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US interest rate hikes, trade war fears and other geopolitical concerns could mean the party in financial markets is about to end, writes Anthony Fensom.

The Commonwealth Bank's demerger of its wealth management and mortgage-broking businesses should be a positive for the embattled lender and allow it to focus on its core business, says Morningstar senior analyst David Ellis.

End of financial year capital gains tax tips, Morningstar analysis of the radical restructuring announcements from Telstra and Commonwealth Bank, and the effect of the declining Aussie dollar were among the most read articles on Morningstar.com.au last w

A rally in US tech stocks has helped offset trade fears and set up a positive open for the Australian sharemarket.\n 

Philip Lowe may have fewer concerns than his global counterparts but some Australian lenders are no longer relying on the central bank to dictate the rate rise cycle, writes Morningstar's Peter Warnes.

Younger Australians are struggling to get a foot in the property door but a managed fund offers an ideal starting point to building a deposit. 

While it's lazy and inefficient, Telstra remains an attractive stock due to its unrivalled position, scale and infrastructure, says Morningstar's Brian Han.

With no Australian banks or the giants of global technology within its active funds line up, this asset manager is cautious about growth stocks and selective in its consumer cyclical and defensive exposures.

Australia may have found it hard to win at the FIFA World Cup, but the nation is outscoring most of the competition economically. Can the lucky country extend its record-beating 27-year economic winning streak or is it about to get much harder?

Oil prices are unsustainably high and have stretched valuations but crude prices will eventually retreat by up to 20 per cent to $55 a barrel.

The Australian sharemarket is set to open lower today as US tech stocks suffer in the wake of Donald Trump's decision to beef up measures to bar Chinese firms from investing in American tech.\n 

Overvalued mining stock Rio Tinto has invested in autonomous trains to speed up delivery and improve revenues.

The removal of Australian financial services company AMP is one of three changes made to Morningstar's Asia-Pacific Equity Pick List for May 2018.

Morningstar analysts are concerned about the outlook for poultry producer Ingham's following the abrupt departure of chief executive Mick McMahon. 

Though there are numerous themes within the technology space, Morningstar views the activity within cloud computing as the most important for investors.

Major geopolitical or financial surprises might reignite safe haven demand for fixed income, but macroeconomic currents continue to run against bonds.

Commodity prices and Chinese demand are unsustainably high, says Morningstar's Mat Hodge in explaining his less bullish view on the sector.

Despite a difficult start to the year, Australia's largest pizza chain should see decent long-term growth, according to Morningstar.  

The Australian sharemarket is poised to open down despite an oil price jump and gains in US energy, technology and consumer discretionary stocks.\n 

The Commonwealth Bank's demerger of its wealth management and mortgage-broking businesses should be a positive for the embattled lender and allow it to focus on its core business, says Morningstar senior analyst David Ellis.\n 

APN Outdoor looks set to be acquired by JCDecaux after the France-based outdoor advertising giant raised its bid to $1.12 billion.\n 

Commonwealth Bank will demerge and list its wealth management and mortgage broking businesses, and is looking at selling its CommInsure insurance unit.

Saving for a home is tough. Don't make it harder. Read our definitive guide on how to make your money work while you save.

Escalating fears of a trade war between the US and other leading economies have rocked global sentiment and set the Australian sharemarket on course for a sharp fall. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has consolidated his political power as his Erdogan/AKP party edges out its rivals in the latest parliamentary and presidential elections.

Investors need to look beyond the expense ratio, which is just one of several costs involved in owning exchange-traded funds within an investment portfolio, writes State Street's Susan Darroch.

The investment community severely underestimates the risk of climate change, and the oil sector in particular isn't acting ethically or sensibly in this regard, says GMO's Jeremy Grantham.

Morningstar expects short-term rates to remain steady into 2019 at least, bond yields to move higher and property ex-retail to remain strong.

Telstra, a perennial source of interest, topped our most read articles this week, this time with its radical restructure, while readers also pored over our overview of dual-listed stocks.

Strong gains on global markets and the Dow's snapping of an eight-session fall have set up the Australian sharemarket for a gain of about a fifth of a per cent.

Jeremy Grantham suggests avoiding the US equity market as much as you dare, and keeping bond duration short.

US stocks rose 130 per cent in the period immediately following the global financial crisis, but almost no one called it at the time, writes John Rekenthaler.

APN Outdoor management will need to put in a "herculean effort" to convince shareholders to stay the course in their pursuit of rival media company Adshel and reject a surprise takeover bid by French outdoor ad giant JCDecaux, Morningstar says.

Schroders' Jason Yu says protectionism will increase market volatility but the fundamentals remain strong for Asia equities.

Uncertainty has reached critical levels as Donald Trump delivers on his election promises and tariffs become the weapons of combat in the global trade arena, writes Morningstar's Peter Warnes.

An eighth straight fall in US stocks and simmering US-China trade tensions are paving the way for the Australian market to open lower.

Australian equities are "marginally in the black year to date" and the economy is growing at a faster than expected rate, according to the latest Morningstar note.

