Morningstar Site Map

SMSFs now account for around 27 per cent of Australia’s $2.6 trillion superannuation pool, down from 30 per cent three years ago. 

Ahead of of Uber's IPO, Morningstar equity analysts consider the true worth of the taxi firm - and how it will fare in the future.

Australian shares look set to open higher on the back of a rebound on Wall Street overnight following reports of renewed trade negotiations between the US and China.

Nine's Fairfax takeover would be a good deal for the newspaper group's shareholders, but there are still hurdles to overcome, says Morningstar's Brian Han.

Male, white and private school educated. It's the image Australia's investment management industry can't seem to shake, and some experts say it may be causing some companies to overlook opportunities.  

Terms like nightclub, love jungle and no-man's land aren't usually associated with investing, but they're useful signifiers, according to Fidelity portfolio manager, James Abela.

Dividends remained quite stable, while realised capital gains fluctuated from year to year, according to a Morningstar study that tracked 34 large-cap equity funds over 11 years.

A review of the five best and worst performing equity funds for the year caught the attention of Morningstar readers this week as did the news that Australian super funds are closing in on another decade of strong returns.  

Australian shares look set to open steady on the back of a fall on Wall Street overnight following a broad sell-off of technology stocks that pushed the three major US stock indexes lower.

The $US10.8 billion BHP will receive for its US shale assets is a fair price and ends a painful chapter for the world's top miner, says Morningstar.

Australian Pharmaceutical Industries remains a buying opportunity following its $127 million acquisition of cosmetic skin and laser hair removal company Clearskincare Clinics, according to Morningstar. 

The Australian share market is expected to start the week slightly lower after technology stocks dragged Wall Street into the red.

Nine Entertainment’s landmark merger with Fairfax Media will be of no benefit to the newspaper house’s property listings business Domain, says Morningstar.

Nine Entertainment's proposed takeover of Fairfax Media is giving shareholders a reason to celebrate, but obstacles lie ahead for long-term investors, says Morningstar analyst Brian Han.

Shares in Facebook fell 20 per cent at the open on Thursday as investors shunned the social media giant, knocking billions off its market value.

The deal between Fairfax Media and Nine Entertainment Co will be the biggest since Australia's cross-platform media ownership laws were relaxed in the last quarter of 2017.

Australian shares look set to open higher despite a mixed overnight session on Wall Street, where Facebook's record decline pushed the tech-heavy Nasdaq more than 1 per cent lower.

Spare a thought for Fed chief Jerome Powell who has to deal with a president who knows everything and listens to nobody.

Australian investors are particularly prone to home-market bias, which could see them miss out on opportunities presented by spreading their risk internationally.

Dividends remained quite stable, while realised capital gains fluctuated from year-to-year, according to a Morningstar study of 34 large-cap equity funds over 11 years.

Beyond FAANGs, this technology field holds opportunity, as do selective parts of the energy and mining sectors, says State Street's Olivia Engel.

The appointment of Shemara Wikramanayake as the group's first female CEO is a good move that will enhance the company's focus on global infrastructure and energy investment, says Morningstar.

New to investing? We're here to help. Follow these 5 simple steps and you'll be buying shares on the stock market in no time.

The Australian share market is set to open higher following strong gains on Wall Street after the US won some trade concessions from the EU.

A document detailing your retirement plans – both in the lead-up and once you begin drawing on your savings – is a great idea, according to Morningstar's US-based director of personal finance.

SYDNEY - [AAP] Inflation has again undershot expectations and looks likely to keep the Reserve Bank of Australia sidelined on interest rates for some time yet.

Fairfax Media shares have jumped to their highest level in seven years on the surprise announcement of a merger with Nine Entertainment that will create a $4 billion media giant.

Despite serious challenges, Australia's biggest bank is in a strong position and its exposure to the Australian property market is a help not a hindrance, says Morningstar.

Australian shares look set to open higher as investors await second-quarter CPI data and following gains on Wall Street overnight, where expectations of a robust earnings season are high.

