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30 April 2025
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Chris Bowen responds, Peter Costello super myth, instos and franking refunds, bank outlook, discount LICs, active’s time has come, gold, technology.
Peter Costello's 2007 changes made payments from superannuation tax free after age 60 for those who are fully retired. Is he responsible for making super unaffordable which is now forcing policy changes?
Many readers have asked why institutional super funds will not be affected by the proposed Labor policy denying franking credit refunds. The tax calculation is explained in the context of direct investment options.
A reader of Cuffelinks sent an email to the Shadow Treasurer complaining about the future loss of franking credit refunds. Here is Chris Bowen's response and a firm stance on the policy.
Australian banks appear cheap and their shares trade below broker targets. But three analysts offer deeper explanations that suggest stronger credit standards will affect house prices and credit growth.
It's important to consider why a LIC is trading at a discount, as what might appear good value worth buying may be built into the price for many years, and the discount may even worsen.
The long bull market allowed passive investing to prosper, but over a whole cycle, companies with better fundamentals will outperform weak ones. The market is finally showing some dispersion.
It’s been 21 years since the RBA sold the majority of Australia’s national gold reserves. The decision cost the nation AUD5 billion. Is it time to rebuild gold reserves with the opportunity cost now much lower?
The political ramifications of classifying robots as 'electronic persons' and the loss of jobs might nullify automation’s economic benefits for society.
Mary Meeker’s Internet Trends Report is a fantastic annual update on technology trends. Given how much technology stocks dominate sharemarket growth, it's worth a thorough read.
The famed investor says the rapid switch from globalisation to trade wars is the biggest upheaval in the investing environment since World War Two. And a new world requires a different investment approach.
Trump's tariffs and China's retaliatory strike have sent the Nasdaq into a bear market with the S&P 500 not far behind. What are the implications for the economy and markets, and what should investors do now?
Labor has announced a $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program, aimed at slashing the cost of home batteries. The goal is to turbocharge battery uptake, though practical difficulties may prevent that happening.
Are you living your life by default or by design? It strikes me that many people are doing the former and living according to others’ expectations of them, leading to poor choices including with their finances.
Larry Fink is one of the smartest people in the finance industry. In his latest shareholder letter, the Blackrock CEO outlines his quest to become the biggest player in private assets and upend investor portfolios.
Every crisis throws up opportunities. Here are ideas to capitalise on this one, including ‘overbalancing’ your portfolio in stocks, buying heavily discounted LICs, and cherry picking bombed out sectors like oil and gas.