment with Apple. However, this is "after the fact" reasoning, and a global trimming of portfolios after an eight day rally is a more likely explanation for the general malaise.

Further gains for Asia Pacific shares are likely today as overnight markets continued their rise on European optimism, despite concerns raised by US stocks reporting weaker than expected revenues and earnings. Additionally, a stronger USD is casting a shadow, and resulting weakness in commodity prices may curtail any lift in share markets.