The disappointing 2014 for local stocks is close to its final trading day and I’m sweating on a nice finish, which will be driven, primarily, by Wall Street's showing over the next couple of trading days.

After a very volatile week, Father Christmas finally drove his sleigh through the oil-driven stock market anxiety to give us a really good look at what we call a Santa Claus rally. Wednesday brought a 288-point..

Retail trading should still remain strong, heading into Christmas but for 2015 get used to more volatility, make friends with liquidity and occasionally, be prepared to go out on a limb.

It’s been a tough year for everyone but 2015 should get better. Here are some ideas for making money next year.

By now, most of my regular readers would know I've taken my Sky News Business TV program to Wall Street and New York City. Last time we were here, the US market was around 4,500 points lower! Ooh ah!

Eventually the broader economy should deliver stronger growth from lower interest rates, but until it does, look for companies with their own drivers.

It’s a bit left field but if you’ve got time on your side it might be worth considering a play on energy as a satellite strategy.

I've never been so pumped writing this Saturday version of the Switzer Super Report, or what we like to call SSR around the office. Why the adrenalin? It's simple. I'm writing this in the Big Apple - New York..

Fund manager and managing director of NAOS Asset Management, Sebastian Evans, believes in the power of Billabong’s brand.

If Europe, the US and Japan get all their monetary policy ducks in a row, then Australia should be set for a rise to 6000 in the new year.

Oil remained the centre of attention again last night on Wall Street. Indices finished mixed - off their best levels for the day as oil prices continued to fall. The Dow Jones added half a point, while the broa..

The US economic picture is great but bond yields are falling – go figure. Closer to home, annuities provider Challenger is a yield play.

As we get closer to Christmas, perhaps you’re thinking of gifting some shares or investments. In the first of a three part series we offer some tips around kids bank accounts.

I started this piece in a shopping mall in Abu Dhabi. I’m here to attend the Grand Prix on a fact-finding mission! Yeah, I know it’s a tough life but hell, someone has to do it.

Commodity price falls keep hammering a hole in the budget, which means interest rates will be on hold for longer. Here’s what to do in a low-rate environment.

As we head towards the end of the year, there are plenty of reasons to be jolly and hope for a Christmas rally.

It was an annoying week for stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 index down about 95 points points to 5454.3. During the week, however, we saw a high of 5550.3, which raised my hopes that we might start sneaking toward..

A sluggish consumer sentiment reading doesn't change anything for retail companies – the ones that aren’t dinosaurs at least.

The core satellite approach is really important when it comes to investing. Speculative stocks should never be bought with big chunks of your portfolio.

It has been a week of five E’s - employment, Europe, an election, earnings and economics. And they were all pretty good stories for someone who thinks stocks can go higher between now and the whole of 2015. T..

Charlie has put his Santa Claus suit on and is getting ready for Christmas with an eye on oversold retailers.

For all the talk, October wasn't that bad and things are shaping up for a positive couple of months.

The big event of the investing week had to be the Fed’s FOMC meeting that was expected to announce the end of QE3 - and it happened in case you’ve been out of town. If history could be relied on, you might ..

Things are slowing down a bit in Western Australia as the boom comes off the boil, but there are still opportunities to make money.

As consumer sentiment picks up, retail-related stocks aren’t the only sector that is benefiting. Leisure companies are also enjoying a resurgence.

What we’re living through right now is a shootout between what really drives stock markets and what can often distract investors, albeit temporarily. Yep, it’s all about US earnings for the Yanks, especiall..

It’s priced at the top end of the range and no bargain but as a government IPO, could still be worth adding to your portfolio.

October is a nasty month on markets and this year is no different. Although some are saying it’s the beginning of the bear market, there is some good news out there that is suggesting otherwise.

Well, Reserve Bank Assistant Governor, Guy Debelle, did say there’d be a violent market reaction and it was taken he was alluding to a coming crisis. However he didn’t actually say in what direction!

Draft legislation allowing individuals the option of withdrawing superannuation contributions in excess of the non-concessional contribution cap has been released. You can access this withdrawal offer if your e..

It’s not a crash but a long-overdue market correction and a good time to buy stocks like Telstra, which is about to enjoy another dividend hike.

Volatility is here to stay for the short term but this means it’s time to take advantage of cheaper prices.

I know it’s a cliché but “be careful what you wish for” applies because I did actually ask for what we got out of the US last week. While this might sound off, we’re probably going through an OK oddity..

The government has commenced the process of listing Australia’s largest health insurance provider, Medibank Private, by opening pre-registration register. The pre-registration process will close on October 15..

It’s only a matter of time before US interest rates rise, which means volatility is here to stay, so we need to get used to it.

Long term investors need a sound investment plan and know not to press the panic button when things get volatile. They also know how to take advantage of bargains.

Many in Sydney went all week wanting to see the NRL grand final between Russell Crowe’s Bunnies and the Bulldogs but I have to say I’ve been sweating on one thing - the US jobs Report. And it was worth the ..

In looking for growth at a reasonable price, or GARP stocks, US dollar earners like Macquarie and NAB appear in the best shape right now.

As volatility continues, there are plenty of people pointing to signs that the party is over. We examine how worried you need to be – if at all.

You must be sick of me talking about the overdue correction but it looked like it had finally arrived, after Friday’s reaction to the Dow’s 264-point sell off. Locally, the 68.8 point dive means we’re now..

If we are in for a period of volatility on share markets as the US dollar starts to re-emerge as king of the currencies, then you need to think global.

Banks may be looking fully priced but they’re not going to stop paying dividends anytime soon and dips could provide opportunities.

I tipped it could be a challenging week for stocks and by Thursday we were off 2% on the S&P/ASX 200 index. Imagine what might have happened if there was bad news! In D-week for decision time in Scotland, the F..

It’s now time to start positioning your portfolio for rising interest rates in the US and the unwinding of the yield trade.

Geopolitical risks could point to a small correction for this week, but it’s nothing to panic about. Take advantage of lower prices instead.

Well at last the dollar has started to fall, along with iron ore prices, and the stock market gave up 1.2% over the week, in case you lost count. And those with great memories tell me it's the worst week in six..

The recent movements in the currency suggest that the US dollar is finally headed up, and the Aussie dollar down, which means it’s time to get on top of the greenback.

In the first part of this examination of what makes a blue chip, we look at three factors that can help. Next week we look at another four.

A fall in the Aussie dollar may not happen overnight, but it will happen and when it does you need to be positioned well. A yield kicker also helps.

I hate to be a namedropper but it has been that sort of week for yours truly. Monday, it was a morning tea interview with Gerry Harvey and the tight so-and-so has never ever offered me a cup of tea! That said, ..

The superannuation guarantee has been frozen for seven years after the federal government made a deal with Clive Palmer to repeal the mining tax. Under this deal, superannuation contributions will be halted at ..

It doesn’t always flow like poetry but the basic tenants of good investing remain the same. Find good companies that pay dividends.