Argentina has rejoined the ranks and Saudi Arabia becomes the newest emerging market as MSCI announces the result of its annual market classification review.

Though the effect of currency moves is secondary to other variables, Australian currency falls will impact those in export and tourism.

The lack of euphoria in the market today may mean the US stock market avoids a severe decline, according to one of the world's most influential investors, Jeremy Grantham.

Another record high in US tech stocks is expected to help push the Australian share market higher this morning despite a sell-off spurred by the US-China trade skirmish.

Morningstar has cautiously welcomed Telstra’s much touted strategy update, dubbing it the “jolt into action” the company needed as it battles rising competition. 

Australian miners may have outperformed in the last few years but Morningstar says they continue to be overvalued because of false hopes commodity prices will stay high.

Telstra is slashing 8,000 jobs and splitting its mobile and infrastructure operations into separate businesses as it aims to cut an additional $1 billion of costs by 2022.

The Australian share market is expected to open slightly firmer despite a drop in commodity prices triggered by US-China trade tensions and sweeping job cuts by Telstra.

The value of a good asset manager comes to the fore amid market volatility and in assessing recent company listings, says Fidelity's Kate Howitt.

A shift toward restrictive trade policies among some developed markets ranks among the primary risks for fixed income, while opportunities include US housing and European financials, says PIMCO's Mohit Mittal.

BACK TO BASICS: New to investing? We're here to help. Watch this animated short to find out exactly what a stock is and the risks and benefits to investing in them.

Shares in travel retail outlet Flight Centre have surged almost 40 per cent since the start of 2018, but Morningstar analysts say investors should fasten their seatbelts as the threat of online turbulence looms. 

New investments and a decline in stamp duty revenue will take a toll on the New South Wales Government's state finances, with the budget surplus tipped to fall in the year ahead.

Funds are suitable for investors who do not have the time or expertise to construct and monitor a portfolio themselves. We go back to basics and explain all.

The Australian share market is expected to open higher despite losses on Wall St as US-China trade war fears rattled investors, who sought refuge in energy shares.

A company's location is no guarantee of good governance, and emerging markets are home to some of the best and most overlooked stocks, according to two of the great minds in international investing.

On Friday US President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Chinese imports, triggering a potential trade war between the world's two biggest economies. As expected, China struck back, announcing tariffs on a host of key US products. Morningstar senior inte

A behavioural perspective on the financial advice failings inside Australia's largest bank, and what it means for the bottom line.\n 

New to bond investing? Or have you held fixed income funds for some time and just need a refresher course? Watch our educational video for all the information you need.

Morningstar readers registered their enthusiasm for diversification as the most read articles of the week focused on global equities and the perils of concentration, while interest in our story on how to save twice your salary by 35 shows no sign of wani

The Australian share market is set to open flat as investors watch with caution the escalating trade tensions between the US and China.

Do you wonder if your savings are on track? Check yourself against other Aussies at your stage of life.

Global fund manager Antipodes is upbeat on mobile phone technology and natural gas, but less so on software companies and Tesla.

Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria are making significant reforms, and some emerging market fund managers are upping their exposure, writes David Brenchley.

Both equity and fixed income fund managers like Argentina despite its recent struggles. But an upgrade to emerging market status from MSCI is not guaranteed.

The Australian share market is set to open higher today following gains on Wall Street but the Australian dollar has slipped more than half a cent to below 75 US cents. 

As the US Federal Reserve hikes rates further, this credit-focused asset manager explains the implications, along with some core concepts of bond markets.

As the dual-listed tech giants Alphabet and Facebook have drawn investor ire, these Australian-domiciled companies have also faced challenges.

As the country braces for a general election next month, we consider the investment prospects of the volatile nation.

The mid-1990s Chess match between Kasparov and Deep Blue is an interesting analogy for what's happening in the investment world, even though the comparison isn't perfect.

In 1988 there were just 10 emerging markets - representing 1 per cent of the total value of shares available to private investors. Today there are 24.

The Australian share market is poised to open lower today following the US Federal Reserve's decision to raise interest rates, and flag two more increases this year. 

Shares in APA Group have soared after the Australian infrastructure giant received a $13 billion takeover proposal from a Chinese consortium led by global infrastructure player CK Infrastructure Holdings.

Australia’s managed fund industry increased in size during the first quarter of 2018, with an increase in assets invested offshore, while investments in local Australian equities dipped. 

The local share market is set to open lower today as investors brace for the Federal Reserve's remarks on the economic outlook and cautiously welcome the Trump-Kim denuclearisation summit.

Following are some expert tips on getting your self-managed super fund into the best shape possible before the end of financial year on 30 June, 2018.

Morningstar analysts are concerned about the outlook for poultry producer Ingham's following the abrupt departure of chief executive Mick McMahon. 

How active ETFs offer investors a lower-cost alternative to full active management, and are increasingly used for holistic portfolio construction, says BetaShares' Alex Vynokur.

The lack of information available to investors in frontier markets can mean a wide disparity between a company's true value and its current share price.

