Investing 101

Whether an investment is expensive or cheap is a key and often overlooked driver of future returns, explains AMP’s Shane Oliver. At the moment, starting points signal a brighter medium-term outlook for some asset classes than for others.

Derivatives should not be a “dirty word” for investors looking for better returns, capital protection and diversification at a time when volatility and higher inflation appear here to stay, according to Atlantic House Group’s Andrew Lakeman and Global X’s Evan Metcalf.

Australian companies’ dividend payouts are down 24 per cent from a year ago, as higher interest rates and cash flow challenges darken the outlook. Payouts from miners decreased significantly, although the dividend picture remains positive for banks.

NYU finance professor Aswath Damodaran recently looked at the apparent disconnect between blockbuster sport franchise prices and earnings fundamentals, in an examination of how assets reach “trophy” status and what it means for determining their value.

Shares of the in-demand chip maker hit an all-time high of US$502 on the back of a strong profit report, and analysts say it could be set for more gains, despite rising US bond yields complicating the outlook for equities and especially tech stocks.

Recently released wages data increased the likelihood the RBA will pause its rate hiking campaign for the near term, economists say. Meanwhile, an increase in full-time employment, and the wages they earn for it, has helped narrow Australia’s gender wages gap to its lowest-ever level.

These long-term managed investments allow for tax-free withdrawals after 10 years and, unlike with superannuation, there is no limit on the initial investment. And they’re more than just a tax play.

As an ever-more-connected world makes it harder to deliver uncorrelated portfolios, there are still strategies investors can use to add diversification. Industry leaders recently discussed opportunities in equities and fixed income at The Inside Network’s inaugural Investment Leaders Forum in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Analysis of June trading by Selfwealth platform users with portfolios of more than $1 million showed clear patterns in how different generations prefer to invest, with Baby Boomers seeking income and quality while Millennials and Gen X-ers prefer exposure to the clean-energy transition and ETFs.

Multi-asset index funds offer the benefits of passive investment strategies with added diversification, says AMP’s Stephen Flegg, but investors should be aware of how a fund manager’s choices and risk profile may affect performance.

Five per cent on a one-year term deposit will tempt a lot of investors, and with good reason, but equities have proven their worth over the long term. As ever, experts say, personal needs should guide investment selection.

The RBA’s sharp policy shift towards higher rates has put significant wind in the tail of “boring, old” bonds. But do Australians understand the role they play in the fixed income spectrum, and what they can do for portfolios?