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Ashley Owen

Would you invest in this emerging market?

Emerging markets, with their explosive growth and vibrant opportunities, can offer great returns if you're comfortable with the inherent risks. What happens as they mature and where are the new markets today?

My personal perspective on 10 years of the mining boom

Great speculative mining booms occur about once every 30 years or so in Australia. This year marks the conclusion of my decade-long plunge into mining stocks. I will probably be very old or gone before the next price surge.

1979 US Government defaults: what happened next?

The deep financial, economic and political crises came to a head at the end of the 1970s when the US Government defaulted on its debt. It became the dawn of a brand new era of growth and prosperity for Americans.

US Government has previously defaulted, it’s not risk-free

The US Treasury defaulted three times on its treasury bills in 1979, but the problem is primarily one of politics, not insolvency. Another default may be enough of a shock to get the parties together to work on real solutions.

US Government shut-down – been there, done that

The current US budget crisis will not be the first time its government has run out of money. Scary as this may sound to investors, the impact on markets of recent government shutdowns was different to what many expected.

Hold the champagne, that’s not a recovery yet

Many people are claiming that after six years, the market has recovered its GFC losses, but it's worse than that. In fact, the All Ordinaries index today is barely above its 1968 peak in real terms after inflation, some 45 years later.

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Investment strategies

How to choose a good fund manager

Despite the rise of passive investing, Australia has a number of top shelf fund managers who have consistently outperformed indices over the long-term. This looks at how to identify the best active funds for your portfolio.

Property

Key factors behind the housing supply crisis

Australia’s housing supply is falling far short of demand, driving up prices and rents. With approvals down, costs up, and planning delays rampant, the next generation may not forget - or forgive - this crisis. 

Economy

Electricity transmission is Australia's next problem

Australia’s energy transition will take decades to complete because new renewable generating capacity in the far-flung locations will require transmission capacity to be added. And we're well behind schedule on this.

Planning

Family trusts and relationship breakdowns

Trusts offer flexibility and asset protection, but in relationship breakdowns, courts can 'look through' them. Understanding control, purpose, and asset origins is key to preserving trust benefits in family law disputes.

Property

Selling your holiday home? You may be able to pay less tax.

Selling your holiday home can make a lot of sense, but it can also lead to a big tax bill. Fortunately, there are strategies that investors can use to boost their retirement balance and cut their capital gains liability.

Why it's time to revisit the case for non-US stocks

History shows that global equity returns tend to be cyclical and that outperformance between regions can flip. After years of underperformance, there are growing reasons to add non-US equities to a diversified portfolio today.

Economy

Should America follow Australia with a sovereign wealth fund?

While appointing a seasoned banker to lead a US sovereign wealth fund sounds promising, the plan itself could expose the country to massive risks, market distortions, and dangerous expansions of presidential power. 

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