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28 February 2026
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Asian trade links, ASX's mFund service, Howard Marks on oil, bargaining lessons from Medibank, long term investing and aged care costs.
Australia's exports are increasingly skewed towards our three largest trading partners - China, Japan and Korea - making the Free Trade Agreements with these countries vital for further growth.
Many brokers and fund managers have not yet joined the ASX's Managed Fund Settlement Service, mFund. One fund manager explains why they took the leap and their early experiences.
Howard Marks tells a New York conference that there's no way to predict commodity prices, as we cannot know what will happen in the future.
The Medibank sale was carefully handled to ensure not much was left on the table, but that did not prevent a scramble for shares. Both retail investors and institutions were allocated a fraction of their bids.
Part two in the series on long term investing sets out its advantages and the associated strategies available. Long term investing is not easy, but one rather distinct advantage is the prevalence of short term investors.
The final of our series on aged care in Australia covers aged care facilities. More than a third of men and half of women who reach 65 are expected at some point to live in aged care. Understanding the recent reforms is key.
The highlights are a prohibition on borrowing by super funds, change 'general advice' to another name and consider a default super fund tender process. Joe Hockey now faces some big decisions.
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.