Hot Topics
Trending stories and market-moving news from the ASX small-cap sector

Separately Managed Advantages
With increased taxes on high superannuation balances, a lot of people are talking about alternative structures for keeping their investments, including a niche product known as a Separately Managed Account.
Top Stories

The Key Number to Watch for Interest Rate Rises
There is endless speculation about which direction official interest rates are heading in Australia and how far and fast they will rise and fall.

Weekly Wrap: Markets edge as Rio-Glencore talks spark change in mining bid
Rio Tinto slides 6% on Glencore all-stock merger talks; BlueScope up 2% after rejecting a $30 offer. ASX 200 drifts -0.1% as deal news dominates.

Gold Set to Shine in 2026 as Banks Forecast Higher Prices and Steady Demand
Gold set for a 2026 rally: JPMorgan sees Gold averaging US$5,055/oz, Goldman expects strong central-bank buying; upside risk keeps investors watching.
Latest Hot Topics

ASX ends New Year modestly higher as energy offsets losses
ASX 200 closes up 0.2% as energy leads gains; uranium miners surge, DroneShield rebounds. CPI data this week could set rate expectations.

Trump Tariffs, AI Boom Rewrite 2025 Markets Worldwide
Trump’s tariff turmoil roils markets in 2025, but AI-led rally lifts global equities and the ASX ~14% from April lows.

Retirees Could Shoulder CSLR Costs as Super Tax Windfall Grows
Super taxes soar: extra $10.9b to the budget, $4.3b in 2025-26, driven by wages and 15% accumulation tax; CSLR levy reform eyed.

New super rules tax earnings for large balances, up to 40% on $10m+
Australian super rules tax earnings on large balances, up to 40% for $10m+, with unrealised gains removed; effective July 1, 2026; industry to consult in Jan.

Mortgage trap in later life: housing debt keeps Australians working longer
Australians risk retirement as property wealth masks crippling debt: half of 55–64 homeowners owe housing debt; average >$230k, pension gap widening.

Weekly wrap: A modest rise to end the week
The Australian share market enjoyed a modest rise to end the week on Friday after a Wall Street rally caused by optimism of more interest rate cuts in the future.
The ASX 200 index closed up 0.5%, or 40 points, to close on 8628.2 points after eight of the 11 sectors rose.

Diverging Rates Pushing Up Aussie Dollar
At last the long-anticipated diverging interest rate outlook between Australia and the US is a reality and we can begin to see the effects it is already having.

A Helping Hand in Getting on the Property Ladder
The latest government housing market program that you may not have heard about is known as "help to buy" and it works by the government directly taking a stake of up to 40% in the property you buy.