Morningstar's analysis of Telstra's built-in advantages in the face of fierce rivalry topped our list of most read articles for the week, followed by the promotion of Invocare to our best stock ideas list and the divergent views on utility and energy hea

When it comes to thinking about retirement, a survey of Hong Kong investors mirrors errors made by investors in the developed world at large: they are saving too little and relying too much on cash, says JP Morgan's Wina Appleton

The Australian share market is set to open higher after shrugging off tensions over the G7 summit and focusing on today's historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore.

How external factors like oil prices and tourism affect Australia's flagship airline, and what it means for investors.

How investors' use of exchange-traded funds is evolving, and why Blackrock hasn't yet pushed into the active side of these vehicles, according to Blackrock iShares' Jonathan Howie.

If you're an Australian citizen who has lived abroad and accumulated offshore assets, you may need to have separate wills for your local and international affairs.

Keeping on top of changing rules has become the biggest concern for SMSF trustees following years of government tinkering, an investor survey has found.

Whether ETFs are to blame for returning market volatility was among topics traversed at the recent Morningstar Investment Conference 2018.

The local share market is set to open lower despite a rise in oil prices as US technology stocks break a streak of highs. 

The resources sector was a big contributor to growth but unlike other industries it revives little hope of rises in pay.

Here's how some of Australia's premier commodity players fared as LNG, coal and iron ore exports underpin solid GDP figures for the first quarter of 2018.

Killik & Co's Rachel Winter shares her three global stock picks for June, including an undervalued tech stock and two companies linked to energy prices.

Champions of a concentrated portfolio approach argue that a high-conviction style is required to beat the benchmark.

Metcash will record a $352 million impairment in its full-year results after a South Australian supermarket decided not to renew its contract.

Financial transactions, database management and the sharing economy are areas that can benefit from blockchain's decentralised technology.

Though the technology has been most keenly implemented within the financial services sector, any sector that involves transactions could benefit.

The Australian share market is set to open higher as base metals rise, Wall St indexes benefit from a lift in financial and tech stocks and trade war fears abate.

Professional and individual investors alike can be bamboozled by trade and tariff shifts, but need to remember talk doesn't necessarily mean action, explains JPMorgan's Hannah Anderson.

The addition of this multi-national funeral home operator and removal of two other companies are among the changes to Morningstar's Best Stock Ideas list for June 2018.

When determining a stock's fair value estimate, Morningstar equity analysts take into account the predictability of a company’s future cash flows.

During May we added new features focused on portfolio construction and introduced a new newsletter offering practice investment insights from Morningstar Next.

Why the Federal Reserve needs to lift rates "meaningfully higher", and where investors can find lesser-known ESG investment opportunities.

Australian shares are poised to lift today after a record high in US tech stocks and gains in consumer discretionary sectors overshadowed falls in banking shares and Treasury yields.

With the Australian equity market still looking expensive, asset managers have their work cut out for them, explains Anshula Venkataraman.

Good financial decisions are more important than ever for investors as volatility returns to global markets, says Kunal Kapoor, Morningstar's global chief executive officer.

The peer-to-peer networks that process instructions and maintain records in a blockchain depend on a few cryptographic principles

The political upheaval in Spain follows an even more fractious time in Italy but neither suggests a European Union breakup is imminent, and may present opportunities, say analysts from Fidelity, Insight and AMP Capital.

The Australian share market is set to open lower despite stellar results for US tech stocks, including a Nasdaq record, and the abatement of trade tensions. 

The Commonwealth Bank will pay the largest fine in Australian corporate history after agreeing to fork out $700 million to settle the money-laundering and terrorism-funding case brought by AUSTRAC.

Equity analysts have divergent views on AGL Energy, Origin Energy, Alinta and Woodside Petroleum, with pockets of value amid the problems, writes Nicki Bourlioufas.

With billions of dollars invested within the space and its currencies, including Bitcoin, Morningstar is somewhere between extremely bearish and outright bullish on blockchain.

Despite a recent dip, elevated oil prices are expected to continue, but that's not always positive for oil and gas producers such as Woodside and Santos, explains Mark Taylor, senior equity analyst, Morningstar.

A bullish US jobs report and a rise in tech stocks have boosted Wall Street and set the Australian share market on course for a rally today.

While it may seem impossible to many, such an ambitious saving target is achievable, writes Morningstar's Karen Wallace.

A savings target of twice your income by the age of 35 is achievable for some people but unrealistic for many others.

Is it possible to save twice your salary by age 35? This ambitious target generated much debate among our readers, who also pored over our report on the billion-dollar fallout from Wesfarmers' offload of its UK Bunnings franchise, and Dan Kemp's piece on

Telstra may be facing fierce competition and low investor sentiment but it has built-in advantages to ensure long-term dominance, while software play Xero appears overvalued amid higher cash flows, say Morningstar analysts.

Most local investors are entirely missing the potential returns of emerging heavyweights such as Tencent, Alibaba and Baidu, writes VanEck's Arian Neiron.