Big bets on Flight Centre and Reliance Worldwide paid off for for one Australian fund manager, while overweight positions on Telstra hurt others, according to the latest Morningstar data.

Australian ETFs account for only about 4 per cent of total trading volumes, with huge room for growth, says ETF Securities founder Graham Tuckwell.

Successfully chasing yields while avoiding 'dividend traps' can be tricky for investors, but there are tools that can help.

A BlackRock research study looks at structural shifts in the global economy and how they affect our investment thinking.

How company fundamentals rather than statistics underpin this team's process, and why the definition of defensive assets is changing, according to State Street's Olivia Engel.

Australian shares look set to open higher despite Wall Street falling overnight as investors showed concern about the effects of international trade tensions on the US dollar.

Each of these consumer product companies hold wide-moats and good dividend yield prospects, according to Morningstar's US equities research.

A 'breakthrough' product trial that could put biotech CSL on the path to $250 a share topped Morningstar's top 10 stories this week alongside news of another strong half-year for the Australian ETF industry. 

Funeral services provider Invocare is priced at a discount and tipped to maintain its market share as Australia's ageing population drives demand, says Morningstar. 

Westpac is likely to be the first among the big four to lift its home loan interest rates as pressure builds, according to Morningstar's bank analyst, David Ellis.

We should not expect economists to predict when the storm will arrive.

Australian shares look set to open lower on the back of a disappointing end to the week on Wall Street on Friday, a dip in European markets and ongoing trade tensions.

A trade war may be simmering but there remain attractively priced companies in China and Hong Kong across many sectors, including building materials, telcos, consumer brands and energy, say Morningstar analysts.

In a positive for global investors, China's slowing economic growth reflects a shift toward more sustainable expansion away from a debt-fuelled binge. 

The local share market is poised to open lower following a fall in base metals and fall in US stocks as investors fear the European Union could impose retaliatory tariffs on US imports.

The RBA minutes show what I've long been saying: without a watchful eye, Aussie household balance sheets will feel the heat.

Andrew Keiller of UK investment management firm Baillie Gifford explores the similarities and differences between China and Japan. 

Australian super funds are closing in on a decade of positive returns as the median growth fund ends the year up by 9.2 per cent, according to a report by superannuation research house Chant West. 

Global property and infrastructure assets are expensive in the current environment but remain important as portfolio diversifiers, says Morningstar Investment Management's Bianca Rose.

Australian shares look set to rise following gains by the local mining sector and on Wall Street overnight as expectations of a strong second-quarter earnings season build. 

Morningstar has maintained its fair value estimate for global hospital group Ramsay Health Care after an unsuccessful acquisition bid by its French subsidiary.

An escalating trade war could be disastrous for debt-laden China and drive its growth into low single digits, according to Morningstar US analysts.

SMSF trustees looking to invest their savings in the property market have suffered another blow following the move by the nation's second largest mortgage lender to withdraw new loan offers. 

Being aware of individual behavioural biases is a vital part of the investment process, according to Daniel Kahneman, Nobel laureate and author of Thinking, Fast and Slow.

The geopolitical news that has clouded the first half of 2018 is set to continue, says Dwyfor Evans of State Street.

Local shares are set to open higher after Wall Street posted its fourth straight session of gains buoyed by the optimistic outlook of Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell. 

This Australian financial services company may be expensive at its current price but has a solid reputation, good profit margins and significant competitive advantages, according to Morningstar analysis.

The founder and CIO of PM Capital names three US companies of interest, and one negative stock pick that may surprise investors.

The maker of Sorbent tissues and Libra personal care products has warned rising costs and fierce competition will slash its full-year earnings by 30 per cent.

The float of Viva Energy is a high-octane opportunity despite the threat of electric vehicles and increased competition, Morningstar says. 

Netflix has fallen well short of subscriber growth targets for the second quarter of 2018 - sending the streamer's stock down more than 14 per cent in after-hours trading on fears its pace of expansion is slowing down.

