Insights

Spring is sprung — and the weather is not the only thing thawing. In Sydney, the nation’s biggest property market, auctions are on the increase — a sign that confidence is growing and the market is beginning to move once again.

Lee Mickelburough, of Perennial Growth Management, tells Michael Pascoe his quest for strong growth does not always mean high risk.

Private equity promise high returns, but watch the fees. Skills in this highly specialised sector do not come cheap and a study of the fees of seven of the most popular listed funds by Eureka Report finds some confusing differences. One fund, Allco Private Equity, even charges performance fees on individual transactions.

Negative gearing is not just a weird way to invest: it’s inequitable, distorts prices and is bad for the economy, says Patrick O'Leary

Strong demand has brought the gold price close to its December peak and, with the Indian wedding season looming, Charlie Aitken believes a new bull market is under way.

Want to know a simple way to find companies worth looking at? Eureka Report subscriber, Anant Khare has one.

The tax office is cracking down on property investment tax deductions but negative gearing remains a good strategy. Mark Armstrong and Fiona Marsden report on what's happening and provide a clear strategy for property investors.

Associate Editor, Michael Pascoe, attended this week's Australian Super Investment Conference in Cairns and today presents another of a series of interviews he recorded there. He talks to PIMCO's Asia Pacific head of portfolio investment, Kumar Palghat, who says fixed interest investments are ignored at the investor's peril.

This week Charlie turns his gaze to oil and commodities, Telstra, management quality and the rural recovery.

Interview Transcript: Michael Pascoe & Kumar Phalgat

Today's National Accounts show an economy that is powering out of the doldrums. The case for another rate rise is growing says Stephen Koukoulas.

Michael Pascoe's full interview with Gary Weaven, head of Industry Funds Services. They just want 80% of the super market, that's all.

If the Federal Government adopts the recommendations of a new report, investors can expect greater transparency in dealings with property advisers and more protection from unscrupulous operators.

Analyst Mike Mangan explains why he's buying Telstra shares (because he likes buying good companies when they're out of favour). But he says there's a 40% chance of things going really badly.

Gary Weaven, one of the key founders of industry superannuation funds talks to Michael Pascoe, Eureka Report's associate editor, about the market share of industry funds and what's made them successful.

Gas prices were already soaring before Hurricane Katrina — now they have jumped further. Richard Campbell looks at the storm's effect on the gas market. Among other things, it increases the value of Woodside’s latest acquisition, Gryphon Exploration — a gas producer at the Gulf of Mexico.