Invest
Aussie investors straying from stock market
Fresh research has found that over the last quarter, Australians have been focusing more on paying off their debt and boosting their savings than on investing in shares.
Aussie investors straying from stock market
Fresh research has found that over the last quarter, Australians have been focusing more on paying off their debt and boosting their savings than on investing in shares.

According to the results of MLC’s Wealth Sentiment Survey – which comprised responses from 2,100 Australians in the final quarter of 2015 – Australians adopted a “conservative” approach to their investments during this period.
In fact, only eight per cent said they had added to their super, while seven per cent purchased shares and just three per cent purchased an investment property.
“Overall, Australians invested less in most asset classes in Q4, except when it came to paying down their debts,” MLC said.
“While the majority of Australians said they increased the amount they held in savings/deposits accounts in Q4, around -4 per cent (net) also said they added less than in the three months prior.

“In contrast, almost five per cent of Australians (net) said they allocated more to paying down debt, while the amount invested in shares was broadly unchanged,” the report said.
The survey also found that that one in five Australians expects to invest less overall in the next three months.
"Specifically, more than one in 10 plan to invest 'a lot less' while nine per cent plan to invest 'a little less'," the report said.
“In contrast, one in 10 Australians plan to invest 'a little more' and only two per cent expect to invest 'a lot more'. Around 54 per cent expect to invest about the same.
“More high-income earners expect to increase the amount they invest in the next three months when compared to low-income earners, while more low-income earners are planning to invest less,” it continued.
The report also found that not having enough money to invest after taking out living expenses remains the biggest barrier to saving for retirement.
The survey found that expectations for having more than enough to retire on were very low, with only seven per cent of men and four per cent of women expecting to reach this goal.
It also indicated that 40 per cent of Australian women do not expect to have enough money to retire on, compared with around 31 per cent of men.
One in four women, based on the results, believe they will have ‘far from enough’ to retire on.
On average the survey showed that on average, Australian expects to retire with $500,000 but nearly one in five expect to have less than $100,000 and one and five don’t know.
The survey also showed that 40 per cent of Australians don’t know how much they have in super.
MLC general manager of corporate super Lara Bourguignon said it is concerning that half the population still does not use a financial planner or even has a financial plan.
“A financial plan can not only help you to achieve your immediate goals, it can also help make sure you’re putting enough away for a comfortable retirement,” she said.
“If you find yourself living pay check to pay check, finding the time to make a financial plan can help you find savings opportunities.”

Stock market
International stocks: Diversifying your portfolio beyond Australia
In an increasingly globalized market, Australian investors have the opportunity to enhance their investment portfolio by incorporating international stocks. Diversifying your investments globally can ...Read more

Stock market
Stock market rally likely to continue regardless of Fed minutes tone, says deVere CEO
The bull run that has propelled Wall Street's major indexes to record highs this month is expected to continue regardless of the tone of the upcoming Federal Reserve minutes, according to Nigel Green, ...Read more

Stock market
US stock rally driven more by valuation growth than earnings, leaving tech names vulnerable: Innova
The strong gains in US stocks over the past year, particularly in the technology sector, have been driven more by expanding valuations than underlying earnings growth, leaving them exposed to a ...Read more

Stock market
Sun Silver to make its ASX debut with a $13 million IPO
Sun Silver Limited (proposed ASX Code: "SS1") has announced the opening of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) today, aiming to raise a minimum of $10 million and a maximum of $13 million (before costs)Read more

Stock market
Nasdaq hits record high, underscores the value of tech in investment portfolios
The Nasdaq Composite's surge to an all-time high last Friday highlights the importance of incorporating technology into investment strategies. Read more

Stock market
Apple sets an unprecedented profit pace within the GAFAM group in 2023
After navigating through the economic difficulties presented in 2022, the technology sector has demonstrated resilience and growth, with many companies seeing increases in revenue and stock value. Read more

Stock market
Fintech startup okoora unlocks over $3 billion in forex savings for businesses
Fintech innovator okoora has announced it has saved customers a monumental amount over $3 billion through international foreign exchange transactions. Read more

Stock market
Google's Gemini edges out ChatGPT4 in groundbreaking AI showdown
Google's latest AI model, Gemini, has edged out OpenAI's ChatGPT4 in a recent set of rigorous multi-discipline tests, marking a significant milestone in the large language model (LLM) sector. Read more

Stock market
International stocks: Diversifying your portfolio beyond Australia
In an increasingly globalized market, Australian investors have the opportunity to enhance their investment portfolio by incorporating international stocks. Diversifying your investments globally can ...Read more

Stock market
Stock market rally likely to continue regardless of Fed minutes tone, says deVere CEO
The bull run that has propelled Wall Street's major indexes to record highs this month is expected to continue regardless of the tone of the upcoming Federal Reserve minutes, according to Nigel Green, ...Read more

Stock market
US stock rally driven more by valuation growth than earnings, leaving tech names vulnerable: Innova
The strong gains in US stocks over the past year, particularly in the technology sector, have been driven more by expanding valuations than underlying earnings growth, leaving them exposed to a ...Read more

Stock market
Sun Silver to make its ASX debut with a $13 million IPO
Sun Silver Limited (proposed ASX Code: "SS1") has announced the opening of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) today, aiming to raise a minimum of $10 million and a maximum of $13 million (before costs)Read more

Stock market
Nasdaq hits record high, underscores the value of tech in investment portfolios
The Nasdaq Composite's surge to an all-time high last Friday highlights the importance of incorporating technology into investment strategies. Read more

Stock market
Apple sets an unprecedented profit pace within the GAFAM group in 2023
After navigating through the economic difficulties presented in 2022, the technology sector has demonstrated resilience and growth, with many companies seeing increases in revenue and stock value. Read more

Stock market
Fintech startup okoora unlocks over $3 billion in forex savings for businesses
Fintech innovator okoora has announced it has saved customers a monumental amount over $3 billion through international foreign exchange transactions. Read more

Stock market
Google's Gemini edges out ChatGPT4 in groundbreaking AI showdown
Google's latest AI model, Gemini, has edged out OpenAI's ChatGPT4 in a recent set of rigorous multi-discipline tests, marking a significant milestone in the large language model (LLM) sector. Read more