Letters: Hybrids and 3D printing
Investing in Swiss Re
Elizabeth Moran wrote about Swiss Re last week (See: Swiss Re’s hybrid attraction). Could you please advise if Swiss Re is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange?
Leonie Voysey
Editor’s response: Swiss RE is listed on the Swiss stock exchange under the symbol SREN. Elizabeth Moran’s column, Swiss RE’s hybrid attraction, details the benefits of investing in the insurer’s hybrid issue. Ms Moran also wrote a detailed article on investing in hybrids, including Swiss Re, last year. (See: Hybrid rush hits the market).
Corporate bond market
After reading John Abernathy’s Blackmores’ article (see: Blackmores a hard stock to swallow), and Elizabeth Moran’s Swisse Re article (See: Swiss Re’s hybrid attraction) I would like to find out how to invest in these private companies via the Australian Securities Exchange or through the corporate bond market.
Name Withheld
Complementary and alternative medicines
John Abernathy cautions that Blackmores may not be a great investment at the current time (see: Blackmores a hard stock to swallow). He presents his case with some sound arguments, but misses another that could have much bigger ramifications: The federal government has several reviews in progress that will determine whether non-evidence-based complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) should continue to receive funding for training and rebates for treatments. Australian taxpayers contribute millions of dollars each year to support such treatments. I expect the reviews to be negative, which would be good news for taxpayers, but bad news for any company whose bottom line depends on the CAM trade.
Name withheld
3D printing
I have heard and read about 3D printing and how it is the next big thing. I was hoping Eureka Report might do some research and produce an article on the topic.
Name Withheld
Matrix Composites and Engineering
I was hoping one of the Eureka Report contributors might know what happened to an engineering firm called Matrix Composites and Engineering, which suffered a devastating blow in 2011-12, but now looks to be on the road to recovery.
Name withheld
Investing overseas
Robert Gottliebsen recently wrote that Australian equities, while on the rise, do not offer the same value as equities in overseas markets (see: The US fund manager with a danger alert).
I would like to see Eureka Report publish an article that focuses on this issue in more depth, specifically the options available to investors and issues to be aware of when investing.
Deborah Courtney
Magellan Flagship Fund
Recently, Robert Gottliebsen mentioned Templeton Global Growth Fund (TGG) as a means of investing in shares outside Australia. I think that Magellan Flagship Fund (MFF) is another option. It is run by a highly regarded manager, is capitalised at around $384 million and to me, seems much easier to invest in than TGG, which is capitalised at about $124 million.
Joost Daalder