Managed Funds

  • Breathing fire in the West

    While the sun doesn't rise in the west, plenty of other things do and resources-related companies are certainly shining, write Julie-anne Sprague and Michael Vaughan.

  • Macquarie felled in seventh round by knockout blow

    Winners become losers as markets turn bearish, none more so than the derivative dabblers who rode the leveraged boom, writes Alison Kahler.

  • Westpac price tempts though risks remain

    Buying up bank stocks right now is not a strategy for the faint-hearted

  • Trading at a premium but there's upside there

    Energy utility and coal-seam gas company Origin Energy is trading at a premium to the one confirmed takeover offer on the table, but analysts believe there is still upside to be found in buying the stock.

  • Triple net can reduce risk under stress

    As prices of property trusts collapse - and indeed the model is being called into question - there is one corner of the market that might pull through the credit crisis in good shape. Orbis Investment Capital managing director Simon Marais says companies operating a so-called triple net lease are still sound long-term investments.

  • Opportunities for bold and brave

    Risk-shy investors show no sign of losing their aversion to smaller listed companies

  • Snapshot

    Climbing back

  • Wealth funds a sovereign challenge

    Wayne Swan has been at pains to argue that his approach to investment by sovereign wealth funds in Australian entities does not amount to creeping financial protectionism.

  • Bonus reading in payslips

    Employees who earn bonuses and commissions should check their next few payslips carefully

  • Long live salary-sacrifice perks

    Salary deals came under fire from the budget, but some perks survived, writes Zoe Fielding.

  • Now's the time to trade in your car package for a better model

    Cars are the most popular item for employees to include in a salary package, despite tax cuts that have savaged the benefits most people get out of the traditional method of salary sacrificing for a car.

  • Contribution carrot hides a nasty taste

    People with do-it-yourself superannuation funds must be aware of the need to implement any strategy correctly because there can be unexpected nasty surprises for those who don't

  • Fund tells investors to stay calm as returns fall

    Perennial Investment Partners has advised investors not to panic as data from the fund manager reveals the average portfolio fell more than 14 per cent over the past financial year.

  • Unlisted assets save day for super funds

    These assets avoid market risk but increase liquidity risk if there's a rush of redemptions, writes Nina Wan.

  • Turmoil spurs shift in targets

    The turmoil on the sharemarket has thrown superannuation funds off their asset allocation targets as the value of stocks has dropped sharply.

  • BRIEFS

    Perpetual return

  • When small is beautiful

    SGH20, a fund that invests in just 20 stocks, has defied the stockmarket meltdown to return 23.58 per cent in the year to May 31

  • Perpetual fund one of the best

    Perpetual's wholesale concentrated equity fund was one of the best performers among Australian large cap funds in the 12 months to May 31, although it posted a loss, according to Morningstar

  • BRIEFS

    Slight pick-up for mutuals

  • A question of performance

    Members need to look beyond the short-term returns of their super fund, especially if it's poor, writes Barrie Dunstan.

Don't miss our guide to Profit Season 2008, including expert analysis and fund managers top tips. Plus exclusive roundtable video of leading experts and a calendar of results