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Going long on gold within your portfolio as a hedge against uncertainty in markets, economics and politics may not be the best strategy right now, experts say.

Women on low incomes are being urged to top up their superannuation while they shop in a first for the industry, which seeks to close the $100,000 gender savings gap. 

The coalition MP charged with overseeing a probe into Labor's plan to axe cash refunds for franking credits has poured scorn on the scheme despite admitting he has no modelling to back his criticisms. 

The ASX is set for a subdued open after trade uncertainty permeated a choppy session on Wall Street, with investor eyes on the G20 meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

More than 60 per cent of Aussie investors only own local stocks - but adding overseas equities and other asset classes could protect your portfolio from losses.

Hopes are fading that Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will use the G20 summit in Buenos Aires to ease the trade war between the world's two superpowers.

Oil fell below $US60 per barrel overnight after US crude inventories rose for the 10th straight week amid concerns about excess global supply.

Escalating trade tensions with the US have helped cause a sharp sell-off in China's currency since the beginning of this year.

The Australian tech sector has shone in recent years, so much so that some of the leading companies have been given their own acronym – the so-called 'WAAAX' stocks.

Staff turnover and the exit of key managers have forced a ratings downgrade for Macquarie’s Asia New Stars fund and Franklin Templeton’s Australian Equities fund.

The Australian share market is set to follow Wall Street higher at the open after caution from US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell over the pace of rate hikes.

Long-term care expenses in retirement are commonly overlooked, even among those who plan for the out-of-pocket ongoing costs, says Jean Young from Vanguard in the US. 

Local companies remain over-exposed to global macro-economic threats, including political uncertainty around US-China trade tariffs, according to the November 2018 Australian economic update from Morningstar.

ANZ is paying hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation to customers over a variety of account processing errors.

This eclectic mix of companies spanning the energy, automotive, oil and gas, telco and manufacturing sectors are each trading substantially below Morningstar's fair value estimate.

The Australian share market is set for a subdued open after a choppy overnight session on Wall Street, with US stocks eventually eking out gains on hopes trade tensions with China will ease.

iShares, Magellan and Vanguard offer ETF options that carry enviable ratings and offer access to lucrative markets and a buffer against market downturns.

The three year delay in remediating NAB customers points to failures on the part of bank CEOs, executive teams and the regulators supposed to be overseeing them, says academic and regulatory consultant.

Exchange-traded funds have pros and cons depending on your investment style and other variables as you approach retirement, along with applications in the accumulation and withdrawal phases, explains State Street's Jonathan Shead.

The Australian share market is set to rally at the open after online retailers helped lift Wall Street overnight, while oil prices have also clawed back lost ground.

Volatility has clearly returned to markets in 2018. Fears of rising interest rates, multiple trade conflicts and the end of QE set the market on edge.

A program of more than $800 million in acquisitions ranks among several reasons Seven Group Holdings may become Australia's next major conglomerate, according to Morningstar analyst Mark Taylor.

NAB argues that charging customers for advice they never received is wrong - but not dishonest - and the bank "accidentally" kept the money.

A retirement future of either feast or famine was the focus of our most popular article last week, along with analyst insights on China's Tencent, Australia's franking credit debate, Coles IPO and SMSF property lending.

The Australian share market is set to start the trading week lower, reversing Friday's gains after a weak session on Wall Street.

The major banking group has strengthened its forecast earnings for fiscal 2019 and Morningstar's David Ellis concurs, writes Lex Hall.

The way many investors think about emerging markets is incorrect – they’re not uniformly volatile, and over-exposure to individual sectors and stocks can be problematic, says Morningstar Investment Management’s Nimalan Govender.

More investors are looking to small caps for higher returns, in sectors such as healthcare, dairy and data storage, but there are risks, says Morningstar's Ross Macmillan. 

The IPO of Coles, as it split from Wesfarmers earlier this week, leaves the grocery giant close to its fair value and now directly comparable with competitor Woolworths, says Morningstar’s Johannes Faul.

