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Insights

FirstLinks

Stay up-to-date with the latest market commentry and news from industry experts FirstLinks.

Latest insights

The biggest oil shock in history. Why isn't the price higher?

While increases in oil prices are dominating media coverage of the turmoil in the Middle-East, Vertium Asset Management’s Jason Teh flags it is worth exploring why prices haven't gone up more.
16 April 2026 3 min read

The thin line between investing and gambling

Firstlinks’ Mark LaMonica says prediction markets are blurring the line between investing and speculation, adding savvy investors can profit from this trend by heeding the advice of famed investor, Benjamin Graham.
25 March 2026 3 min read

Finding yield on the ASX

With ASX dividend yields now below government bond yields, Clime Investment Management says investors are facing an upside-down market where income is scarce, growth is muted, and careful selection of bond-like stocks has never mattered more.
29 January 2026 3 min read

The long-term case for compounders

MFS Investment Management says cyclical stocks surge in upswings but falter in downturns, while in turn, compounders - reliable, scalable, resilient businesses - offer smoother, superior returns over the full investment cycle for patient investors.
22 January 2026 3 min read

Who will get left holding the banks?

For the first time in decades, the Big 4 banks have real competition in home loans. With Macquarie quickly gaining market share, Auscap Asset Management says that could threaten both the earnings and dividends of the major players in the years ahead.
22 January 2026 5 min read

Market entry – dip your toe or jump in all at once?

Lump sum investing usually wins, but it can hurt if markets fall. Using 50 years of Australian data, Ophir Asset Management reveals when staging your entry protects you, and when it drags on returns.
14 January 2026 3 min read

Building a lazy ETF portfolio in 2026

What are the best ways to build a simple portfolio from scratch? Firstlinks’ James Gruber says while he has addressed the issue before, it is worth revisiting given markets and the world have since changed, throwing up new challenges and things to consider.
14 January 2026 3 min read

Why Elon Musk's pay packet is justified

Tesla copped criticism after its shareholders approved a package allowing Musk to earn up to $1 trillion in stock options. However, Lumenary Investment’s Lawrence Lam says the structure may be the clearest example of alignment between leadership and shareholders.
08 January 2026 2 min read

10 fearless forecasts for 2026

Will dividends outstrip growth as a source of Australian equity returns? Or will the US market performance be underwhelming? Delta Portfolios’ Tim Farrelly gives his predictions for the year ahead.
07 January 2026 3 min read

CBA or global banks?

CBA's recent pullback highlights single-stock risk. Global banks trade at lower P/Es with diversified earnings and rising dividends, which Plato Investment Management says offers Aussie investors both income potential and long-term value beyond the local market.
27 November 2025 2 min read

The ultimate investing hack: dividend growth stocks

Investors often fall prey to 'amygdala hijacks,' letting emotion trump reason. By focusing on dividend-growth with stocks instead of volatile prices, DivGro says you can steady your mindset and let compounding do the work.
27 November 2025 3 min read

Global dividends rising, but Australia lags

Global dividend growth surged in the third quarter, with median growth of almost 6%. Australia was a notable exception as dividends fell, thanks to flagging mining company payouts. Read Capital Group’s take on what’s next here.
27 November 2025 4 min read

Where to hide in the ‘everything bubble’

It might not be quite an 'everything bubble' but there's froth in many assets, not just US stocks, right now. Firtstlinks' James Gruber says it might be time to stress test your portfolio and consider assets that could offer you shelter if trouble is coming.
26 November 2025 3 min read

The real winners from the AI rush

AI is booming, but, as VanEck’s Brad Livingstone-Foggo says, like the 19th-century gold rush, the real profits may go to those supplying the tools and energy, not the companies at the centre of the rush.
20 November 2025 3 min read

Bank reporting season scorecard November 2025

The Big Four banks shrugged off doomsayers with their recent results, posting low loan losses, solid margins, and rising dividends. Atlas Funds’ Hugh Dive says it underscores their resilience, but lofty valuations mean it's time to be selective.
20 November 2025 4 min read

LICs vs ETFs – which perform best?

With investor sentiment shifting and ETFs surging ahead, James Gruber at Morningstar pits Australia's biggest LICs against their ETF rivals to see which delivers better returns over the short and long term. The results are revealing.
30 October 2025 4 min read

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