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27 February 2026
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Risk revisited by Howard Marks, hedging fx exposure, risk aversion and women's retirement, calculating intrinsic value, slowing of productivity growth and changes to personal credit reporting.
According to CFSGAM's research, Australian Gen-X women remain most at risk of not meeting their retirement objectives, in part due to an aversion to growth assets since the GFC, despite the market's recovery.
Howard Marks is best known in the global investment community for his ‘Oaktree Memos’ to clients which detail investment strategies and economic insights. Here are some extracts from his latest memo, Risk Revisited Again.
Investing in foreign assets brings with it foreign currency exposure. Your return not only depends on the performance of the asset but on changes in the exchange rate, which can work against you or for you.
When building an investment portfolio it's a good idea to buy quality companies at a discount to intrinsic value. But what is that, and how does it fit into portfolio construction?
Investors need to be aware of what’s happening to productivity and how this will affect future returns and the affordability of tax-payer funded pensions, especially if company profits fall.
Understanding what information is held on a consumer’s credit report can provide a pathway for negotiating better credit terms, whether or not a person has a strong credit history.
The renowned investor says 2025’s real story wasn’t AI or US stocks but the shift away from American assets and a collapse in the value of money. And he outlines how to best position portfolios for what’s ahead.
The post-World War Two economic system is unravelling, leading to huge shifts in currency, bond and commodity markets, yet stocks seem oblivious to the chaos. This looks to history as a guide for what’s next.
Our cost-of-living pressures go beyond the RBA: surging house prices, excessive migration, and expanding government programs, including the NDIS, are fuelling inflation, demanding bold, structural solutions.
The capital gains tax discount is under review, but debate should go beyond its size. Its original purpose, design flaws and distortions suggest Australia could adopt a better, more targeted approach.
A more rational taxation system that supports home ownership but discourages asset speculation could provide greater financial support to first home buyers.
This is my last edition as Editor of Firstlinks. I’m moving onto a new role though the newsletter will remain in good hands until my permanent replacement is found.