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18 July 2026
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Recent price spikes, particularly gold's surge, trigger behavioral responses like availability bias, storytelling, extrapolation, and FOMO, which create self-reinforcing feedback loops influencing investor sentiment and market trends.
ESG investing has fallen out of favour with many investors, and Trump's anti-green policies haven't helped. Yet, renewables investment is still surging, which could prove a boon for infrastructure companies.
Following the gold price's recent surge, headlines have popped up with increasingly bold predictions - US$5,000, even US$20,000 an ounce? This looks at the fundamentals and the credibility of these bullish predictions.
While gold can create divisive views - Buffett called it a valueless pet rock - this assesses its place in portfolios from a supply-demand standpoint and versus currencies. Both angles suggest some exposure to gold is prudent.
If it's common knowledge, it's not an outperformance edge. You may have insights about China, a great company, US ingenuity, inflation or interest rates, but if they are common, they are already priced in.
An investment conference attended by thousands of leaders from industry and finance points the way to future investment trends.
Garry Weaven was instrumental in the development of the industry fund movement, and as Chair of IFM Investors, he outlined his five areas of future investment potential and policy in his address to the AIST Conference.
For a Special 250th Edition, we asked: "What is an enduring investment lesson you learned from making a mistake?" and we received a wide range of responses that might prevent someone from repeating the same error.
A comparison of superannuation investment strategy outcomes over two decades for three types of investors: a baby, a 20-year-old and a 40-year-old, shows the benefits of time and the value of compounding.
Infrastructure assets range widely from toll roads, ports, airports, power distribution, communications, etc, but there are common risk factors to consider in all of them.
Proposed Budget changes to taxation are casting new uncertainty over testamentary trusts, prompting closer scrutiny of estate planning structures and the real implications of reforms still taking shape.
Beneath the dominance of the ASX's largest stocks, much of the market has been left behind. High-quality companies are now trading at levels rarely seen, offering opportunities for investors willing to look deeper.
New CGT rules could tip the scales in the super vs non-super debate. For those facing the Division 296 tax, the case for withdrawing has gotten more complex. A "comparison rate" tool may help assess decisions.
The 30% minimum tax on capital gains sits at the heart of the budget's proposed reforms. Yet the mechanics reveal anomalies that introduce unexpected distortions that raise questions about its design.
The defining challenge of retirement isn't just about building wealth, it's about converting your lifetime savings into sustainable income. A holistic understanding of different strategies can improve long-term outcomes.
The downfall of the giant and three lessons for investors.