Superannuation complexities, investment risk and regulatory uncertainty mean a shortfall in confidence is understandable in our current environment, says State Street’s Jonathan Shead.

The Australian share market is set to dip at the open after Wall Street stumbled into its Thanksgiving halt, while European stocks traded lower and oil prices also fell.

Investors paying attention to the Nissan's corporate governance practices shouldn't have been all that surprised by the arrest of Carlos Ghosn.

With more than 500 managed funds domiciled in Australia, the task of choosing a fund your portfolio can be intimidating.

The days of SMSFs seeking to buy property may soon be over, as the expense of doing so climbs in the wake of banks' withdrawal of support for the practice.

Over the next decade, battery vehicles will be able to cover longer distances, and take less time to charge, eventually closing the gap on petrol-powered cars.

Platinum, Stewart Investors and Aberdeen are solid Silver-rated options for investors looking to gain exposure to Asian powerplays in electronics, ecommerce, and insurance.

As Australian investors navigate market volatility, we ask three market experts where to invest $10,000 right now.

The online game designer is one of China's so-called BAT pack of companies, alongside Baidu and Alibaba, with good growth prospects over a 10-year timeframe.

Coles Group has made its ASX debut trading at $13.30 in line with Morningstar's fair value estimate, breaking away from Wesfarmers, whose share price has plummeted.

The Australian share market is set to climb at the open as a two-day global sell-off shows eases, with Wall Street rising overnight on strong retail data and reinvigorated tech stocks.

Active ETFs are the latest phase of a product revolution in the Australian investment market, proving accessible and transparent listed options are gaining popularity fast.

The Australian share market is set to dive amid a global equities sell-off, with oil and metals prices also falling and the Aussie dollar taking a hit overnight.

Nissan Motor Co chairman Carlos Ghosn has been arrested for alleged financial misconduct and will be fired from the board this week.

Morningstar looks at which companies Berkshire Hathaway bought and sold during a surprising third-quarter 2018.

The link between political events and investment returns is less predictable than many people think, explains Dan Kemp, CIO, Morningstar Investment Management EMEA.

The boss of Australia's largest bank admits it has failed to prevent misconduct, and was instead caught up in a cycle of compensating customers without acting to prevent it recurring.

The Australian share market is set to follow Wall Street's overnight dive, with lingering China-US trade tensions adding to weaknesses in tech-based stocks.

Morningstar has increased its FVE for the Nine Entertainment Company by 18 per cent, saying it expects the company’s merger with Fairfax Media to yield synergies of up to $62m.

Morningstar's Adam Fleck guides us through the process his team uses to build a forecast, discount future cash flows, and incorporate a company's moat into their analyses.

The notion of investing being the sole preserve of a white-collar elite is misplaced, according to a new Morningstar study, which shows more than half of all American households are exposed to the market. 

A2 is off to a FY19 flier, lifting its earnings for the first four months of the year while appearing unfazed by the prospect of higher marketing costs, and China's e-commerce laws.

Australian investors are getting less bang for their share market buck, with dividends falling and growth prospects minimal compared to global markets.

The debate over franking credits is heating up and topped our most read last week alongside the row about the super guarantee and the growing mistrust of financial advisers.

The Australian share market is expected to start the trading week higher, after an encouraging end to the latest session on Wall Street.

Various experts believe Australian dividend stocks will remain popular if a Labor government is elected and follows through on its proposed changes to dividend imputation credits.

Myer's shares have been placed in a trading halt to give the troubled retailer time to fully respond to allegations it has breached its continuous disclosure obligations.

There are very good reasons for the popularity of listed investment vehicles, but some of these attributes also give rise to potential challenges, explains Morningstar’s Matthew Wilkinson.

These two companies - one a miner and the other an infrastructure play – are among the top local stock picks of Fidelity portfolio manager Kate Howitt.

The sterling has tumbled after a series of resignations rocked British PM Theresa May's government and threw into doubt her long-awaited Brexit agreement just hours after it was unveiled.

The Australian share market is set to follow Wall Street higher at the open following reports the next round of US tariffs on Chinese goods has been put on hold.

