Articles of Interest
Below are links to pages within our site of financial articles that may be of interest to you.
Please visit regularly as we will be constantly adding new articles.
Super trust denies redemptions
The Australian Financial Review – April 20th 2009
Report: Sally Patten
“Requests by industry superannuation vehicles in the past 15 months to sell down their holdings in a direct property trust have been denied because of fears that the fund’s performance would suffer.”
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Superannuation funds face hit on valuations
The Weekend Australian Financial Review – April 18th – 19th, 2009
Report: Sally Patten
“The prudential regulator has warned superannuation fund trustees they must revalue unlisted assets such as property, infrastructure and private equity regularly, amid concerns members might be buying and selling units at inflated prices.”
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A rare investment opportunity –
Investing from a long-term perspective
Added: 3rd December 2008
The following article by Shane Oliver, Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist AMP Capital, provides an exciting insight into the potential opportunities investors now have in today’s climate. Historically, extreme falls have often been followed by extreme rebounds in subsequent years. As Warren Buffet has observed recently .. “I am unsure where shares will be in a month’s, or even a year’s time, but they look pretty good value from a long term perspective barring a complete economic meltdown, which at this stage seems unlikely.”
It is essential reading for us all!
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Investment Updates
On 14th October, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a $10.4 billion Economic Security Package which contained the following five key measures:
- $4.8 billion for an immediate down payment on long term pension reform.
- $3.9 billion in support payments for low and middle income families.
- $1.5 billion investment to help first home buyers purchase a home.
- $187 million to create 56,000 new training places in 2008-09.
- Accelerate the implementation of the Government's three nation building funds and bring forward, the commencement of investment in nation building projects to 2009.
The $4.8 billion payment for pensioners will be made available through a lump sum payment of $1,400 to single pensioners and $2,100 to pensioner couples. This includes Veteran Affairs Pensioners, Disability Support Pensioners and those on Carers payment.
Click here to access a copy of the Government’s media release, including a list of Pensioners who will receive the payments and details of the other measures.
Guarantee on Deposits
On 12 October, the Australian Government announced that it will guarantee all deposits of Australian banks, building societies and credit unions and Australian subsidiaries of foreignowned banks for a period of three years, and that there will be no cap.
Cash Management Trusts are not covered by this guarantee. Some institutions that offer CMT’s have been moving the Trusts investments into accounts that are guaranteed. As such, while the CMT itself may not be covered, the underlying investments are.
At the time of writing this article there was discussion around a fee being charged for guarantees on accounts over $1 million or introducing alternative options to ensure that other investments (such as managed funds) not covered by
Click here for a copy of the Governments media release. (pdf download)
Market volatility
Market volatility and its impact on Australian and international share markets.
Click here for the PowerPoint presentation - Please note, you need to have Microsoft PowerPoint on your system to be able to view this presentation.
Legislation Update July 2008
Taxation, superannuation and social security legislation update
There have been a number of changes in regards to taxation rates and social security thresholds which have come into effect on 1 July 2008.
Click here to find out more about these changes.
Legislation affecting Estate Proceeds Trust
The income tax legislation provides that income flowing to a minor from such a trust is ‘excepted trust income’. This means that each child’s share of income is separately taxed in the same way as an adult.
To read more about the legislation affecting Estate Proceeds Trust and its implications on you and your family, please click here.
