Tag: Australia

  • Introducing the Australian Stock Market

    Introducing the Australian Stock Market

    Australian stock market

    The Australian stock market history begins with six exchanges in Sydney (1871), Hobart (1882), Melbourne (1884), Brisbane (1884), Adelaide (1887) and Perth (1889).

    The first Australian convention was held in 1901. At first, the exchanges attended on an unofficial base. In 1937 the Australian Associated Stock Exchanges (AASE) was founded. Every exchange had its representative. Over time the AASE set consistent listing laws, broker practices, and commission charges.

    Trading was handled by a call system. An exchange worker called the names of each company and brokers bid or offered on each.

    In the 1960s this turned to a post system. Exchange representatives called ‘chalkies’ wrote bids and offers in chalk on blackboards. They also registered transactions made.

    The start of the modern Australian Stock Exchange history was in 1980 when the Melbourne and Sydney stock exchange indices were replaced by Australian Stock Exchange indices.

    After that date, many changes followed. Very fast. So we can say that Australian stock exchange history is full of changes and improvements.

    You might be interested in Leading Stock Exchanges In The World

    Today, the Australian stock market is one of the most important.

    This country with a small population became one of the biggest players in the global market.

    There are a lot of facts about the Australian stock exchange that might be valuable for you. For instance, the Australian stock exchange is opened between 10 am and 4 pm AEST on working days.

    The market opens in phases through the first ten minutes of trading.

    To prevent the precise forecast of the first trades on the given day they established a chance factor into the opening.

    The ASX closes between 4.10pm and 4.11pm with a single price auction. That price determines the closing prices on the given day.

    The largest ASX broker is Macquarie Bank, one of the biggest Australian banks. Also, the dominant broker’s companies are Goldman Sachs, CSFB, UBS, Citigroup.

    The man who broke the Bank of England

    The ASX is a public company too. Its shares are traded on the ASX, of course. However, the corporation’s license limits the highest individual holdings to a small part of the company.

    ASX is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

    Australian stock market

    Average daily turnover in ASX is A$5,6 billion and a market capitalization of approximately A$1.9 trillion. That makes it one of the world’s highest 15 listed exchange groups.

    ASX is, let’s say that, similar to the Canadian markets. It has commodities focus. So, we can say that the Australian stock market is ‘heavy’ because of the high volumes of natural resources, such as minerals and metals, are traded.

    Of the 2185 stocks listed on the ASX, approximately 33% are junior metals and mining stocks by number, but the whole Materials sector is about 15% of the ASX by index weight.

    As a difference, financials are estimated for 5% of the number of stocks listed. But it is the biggest sector in the sense of market capitalization, and it is 36% of the index.

    Stocks are classified into sectors according to their major business type: financials, materials, health care, industrials, etc.

    How to buy and sell shares in the Australian stock market

    The most common way to buy and sell shares is on the share market using a broker or service.

    Also, you can buy shares through a prospectus when they are first placed on the market. You can buy or sell stocks indirectly over a managed fund. There is also always a way to buy shares through an employee share system.

    If you are looking for the cheapest fees, an online trading account could be the right choice. The fee to buy or sell a package of shares starts from around $30. You are charged when you buy or sell a share.

    Why modern German investors are rioters? Read HERE

    If you use a full-service broker you will be charged more. But you will have some financial advice. For example, what to buy or sell and so.

    Australian law dictates brokers to give fair recommendations. Brokers must inform you about any interests they may have in investment arrangements they suggest to you.

    Brokerage fees are regularly expressed as a percentage of the price of the purchase or sale. For example, the fee on a transaction of up to $5000 will be 2.5%. For huge trades, it may be 0.1%.

    Small trades worth a few thousand dollars can be moderately costly.

    Companies may choose to offer their shares as a way of raising capital. This is an “initial public offering” or IPO.

    In order to find if investing in IPO suits you, it is recommended to read the prospectus. There you can find all the important details about the company.

    This document must be lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). You can check it through ASIC’s OFFERlist database.

    All prospectuses must include data on the features of the securities being offered. That includes how many are for sale, how you can demand to buy them. Also, the information about the company must be included. For example, its progress, and financial situation, and also, the risks connected with the offer.

    You can sell the shares you hold by placing a trade online or over your broker.

    When you sell your shares store a copy of the trade acceptance or receipt for tax purposes. That will be smart.

    Arrangement for the sale and transfer of ownership befalls 2 business days after the trade takes place. This is well-known as T+2.

    If you own shares in a managed fund and want to sell them, check if there are any withdrawal costs.

    Who are the best Australian investors of all time

    risk disclosure


  • The best Australian Investors of all time

    The best Australian Investors of all time

    5 min read

    Have you ever asked yourself who are the best Australian investors of all time? We are going to introduce you just a few of them. They are the best Australian investors of all time. They are unique, specific and extraordinary.