Listed investments benefit from expert management and diversification, while also being transparent, accessible and – on the whole – cheap. But they have some drawbacks.

Morningstar's associate director of passive investments Alex Prineas explains how to minimise your chances of buying ETFs that are about to terminate

Saving for retirement is well catered-for within existing superannuation provisions, but the transition to pension mode isn’t as developed, says Vanguard’s Robin Bowerman.

Morningstar senior behavioural scientist Sarah Newcomb explains how recognising innate biases can help us make shrewder investment decisions.

Fidelity, MFS and PIMCO are the gold standard when it comes to investing in their respective categories of Australian equities, global shares and fixed interest, according to Morningstar.

Warnings over the quality of advice, gearing within funds and returns should be taken very seriously by SMSF trustees, according to several experts.

The Australian share market is set for a flat open, with investors keeping a close eye on Wall Street, where a tech-based sell-off has offset positive consumer data and rising oil prices.

Many indices fell sharply in October, as the Nasdaq and S&P 500 fell 9 per cent and 5.5 per cent respectively, but even investors approaching retirement shouldn't panic.

A war of words has errupted over your retirement savings between two industry heavyweights.

Changing tariffs and rising inflation in the US have different implications for individuals as investors and consumers, says Morningstar Investment Management’s Peter Bull, following on from his presentation at Morningstar Individual Investor Conference

The Australian share market is set for a subdued open after its worst day in more than two weeks, with choppy Wall Street trade providing little lead overnight.

Morningstar's senior banks analyst David Ellis explains why he has cut his fair value estimates for the major Australian banks, even as they remain undervalued, and why Westpac navigated the royal commission “least-worst”.

Australia could be staring down the barrel of skyrocketing corporate debt, a shrinking equity market, and the loss of innovation to non-listed environments if franking credits are scrapped, says Fidelity portfolio manager Kate Howitt.

Investors are bracing for more volatility, but attendees at the Morningstar Individual Investor Conference in Sydney see pockets of opportunity in travel, mining and medical cannabis.

An opening dive looms for the Australian share market in the wake of a Wall Street tech sector sell-off, while the Aussie dollar has also been knocked below 72 US cents overnight.

The market has overreacted to the losses incurred by Lendlease, and as a result the global developer and builder is undervalued for the first time in three years, says Morningstar analyst Tony Sherlock. 

Stark new data shows the extent to which the distrust for financial advisers has deepened since the beginning of the royal commission.

There are winners and losers from rising data downloads as telcos and television channels fight over the scraps that remain as the NBN roll-out progresses.

Macquarie's entry into our Global Best Ideas list led our top stories this week alongside the hit to Westpac's share price in the wake of the royal commission, which put pressure on the earnings outlook of the big four.

The Australian share market is set to again open lower as concerns about the Chinese economy's growth continue to weigh on international markets.

Korea Telecom is just one of the Asian powerplays that Antipodes Global Investment Partners have selected in their new ETF.

As Australia’s equity market nears its peak and share buy-backs hit unsustainable levels, investors need to also be mindful of rising interest rates and government policy, says Morningstar's Peter Warnes.

There is no market over the next 20 years which offers more growth opportunities for Australian business than India.

Morningstar analysts use a discounted cash flow model to predict a company's future prospects and form the basis of their fair value estimate.

The final count of US votes is in. Control of Congress is now split between the Democrats – who now hold a majority in the House of Representatives – and the Republicans, who increased their Senate majority.

The Australian share market is set to edge lower at the open, following Wall Street's overnight slide, after the US Federal Reserve announced it was keeping interest rates steady.

The market correction in October lived up to the month's fearsome reputation, but in the larger investment framework it's probably a good thing.

There are still considerable benefits when switching your SMSF to drawdown phase, despite the complexities and potential political changes ahead, says SMSF Association’s Peter Hogan. 

More than 10,000 CBA customers have responded to chief executive Matt Comyn's request for feedback on how the bank does business.

When it comes to investing, younger players seem to have learned from their elders' mistakes.

