In Practice

While the active versus passive debate rolls on, and on, across the investment world, some active managers have gone to the ‘dark side’, at least partially, by adding more quantitative inputs for new strategies, such as thematic investing. The concept of ‘thematic’ investing, which describes the strategy of identifying sectors of the economy expected to…

I’m not sure about you, but it took me at least a few weeks into the first lockdown to really become comfortable with video-conferencing and engaging with clients in new and unique ways. If you still haven’t embraced the change, perhaps stop reading now…..With the initial hurdle passed, it’s time to move on to the…

Video games have traditionally been associated with laziness, requiring someone to stay at home in a dark room when they could be doing more ‘productive’ things with their lives. How things have changed! The 2019 Fortnite World Championships attracted 40 million entrants chasing a US$30 million ($41 million) prize pool, with the finals televised in…

4DMedical (4DX, $1.58)Market capitalisation: $418 millionThree-year total return: n/aAnalysts’ consensus target price: $1.70 (Thomson Reuters) Imaging company 4DMedical (4DX) surged on to the ASX screens in its August float, at a 100% “pop.” Issued in the prospectus at 73 cents, the shares opened for trade on August 7 at $1.47, and reached $1.70 in August…

The stellar run in the Nasdaq 100 index, which has seen it reach new all-time highs some 40 times already in 2020, shows no signs of slowing. With such strength and a willingness of investors to look beyond short-term losses, a single-file, socially distanced line of “unicorns” is awaiting their piece of the action. The…

“If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em,” as Bugs Bunny would say. This is exactly what NAB and CBA have done to take on the Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) phenomenon. NAB was the first to launch its new StraightUp credit card, which is aimed at millennials by offering interest-free purchases on credit anywhere that accepts Visa. Credit…

The SMSF Association have launched a comprehensive series of online modules as they seek to evolve the delivery of the SMSF Specialist Advisery (SSA) designation. The highly coveted designation requires an extensive amount of knowledge across taxation and superannuation law, which has traditionally been delivered through short study guides culminating in a detailed examination. The…

Financial advisers around the world are rightly concerned about the state of markets, with record-high prices for both equities and bonds. As previously reported, according to an Investment Trends survey of Australian investors, there has been a jump in the frequency of communications between advisers and their clients in Australia since COVID-19 hit home in…

Metrics takes out top award among alternative managers

Pandemic tailwind to flow into 2021 for Woolies Woolworths Ltd (ASX:WOW) delivered a weaker than expected result, despite a 6% increase in revenue to $63.6 billion for the financial year. Net profit fell to $1.166 billion with the biggest hit coming from the mothballed Hotels division. Sales revenue improved across the board with Australian and…

Systematic investment group Parametric, offer a case study into the most important issue missed by institutional investors when they seek to change investment strategy; tax.

The focus of health and safety regulators has been on helping employers implement measures to minimise the risk of employees either contracting COVID-19 at work or bringing it to work.