In the Media

We Maybe Losing Control Over Our Super

Australian National Review - 21 Apr. 15

These days we want more control over our super, not less. However, it appears that the time for Australians to have full control over where our money is invested may be coming to an end. For a long time, I have said that it was just a matter of time before governments would tinker with our super, and there is talk at the moment that with the release of the next Federal budget, as well as more cuts, there will be changes to superannuation...

Women Put Safety First

Sunday Mail - 11 Apr. 15

Janine Cox, an analyst at fund manager Wealth Within, says many investors assume there is only one way to manage risk: to ride out the ups and downs over the long term – time and diversification. “This is fine when the market is going up but it doesn’t give investors the confidence that they need when their investments are falling,’’ Ms Cox says. However, there is a simple way to invest with less risk by removing the problem of having to ride out or worry about the big losses, she says. Investors should consider stop-loss thresholds, where they sell their shares if the price drops to certain trigger points, Ms Cox says...

Why Health Float Sank Some Banks

Daily Telegraph - 07 Apr. 15

Despite all the celebrations about the success of the Medibank Private (MPL) float, to me the real winners here, in the first 12 months, are the brokers who sold the shares to their clients — short-term profit-takers who exited a few weeks ago, and of course the government, which raised more than $5 billion from it. So where does that leave you if you are holding the stock? In the short term, the prognosis for investors is not good. Reason being that statistics don’t lie, as at least 50 per cent of all floats fall below their offer price in the first 12 months...

Homework Prepares For Reporting Season

Daily Telegraph - 24 Mar. 15

The lead up to reporting season in Australia often sees investors bracing themselves for the bombshell that sends their shares tumbling. So, what happened this reporting season and what do you need to be aware of to prepare for the next round? Each year there are two major reporting periods for Australian Securities Exchange listed companies — February and August. You can find reporting dates on the company’s website, or contact the company’s investor centre. This way you know in advance when the important dates are for the shares you hold. It’s not until a company reports to the market that you get the chance to find out what’s going on...

Takeover Windfall For Shareholders

Daily Telegraph - 17 Mar. 15

When news surfaces that a share you hold in your portfolio is to be taken over and your shares have risen by more than 45 per cent in a day, it’s cause to celebrate. This is what Toll Holdings shareholders were doing recently when the company announced Japan Post had made an offer. Even the most seasoned trader would get excited about this kind of windfall as it doesn’t happen every day. If you are a professional trader, you have a plan in place for how a takeover will be handled. However, without the training or experience in the market, you probably hadn’t given this a thought, let alone had a plan to help you make the right decision...