The ASX is set to take a lead from Wall Street's overnight surge, while the Aussie dollar has continued to climb in the wake of the US midterms.

We are excited to announce a new way to enjoy Your Money Weekly! Today we introduce a new web experience for Peter Warnes’s market commentary and research from our global equity and manager research team. 

Financial products and services, and the technology that underpins them, can be powerful forces for good in less developed parts of the world, according to an academic study.

Housing headwinds and mounting royal commission costs are shrinking the profit margins of Australia's major banks, forcing Morningstar analysts to slash fair values across the board. 

As the ASX hits its lowest levels in 12 months, reporter Emma Rapaport speaks to attendees at the Morningstar Individual Investor Conference in Sydney to get a sense of what's concerning them most.

With Election Day upon us, Morningstar director of policy research Aron Szapiro takes a close look at what could change for investors.

Morningstar banks analyst David Ellis has made a 6 per cent cut to his fair value estimate for Westpac following its full-year cash earnings result.

Global financial group Macquarie Group has replaced Ramsay Health Care in the Morningstar Australia and New Zealand monthly Best Stock Ideas list on concerns about the private healthcare provider's long-term growth outlook. 

The Australian share market is set to edge higher at the open after Wall St held onto small overnight gains, with investors cautious ahead of US mid-term election results.

The Reserve Bank has kept the official cash rate at a record low of 1.5 per cent, as widely expected.\n 

Morningstar has welcomed a private equity takeover bid for pet and vet retailer Greencross, trimming its fair value estimate in line with the offer, which it expects will go ahead.

Boosting your fixed income holdings to counter-act share market volatility is a risky play in a rising rate environment, writes Nicki Bourlioufas.

The ASX is in for a flat open with tech stocks dragging on Wall Street, with the RBA set to reveal if it will keep rates at a record low of 1.5 per cent for the 27th consecutive month.

Rising rates in key global markets have boosted asset prices, magnifying the importance of good investment portfolio construction, says Janus Henderson’s Jay Sivapalan.

Automotive Holdings remains undervalued despite a forecast fall in car sales linked to a dip in property prices, which is forcing consumers to put off buying big-ticket items.

This British telecommunications company joins a global brewer and American investment manager in Morningstar's Global Equity Best Ideas list.

Westpac has reported a flat full-year profit of $8.07 billion as customer compensation and legal costs reined in performance.

A selection of stock picks that emerged from the Morningstar Individual Investor Conference was among our top stories this week alongside our look at Labor's franking credits policy and Anton Tagliaferro's lament at the state of Australian politics.

Australian shares are set for a subdued open after a weak lead from Wall Street, with the market preparing to pare back the modest gains it enjoyed at the end of the week.

Recent SMSF court cases in Queensland highlight the importance of keeping your documentation in line, says lawyer Shane Ellis.

Platinum Asset Management is implementing an ESG screen to its investment process, impacting how it views sectors such as coal mining, CEO Andrew Clifford revealed last week.

Artificial intelligence has been ranked alongside fire and electricity for the profound effect it will have on all fields of human endeavour.

Macquarie Group has lifted first-half profit 5 per cent to $1.31bn in its final set of results before Nicholas Moore retires as chief executive.\n 

A subdued open looms for the Australian share market despite gains on Wall Street overnight, while a booming trade surplus has seen the Aussie dollar surge past 72 US cents to a four-week high.

Morningstar analysts’ fair value estimate for stocks helps investors see beyond the present market price and determine what a company is really worth.

Andrew Clifford, CEO of Platinum Asset Management, outlines where in the world and in which sectors and companies he sees investment value – even in a global environment many regard as late-cycle.

Declining growth in user numbers for the third-quarter fails to dent Morningstar's outlook for Facebook, as its financial performance surpassed expectations despite a top-line miss.

This bi-annual report highlights Australian managed funds favoured by our manager research team, but not yet under coverage, providing valuable early insights, explains Anshula Venkataraman.

Investing basics: A survey has revealed Aussie investors think managed funds are too complex and expensive – preferring the relative simplicity of stocks and ETFs.