Traps for investors in backdoor listings
Companies finding it difficult to list on the stock exchange are getting in another way. But this is no guarantee of success and canny investors know timing is key.
Super funds facing another annual loss
Superannuation funds are in danger of posting a third annual loss in six years as renewed fears that Greece may default on its debt obligations and be forced out of the single European currency take their toll on global equity markets.
Investors hit as Macquarie axes funds
Macquarie Group is shutting down a range of retail managed funds, leaving some investors with no choice but to crystalise large financial losses.
Rate cuts good but fewer risks better
Interest rate cuts alone are unlikely to turn around a slump in demand for loans from corporate Australia, says the head of business banking at National Australia Bank.
Cheques . . . going, going but not yet gone
Thirty-nine-year-old Jeffrey Triganza carries his cheque book in his work bag every day and relies on cheques to make personal and business payments.
Apartment dwellers kick up a stink
Noisy, unco-operative and threatening neighbours are among the apartment living horror stories highlighted in University of NSW research on strata-titled developments.
Genworth loss spurs rethink
Genworth Financial is hoping to shrug off its $US21 million quarterly loss and explore new product options in the home loan refinancing sector.
Henderson eyes super assets
Henderson Global Investors, the Anglo-Australian funds manager with about $103 billion under management, will announce its plans to launch a pure funds management business in Australia.
Budget bites Tasmanian business
The Tasmanian business community starts a long wait this week. The 51-week countdown until the next state budget.
Victoria won’t rule out merger of accident insurers
A merger of Victoria’s compulsory accident insurers could result from a review of the schemes due for completion later this year.
HSU affair hits industry super funds
Industry superannuation funds fear the crisis that has swamped the Health Services Union is damaging their reputation and spurring critics of the sector to renew calls for governance reform.
Age variations make planning tricky
With considerations such as super from various sources, non-super investments and possible Centrelink entitlements, effective retirement income planning can be a complicated exercise, especially where there is a big age gap between a couple.
Transition not so attractive
The government’s decision to limit super contribution caps for everyone to $25,000 a year will mean that super savers attracted to transition to retirement pensions from July 1 will need to think carefully.
Super fund blue chip focus ‘costly’
Private equity’s peak body says super funds have neglected private equity investments, leading them to miss out on assets which consistently outperform major benchmarks.
Budget aside, plan for year end
Regardless of what the government does in the federal budget, there are still two areas that you need to have squared away before 30 June.
Tax Office loses out in super
Self managed superannuation funds collectively paid 71 per cent less tax in 2009-10 than the year before despite a sharp rise in the local sharemarket.
Super charge traps visitors
Executives moving to Australia may be caught out by changes to super rules which could mean a bigger tax hit down the track.
Downside of super engineering
Compulsory super distorts the systems it was supposed to make more equal, and lower paid members may be worse off than if left to make their own decisions.
Super starts to lose its lustre
SMSF fund trustees were willing to inject less into their retirement accounts last year than in 2009-10, suggesting confidence in the super system is waning.
Superannuation
When a stronger investment motive is needed
Many people - including about 900,000 who have do-it-yourself super funds - enter retirement with an accumulation of savings and investment arrangements to provide them with an income.
Transition not so attractive
The government’s decision to limit super contribution caps for everyone to $25,000 a year will mean that super savers attracted to transition to retirement pensions from July 1 will need to think carefully.
Property
ATO wises up to buyer ruse
The Tax Office has closed a loophole that enabled people to avoid tax when buying both a home and investment property.
Cold comfort for frozen fund investors
Thousands of investors are stuck in mortgage funds that were frozen during the global financial crisis, and some of them fear they won’t get their capital back.
Investing
Prophet of emerging markets
Fund manager David Holstein is on a crusade to make emerging markets more popular with investors. He says companies invested in them have the chance to share in the wealth.
Safe, and a sound income for retirees
As more Australian’s approach retirement, there’s a rush to provide them with investment products that suit their more conservative needs.
Budgeting
Baby boomer owners need to prepare before selling
Retiring from a business you have set up requires succession and other planning, including legal and valuation expertise.
Put your planner in the spotlight
Choose wisely and a financial planner can help you grow your assets, and reforms in the offing should minimise ‘bad eggs’.