The Australian share market is set to open lower amid a flat night on Wall Street, a plunge in oil and an IMF warning on escalating trade tensions.

This ASX-listed biotech is working on a "blockbuster" cardiovascular product that has the potential to take its stock price to $250, says Morningstar equity analyst Chris Kallos.\n 

It's been another strong half year for the Australian exchange-traded funds industry, finishing the first half of 2018 at record highs.

Share investors shouldn't pay undue attention to news headlines and macro-political events, but retain focus on a five- to 10-year plan, says Paul Moore, founder and CIO, PM Capital.

"Tremendous gains" in the past five years have boosted the average Australian household's wealth to more than $400,000, putting them among the top ten of richest nations. 

Despite positive results among US banks, the Australian share market is set to open flat as investors fret over ongoing global trade tensions.

New to investing? We're here to help. This short guide will walk you through exactly what a share is and the risks and benefits of investing in them.

Among Morningstar's most read articles last week was the news that Australians are underestimating how much money they'll need in retirement, and analysis showing that US stocks are due to deliver the worst returns globally over the next 10years.  

Escalating trade tensions between the US and China is a short term concern, but emerging markets should continue to prosper, according to these UK-based fund managers.

Australian investor portfolios tend to be too narrowly focused across a few dominant sectors and may be missing out on international opportunities.

The Australian share market is set to build on yesterday's 10-year record high following strong gains among US tech stocks and industrials.

With record corporate profits for two consecutive years and corporate governance reforms, it could be time to take another look at the land of the rising stocks, writes Anthony Fensom.

Any disruption to China's consumption patterns would have significant consequences for Australia's exporters and our currency; while at home, out-of-cycle mortgage rate hikes look likely, says Peter Warnes.

The workforce participation, rates of pay and board representation of Australian women slipped back slightly in the first half of 2018, a study has shown.

Many sustainable investing funds exclude certain companies, including firearm manufacturers, but the focus today is on using ESG criteria to determine which companies are best positioned to adapt to a changing world.

The Australian share market is set to slide in the wake of escalating US tariff threats on China and a plunge in oil prices, which has rattled energy stocks.

Australians are underestimating by up to 20 per cent the amount of money they’ll need in retirement, according to a new survey from global investment manager Schroders. 

Peter Warnes' annual macro forecast explores the unusual tensions between monetary and fiscal policy in the US, the effect of global inflation and interest rate movements, and the sustainability of economic growth.

The Australian share market is tipped to open higher after Wall St stocks closed at a six-month high although US equity futures have since dropped as the market braces for the US's $200bn tariffs list on China.

Asian selections in Morningstar's global equity best ideas list for July include a newly added Chinese bank, alongside incumbents from the consumer cyclical, industrial and technology sectors.

Australian equities remain a key part of any portfolio but JP Morgan's Kerry Craig is urging investors to look overseas to access higher returns.

A surge in oil prices has reversed the fortunes of Origin Energy, which Morningstar estimates will boost its profits by more than 20 per cent in 2019.

Consumer "cash" and "enhanced cash" funds are attracting APRA's attention as regulators increase scrutiny of specific words and terms used by financial services professionals.

The Australian share market is poised to open higher after US stocks posted their biggest gains in more than a month, while the UK faces political turmoil over Brexit. 

Particularly as equities look expensive, quantitative momentum investment can provide useful diversification for some investors, says PIMCO's head of quantitative strategies.

Harvey Norman's strength as a bricks-and-mortar discretionary retailer is vulnerable as it faces long-term structural and cyclical challenges, Morningstar says.

Outdoor retail player oOhmedia is well placed to benefit from positive dynamics driving the local industry, says Morningstar analyst Brian Han.

US stocks are due to deliver the worst returns to equity investors globally over the next 10 years.

Despite the first shots in Donald Trump's trade war, the Australian share market is set to open higher after gains on Wall St and strong momentum from last week.

Mark Lamonica, Individual Investor Product Manager, welcomes you to Morningstar.com.au.

