morningstar

The Australian small-cap sector is currently trading at a whopping 30 per cent discount, according to new research from Datt Capital, with history suggesting strong returns are likely to follow as active managers continue to show their skill in this buzzing space.

Morningstar head of equity research Peter Warnes recently laid out a bleak take on the chances of a recession, along with simple rules for investors to follow in the coming economic and market confusion. Simplicity and risk control will be key, as will harnessing sustainable tailwinds.

Berkshire Hathaway recently added 20.4 million shares of Apple, which now makes up about half its equity holdings. More recent moves suggest Warren Buffett may now be returning to his historical focus on value, via old-school energy investments.

Absolute-return bond strategies should perform even in down markets, but a Morningstar report shows most failed to meet their own performance targets in a rocky 2022. However, as an alternative to traditional fixed income, these strategies still provide the defensive correlation, the research firm argues.

After a three-month run as the most-traded ASX stock on Selfwealth’s platform, Neuron Pharmaceuticals ceded its spot to CBA in June as healthcare, mining and banking stocks jostled for investors’ attention.

Demand for the metals needed for the energy transition and a falling iron ore price are encouraging Rio Tinto and BHP to expand investment and production, analysts say, with the big dividends shareholders have come to expect likely to take a hit.

Demand for minerals needed for decarbonisation and the lower Australian dollar are driving increased M&A activity in Australia, and analysts say the trend is likely to pick up, with the availability of well-valued stocks adding appeal for would-be buyers.

Heightened volatility and market noise can be good things for the informed investors. That’s where capital markets assumptions come in, providing a starting point and a roadmap for portfolio construction primed to benefit from market dislocations, industry leaders said.

While real estate investment trusts have been touted as risk investments, analysis say Australian REITs like Charter Hall and Dexus have solid fundamentals, with income underpinned by long leases to strong tenants.

Although more Australian companies are paying dividends in 2023, many have reduced payouts, with the year-to-date total slightly behind 2022’s figures, according to CommSec research. The big miners are leading the cuts, while energy producers are lifting dividends to reflect record high gas prices.