Insights

The sharemarket closed lower before the Reserve Bank's Tuesday policy meeting, at which it is expected to keep interest rates on hold. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index dropped 20.6 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 5390.5, while the broader All Ordinaries fell 22.3 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 5384.2.

Kinghorn to fund lessons in ethics

For all the hype and profile, the success of the float of Nine Entertainment will come down to price. It is a classic cyclical stock with upside potential if it is sold at the lower end of expectations, the economy improves and the heat remains in the sharemarket.

Westpac will sweeten its payout to shareholders by adding a special dividend worth $310 million, despite concerns dividend payments by the the big banks may be constrained by upcoming capital rules.

Direct investment products from traditional funds may tempt some SMSF operators.

Certain types of derivatives can protect the value of your share portfolio.

Funds that don't pay tax, maximising pension eligibility, and more.

Your investment strategies in pension mode are likely to change.

Investors have swallowed the yield story … but it's time to cut back the dosage.

Stocks sagged in thin trading despite better than expected retail sales figures

The two construction groups sign a $700 million road management deal

Investors trimmed early gains heading towards noon

Positive retail sales data follows upticks in consumer sentiment and house prices. But labour force figures will tell us whether this improvement is sustainable.

The long running battle to break up the Soul Pattinson and Brickworks cross shareholding just got longer

Aggressive pricing from competitors in the beverage sector has seen Coca-Cola grapple with falling volume and price growth, with the company relying on cost-cutting to boost earnings.

China has been less than proactive in strengthening global trade governance, but it has the capacity and motive to make a real difference at the WTO.