Warren Buffett has observed that honesty is the most important trait in the people you work with. The same might be said of firms you invest in. Which makes a recent study into cultural honesty interesting reading. It found that Switzerland is the most honest country in the world. Any guesses for which nations are least honest? continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Insightful Insights

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If you feel like you’ve been working longer hours of late, you’re not alone. Data just released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that everyday Australians are needing to pedal harder just to stay still, as they try to battle stagnant wages growth, rising asset prices and falling cash rates. continue…

by Dean Curnow Posted in Insightful Insights

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Humans are fascinating, complex creatures, capable of amazing achievements.  At the same time, as psychology researchers like Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky have pushed forward our understanding of the human mind, it has become increasingly clear that we are indeed strange.  Far from being the rational decision makers that behavioural theory once assumed, we find that our cognitive processes can be deeply flawed, leading to poor decision making and sub-optimal outcomes. continue…

by Tim Kelley Posted in Editor's Pick, Insightful Insights

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“According to multiple studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, 97 per cent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree, climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities”. This is considered a “scientific consensus” according to NASA. continue…

by Amit Nath Posted in Insightful Insights

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Norwegian company Equinor has just released a draft environmental plan for deep water oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight. A misstep in this project would have disastrous environmental, social and economic impacts for all Australians, which is why we think it should be rejected. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Insightful Insights

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Last Tuesday we thought we would have some fun. We posed the following puzzle to our readers who were invited to submit their answers on the blog. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit an answer! continue…

by Andrew Macken Posted in Insightful Insights, Investing Education

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November 6 marks a significant day in Australia – with the Melbourne Cup; and in the United States – with the Midterm Elections. At the time of writing this blog, neither had yet taken place, though many were making bets on the outcomes for sport. continue…

by Andrew Macken Posted in Insightful Insights, Investing Education

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After many years of under-investment in infrastructure, Australian governments have recently been on an infrastructure spending frenzy. Some projects have been worthwhile. Others have not. Is it time to pause and think more carefully about the way public money is spent? continue…

by Andreas Lundberg Posted in Insightful Insights

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Structural changes within industries can create opportunities for investors on both the long and the short side. The music industry has undergone enormous structural change over the last two decades, with the displacement of physical music sales (CDs) by digital music, including rampant piracy. continue…

by Andrew Macken Posted in Insightful Insights

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It’s not often I’m motivated to republish, in its entirety, a speech from the head of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The subject covered however is one that touches us all, and in ways we didn’t realise. And it represents another example of the change that industries confront from time to time and which investors have to consider and navigate. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Insightful Insights

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