Why investors may want to consider these locally-founded enterprise and accounting software plays: pockets of opportunity among a largely overvalued pool of technology companies, according to Morningstar’s Gareth James.

Antipodes deputy portfolio manager Sunny Bangia shares his two global stock picks: a Chinese insurance giant and South Korea's largest telecommunications company.

The loss of a crucial contract this week that took a 40 per cent bit out of Sigma Healthcare (ASX: SIG) points to a larger story of disruption in Australia's pharmaceutical wholesale industry, according to Morningstar analyst Chris Kallos.

As the US imposes $500bn tariffs on China, JPMorgan chief market strategist Tai Hui reiterates the importance of a diversified portfolio, mixing equities with fixed income, to manage volatilities and risks.

As the FIFA World Cup enters the quarter finals, we look at the economic fortunes of three countries involved in the tournament's biggest shock so far.

A compilation of best stock ideas, a call for the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise interest rates and talk of a slowdown in the US were among the most read articles on Morningstar.com.au last week.

Morningstar columnist Rodney Hobson looks back at UK companies that have floated, soared and sunk.

It is now easier than ever to invest in companies based in mainland China, and China is investing in global projects of its own.

Performance concerns remain a key negative influence among investors considering sustainable investment products, despite a growing body of evidence to the contrary.

The Australian share market is set to rise despite a burgeoning US-China trade war, which has been offset by reports the US and the European Union may agree to withdraw auto tariffs.

Investing is hard enough—don’t let the complex names trip you up. Use our helpful glossary to decode the names of managed funds. 

Australia may not be directly involved in the escalating trade skirmish but any hit to China's debt-laden economy will hurt our growth, writes Peter Warnes.

Though passive funds have seen impressive growth, it's important to remember the role of active management, especially when markets turn.

There are richer investment opportunities available if investors also consider offshore companies and long-short positions via trusted funds, according to Antipodes' Sunny Bangia.

Investors in value stocks have suffered a long dry spell in recent years, but they can still win the race against growth stocks.

Cash may have a bad reputation as an asset class but as Morningstar Investment Management's Andrew Lill points out, when equities are overvalued it's a safe place to be while offering the liquidity to jump on opportunities when they emerge. 

Morningstar equity analysts have compiled a list of the best value stocks from their coverage of more than 200 companies. 

The Australian sharemarket is poised for modest gains despite a public holiday in the US and nerves among Asian investors ahead of the deadline for Donald Trump's trade tariffs.

Two official rate rises in the next six months would instil caution among investors without upsetting the economy at large, says Monash University professor Mark Crosby.

The Australian sharemarket is set to open lower following losses in key US tech stocks in a trading session that ended early ahead of the US 4th of July holiday while Asian shares were buffetted by ongoing trade tensions.

The Royal Commission has recently shone a spotlight on financial advice, and the importance of selecting someone qualified and equipped to handle your financial affairs.

While the industry and citizenry alike have watched the Royal Commission with horror, financial planning regulations are in place and other countries such as the US are still catching up.

Australian boutique fund manager Arnhem Investment Management is preparing to wind down its investment business following years of disappointing performance.

The June 22 OPEC meeting did nothing to change analysts' long-term outlook for global oil prices. We still forecast a 2022 crude price of US$55 per barrel.

A boost in spending by Chinese tourists is set to benefit gaming and entertainment group Crown Resorts as cashed-up travellers flock to its resort-casinos, Morningstar says.

Village Roadshow's move to sell its Wet n Wild water park in western Sydney to a Spanish leisure park operator is a good move as it will help the company pay off debt, Morningstar says.

One in three SMSF users are in the dark about their investment strategy and are sometimes being urged to push their savings into high-risk property, according to a survey from the corporate regulator.

The start of the 2018-2019 financial year is an ideal time to check whether your portfolio is still delivering your lifestyle needs.

Modest gains on Wall Street have paved the way for the Australian sharemarket to start the September quarter on a positive note.\n