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Friday, 29 October 2021
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Fund managers are commonly using algorithms to derive and implement their investment strategies, and investors should be looking behind and beyond the computer code to understand the inputs.
Active managers trade more often and in larger amounts than passive managers do. Costs incurred from trading, in aggregate, can be substantial and ought to be considered in the decision to use active strategies.
It’s worth deciphering how active 'active managers' are, whether their outperformance is sustainable, whether they cancel each other out and whether they are true to label. Know what you're paying for.
Passive investing typically incurs less tax than active investing but should be made even more tax-effective by using losses in the portfolio to offset taxable capital gains.
Large super funds have been successful in delivering strong investment returns, but the changing nature of the sector means more investment innovation is necessary for continuing long-term success.
Is the tax payable on your investment earnings eroding returns unnecessarily? Changes to the way fund managers invest so that tax-effects are part of the investment decision can make a meaningful difference.
The way home ownership relates to retirement income is rated a 'D', as in Distortion, Decumulation and Denial. For many, their home is their largest asset but it's least likely to be used for retirement income.
What is APRA worried about? Most mortgagees can easily absorb increases in interest rates without posing a systemic threat to the banking system. Housing lending is a relatively risk-free activity for banks.
Housing market sentiment has eased from record highs and confidence has ticked down as house price rises slow. Construction costs overtook lack of development sites as the biggest impediment for new housing.
Understanding your own biases and behaviours is even more important than learning about markets. Overcome four major cognitive biases that may be sabotaging your investing and recognise them in others.
Cash flow statements differ from income statements and balance sheets, and every company must balance payments to investors versus investing into the business. Cash flows drive the value of the business.
As Sydney and Melbourne emerge from lockdown, there are some reopening trades in the Australian credit market which 'sophisticated' investors should consider as part of their fixed income portfolios.
Demand for air travel, China’s growing middle-class population, Brazil’s digital payments take-up, Indian IPOs, and increased urbanisation are just some of the trends being seen in emerging economies.