    Richard “Dick” Fish

    Richard “Dick” Fish is one of the best Australian investors. He is retired now,  but while he was an active trader, he was a legendary pairs trader.

    He holds a 10-year track record that is extraordinary and no one has such record before.

    Since its origin in 2002, his Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund strategy has yielded investors 10 times their money.

    He was trading over Listed Investment Company, so-called LIC.

    LIC is a listed investment vehicle that gives investors access to a diversified portfolio of shares in some other companies also listed on the stock market. LICs are listed on the ASX.

    Richard “Dick” Fish had a very specific and risky strategy of the fund. How does this fund’s strategy operate?

    The fund performs this by trading pairs of stocks. They are betting on one and betting against another (well-known shorting). The returns are provided based on how the stocks perform relative to one another.

    Here’s an example.

    A pairs trader saw that company ABC was a better stock than the company XYZ. So the trader would take a long position in ABC shares and short sell XYZ.

    If the market fails off and both shares drop, the trader will still make a profit if XYZ falls more than ABC, because the short position profits will be larger than the loss of keeping the ABC shares.

    If the market grows and ABC earns more than XYZ, again the trader will profit because the gains in the “long” ABC position will more than cover the losses from betting against XYZ.

    In short, if both stocks are moving in the proper direction, that is ideal, but the investor will make a profit even if just one stock goes up.

    This strategy is extremely risky but Richard “Dick” Fish was the master of this game.

    The “pairs trading”, is a risky way to make money but very powerful when it serves.

    The downside, of course, is that both stocks could move in the opposite direction to what was formerly expected.

    The strategy is liberated from the limitations of an index benchmark and the vagaries of global markets.

    This the reason why this strategy is defined as stock-picking in its absolute form.

    “It sounds trite, but investing is simple and one way of simplifying it is to take out the risk you can’t control,” said Fish.

    Sam Shepherd

    The LIC was managed by Richard Fish and Sam Shepherd who were the fund managers behind the highly successful Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund. That fund produced annual net returns of 18.14% between February 2002 and September 2015. The fund was only open to institutional investors.

    Sam Shepherd joined the team in May 2012,  after 21 years of Australian equities experience.

    Just before he joined the Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund, he was Head of the Melbourne institutional equities desk for Credit Suisse. On this position, he held the research sales, account management, and execution. Earlier, Sam Shepherd was a sales trader and research salesman at JP Morgan.

    The first seven years of his career he worked at Norwich Investment Management. He was a dealer, analyst, and portfolio manager. Sam Shepherd has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment.

    Portfolio Manager, Sam Shepherd, retained portfolio management responsibilities and the management of the team after Richard “Dick” Fish departure. Sam has 24 years of Australian equities experience, with the last five workings alongside Richard at Bennelong Long Short Equity Management (BLSEM).

    Led by Sam Shepherd, BLSEM has a highly experienced team.

    On BLSM official website we found

    “There is no change in the approach to the day-to-day management of the portfolio. Portfolio management is clearly defined and is managed in a highly disciplined way. Decision making is team-based, and that has been the case for a number of years.”

    Richard “Dick” Fish and his business partner Sam Shepherd are an Australian investors dream-team.

    Kerr Neilson

    Kerr Neilson is an Australian investment manager, the co-founder and managing director of Platinum Asset Management. He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Cape Town. Also, one of the best Australian investors.

    Neilson began his financial management job in the investments division of Courtaulds in London.

    But he returned to South Africa in 1973.  Ten years later he moved to Australia to become the head of retail funds management for Bankers Trust Australia. Today it is BT Australia.

    Georg Soros provided him initial backing to establish the Platinum Asset Management fund in 1994.

    Platinum concentrates in international equities and has an estimated $US16 billion in funds under management. Kerr Neilson is a managing director and portfolio manager.

    In 2007, Neilson set 20% of Platinum Asset Management on the Australian Stock Exchange. The 57% of the company’s shares he held were valued at A$2.9 billion. That made him one of Australia’s wealthiest people.

    Neilson is frequently compared to Warren Buffett for his talent to consistently pick high-performing stocks.

    However, in business, not everything is spring and flowers. Bad results during 2012 produced a 16% drop in net profit, essentially due to a 14% decrease in investment income. Neilsen was forced to abstain from a bonus and an increase in his salary. As the major shareholder of Platinum, Neilsen yields A$42 million in dividends during 2012.

    The accent was on renewing the prosperous investment strategy he had used before. This required structuring portfolios of the companies that were experiencing change or mispricing. The reasons can be different, the temporary factors or biases practiced by market participants.

    By investing in such companies around the world, Platinum held really differentiated portfolios and delivered excellent investment returns.

    When his investment philosophy was totally implanted within the team, he resigned as the Chief Investment Officer in 2013. Over time Kerr Neilson stepped out of his various duties and delegate them to other global portfolio managers in the team. With the full approval of the Board, Neilson handed over the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Platinum Group to Andrew Clifford in 2018.  

