With FY15 behind us, we decided to review the most read WIRE articles from the past financial year. The articles that make up this list are from a range of contributors - some are technical, others are educational but you are sure to find a topic of interest and a good read amongst the list
1. FIIG's top performing bond earns 17.2% in financial year 13-14 by FIIG Research
Published 22 July 2014
Did you know that FIIG’s top 14 performing bonds over the last financial year returned between 10.3% and 17.2%? This article lists the bonds, please note that pricing was accurate on the date of publication.
- The top 10 performing bonds were long dated and inflation linked
- Returns include moves in the bond price and interest income
2. Retirement - the most important career move you'll ever make by Grant McCorquodale
Published 16 June 2015
Heading into retirement and contemplating ending paid work, means you need to rethink the risks in your portfolio
- Your new career – Director of Income
- Why Director of Income is the fatest growing profession in Australia
- The three stagetransitional shift in asset allocation through retirement
- Why Directors of Income are looking to the global pension funds for their SMSF insights
3. Philip Baker tells his bond story by Elizabeth Moran
Published 30 March 2015
Published author, Philip Baker, has been a bond investor for five years. In this article he tells his story to Elizabeth Moran. His returns on bonds through his SMSF have been better than expected. He has a unique approach to investing that may help you with your own portfolio allocation.
Interview questions include:
- How did you first become a bond investor?
- Has your bond porfolio lived up to your expectations?
- Have you traded your bonds or been a hold to maturity investor?
4. Is this the end of traditional term deposit? By Justin McCarthy
Published 18 November 2014
From 1 January 2015 an important change to banking regulation was implemented and this article discussed the significant implications for term deposits, with the use of 31+ day break or notice clause to become common place and a large divergence in deposit rates expected.
5. Suncorp puts the spotlight on hybrid risk by Elizabeth Moran
Published 1 July 2014
There is a range of possible outcomes with hybrid investment. Investors shouldn't always assume they will get their capital returned to them as the Suncorp hybrid buyback at $80 highlighted last month.
6. Reassess or reaffirm - Interest rate strategies for your portfolio by Ryan Poth
Published 11 May 2015
A discussion into sharp rises in longer term interest rates in Australia in conditions where short term rates have declined and what it means for investors. This article was written the week after the Reserve Bank of Australia lowered the cash rate another 25 basis points to 2.00%.
7. Managing risk in your high yield bond portfolio by William Arnold
Published 27 May 2015
High yield bonds carry attractive yields but come with higher risk compared to investment grade bonds. As the risk profile increases diversity becomes more important. We outline of some of the key risks and considerations for those investing in the high yield bond market.
8. Investing for yield - When to pick the equities and when to pick the bonds by Craig Swanger
Published 2 December 2014
For investors seeking regular, reliable, secure income without too much capital risk, bonds are the typical choice as they involve less capital and income risk than equities. Because bond interest must be paid by companies before any dividends are paid, they are by definition less risky than the equities of that same company. Volatility in price is also considerably lower for bonds over equities.
9. Top 10 tips for assessing bonds by Elizabeth Moran
Published 29 September 2014
Elizabeth Moran’s top tips for assessing a bond using Glencore’s senior unsecured fixed rate bond as an example. The top tips consider the issuer, apply the capital structure diagram to the example, discuss the coupon type and more – essential reading for bond investors, especially those new to the asset class.
10. FIIG Securities says new "bail-in" hybrids are equity risk, not fixed income by Craig Swanger
Published 26 August 2014
A press release to the market from our firm. Here we warn investors that the new breed of hybrid is not traditional fixed income, and in a downturn they will perform just like equities and not protect investors like fixed income should. Also includes a section about “bail-in” hybrids.