    Proceeding to work as a full-time executive director of the Platinum Group and a member of Platinum’s investment team, he is completely involved in the business.

    You might like to know who are the best UK investors


    Robert Dobson Millner

    Robert Dobson Millner was born 4 September 1950.

    After leaving the school he acted as a stockbroker for two years. Almost 14 years he farmed in Cowra, New South Wales. In 1984 he entered the family business, Washington H.Soul Pattinson, as a manager. In 1997 he was named deputy chairman of Souls and since 1999 he has been Chairman of the company.

    He is the leader of many big Australian organizations. For example, he is chairman of Washington H. Soul Pattinson, as we mentioned, further, New Hope Coal, Brickworks Limited, Choiseul Investments, and NBN Television.

    Robert D. Millner is a director of Milton Corporation Limited since 1998 and appointed chairman in 2002. Chairman of the Investment and Remuneration Committees. Millner has vast experience in the investment industry.

    Milton Corporation Limited is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm conducts separate portfolios. It invests in the public equity and fixed income markets of Australia. The company also invests in trusts, real estate, and mortgages. Milton Corporation Limited was founded in 1938 and is based in Sydney, Australia.

    He is been called the hardest-working man in corporate Australia.

    Find who are the most successful Indian investors

    Robert D. Millner is also the head of Pitt Capital Partners Ltd. It provides business consulting and advisory services. The Company offers a range of corporate finance advisory services in relation to mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets, private equity, restructures, and debt funding. Pitt Capital serves customers over Australia.

     

     

  • Attempt To Neutralize The Gray Economy Or More Control Of Citizens?

    Attempt To Neutralize The Gray Economy Or More Control Of Citizens?

    1 min read

    One of the most read online publications brings the news that the Australian government has made big cash payments illegal.

    The right question is, is it just giving a free boost to cryptocurrencies such as the Bitcoin?

    Or attempt to neutralize the gray economy?

    ”From July 1, 2019, any business transaction over $10,000 has to be done using electronic payments. Handing over a hundred $100 notes or more will be illegal, as the government tries to flush out tax avoiders, drug dealers and the rest of the underground economy. Bitcoiners and other cryptocurrency fans predicted this, and the government is playing into their greedy little hands.” wrote the mentioned publication.

    The most intriguing question is why the Australian government made such a decision.

    The Australian government is quite progressive with blockchain.

    They’ve given a grant to power edger. Australia Post is working with Alibaba and the stock exchange is moving to the blockchain. They are trying to reduce the gray economy and know they’ll have more success with blockchain.

    At first look, everything is screaming of free will and giving out of control. I think I understand their reasons.

    But, is this the right move?

    Do they (the governments) realize that they are providing more room for the cryptos?

    I don’t think so. Luckily!

    Neutralize the gray economy?

    Well, truth is that cash is used for drugs and money laundering, so at first glance, you may think that you can sort of see their point.

    But if you think a drug cartel can’t find a way around, you are fooling yourselves. That’s why this isn’t a way to neutralize the gray economy.

    On the other hand, the Australian government clearly stated that they want to accelerate the movement to the digital economy. Maybe the people who make the decisions want to move to digital money, but of course centralized digital money.

    Governments can ban crypto in the same way, unless they’ll be able to track payments.

    In most of the countries of the EU, this is already an unofficial law.

    This is kind of dumb because you are forced to have your pockets filled with heavy metal coins. You can find the laws or regulations of cash limitation in Greece, Portugal, Germany, Italy…

    And what they are doing is banning the free will actually! All of them!

    You would like to read about banning Bitcoin in India

    Cash is money outside of government control. Prohibition of cash will only divert more funds into crypto, outside of fiat system. And this is the reality with which governments will face very quickly. It’s scary that these countries limiting cash payments, and that people are not more concerned, one might say. Many people are still stuck in their old ways and refuse to see the answer. The only possibility is to continue with education. People should know that regulation will help popular acceptance of cryptocurrencies, however, you can only regulate the gateway between fiat and crypto.

    That’s why this regulation and cash ban is bonkers.

    Why issue bills and then say it’s illegal to use them in large amounts? Slowly but surely governments are edging towards a cashless society. And that is an opportunity for cryptos. People will realize that Bitcoin or some other cryptocurrency can be used for everyday transactions.

    Cryptocurrencies’ time is coming, that’s for sure!


    But some people have this point of view: Bitcoin/crypto is a government’s dream. They want to force everyone to eventually use it so your payments can be totally tracked.

    This applies only to those who are not familiar with blockchain technology.

    Blockchain technology created the backbone of a new type of internet by allowing digital information to be distributed but not copied. The blockchain database isn’t stored in any single location. No centralized version of this information exists. Hosted by millions of computers simultaneously.

    Yeah, it’s kinda tricky!


    You can track 3 or 5 or 15 accounts but track billions are impossible.

    You MUST read Why you shouldn’t invest in bitcoin under any circumstances