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Topping our coverage last week was news the yield curve had inverted and why investors should avoid panicking, a look at the hype around thematic ETFs, and a guide to decluttering your portfolio.

Australian shares are expected to open higher following gains on Wall Street at the end of last week amid upbeat sentiment on US-China trade talks.

Where does the 'smart' in 'Smart Beta' come from? And how does it fit in your portfolio?

Morningstar's Ali Mogharabi gives his take on the company's value, how it stacks up against Uber, and the threat that regulation poses.

Pact's decision to appoint BlueScope's Sanjay Dayal as chief executive will help lead the specialist packaging company's turnaround and boost its technical clout, says Morningstar.

Federal Labor would introduce its changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax by 1 January next year if the party wins the May election.

Australian shares are expected to open flat after tepid gains on Wall Street overnight as Treasury yields rose off 15-year lows.

Morningstar analysts run the rule over three of the top performing small-cap funds and their process for identifying value opportunities.

A Danish medical device company, an American computer networking firm, and a Swiss leader in alternative asset management are among the small- to mid-cap stocks on Ned Bell's stock radar.

Australian rare-earths miner Lynas Corporation has rebuffed a tentative acquisition offer from retail giant Wesfarmers, saying it stands by its 'strong and irreplaceable' assets. 

Morningstar's market-driven scenario analysis tool is an effective way to estimate the potential outcomes of hypothetical events, manage expectations, and mitigate risks.

Training video for ARC Portfolio X-Ray.

Australian shares are expected to open flat after a negative lead from major overseas markets, particularly in the US where Treasury bond yields fell again.

The yield curve – a leading economic indicator that has accurately predicted the past five US recessions - inverted Friday fuelling fears of a global economic downturn.

The three main approaches that an ESG-conscious investor can follow often overlap, says Hortense Bioy, director of passive strategies and sustainability research at Morningstar.

Is buying a house and paying off the mortgage still the best way to build wealth? We run the numbers. 

As with decluttering your home, winnowing down your number of accounts - and the holdings within them - can be incredibly clarifying.

Australian shares are expected to open flat despite gains on Wall Street overnight, led by financial stocks.

Coles will spend up to $150 million over the next four years to double its home delivery capacity after signing a deal to use tech from British online supermarket Ocado.

Morningstar has initiated coverage of the Fox Corporation after the Disney merger.

Lyft can grow at a 36 per cent compound annual growth rate through 2028 to more than $21bn, driven by increased adoption of ride-sharing globally, says Morningstar.

Apple has extended its reach in entertainment, financial services, news and videogames, via a suite of services that aim to offset softening sales in the company's core iPhone business.

Australian shares are tipped to edge higher despite choppy overseas trade, as global growth fears spill into a new week.

While many investors continue to shun UK stocks until the Brexit fog clears, others think they're too cheap to ignore. A trio of fund managers tell us where they are investing

Tech darlings WiseTech and Xero may not yet be household names but they have made some stellar gains, says Ross Macmillan, senior analyst with Morningstar Manager Research.  

Investors, on average, say maximising returns is a top priority while for advisers, this is almost at the bottom – and that's a problem, Morningstar research suggests.

The big banks are unlikely to pass on the full amount of any RBA rate cut, opting instead to protect their bottom lines in the face of falling interest rate margins, analysts say.

A look at the holdings of top fund managers dominated our coverage last week alongside Dickie Hodges's bullish take on the stock market and a glimpse under the hood of four automotive stocks offering value.

Australian shares are expected to slide at the open following a late-week slump across US and European markets.

Learn how easy it is to buy exchange-traded funds via a discount online stock broker.

In this exclusive Friday Fundamentals Webinar, we preview the new Morningstar Premium website, showcasing the big improvements to how we present our research and data, which will help you make better decisions.

A well-spun narrative about a seemingly plausible investment opportunity can cause investors to ignore facts and lose their ability to make sound decisions.

Rising coal prices have boosted Washington H Soul Pattinson's first-half profit, while restructuring has taken a toll on Sigma, and Brickworks sounds the alarm on energy costs.

Bond proxies, or stocks that share some characteristics associated with fixed-income investments like infrastructure stocks and real estate investment trusts, have increasingly become a good option for investors seeking regular income. 

Australian shares are expected to open higher today as a tech-led rally put Wall St firmly in the black overnight.

Strategic or smart beta exchange traded products continued to expand in 2018 and now make up 10.5 per cent of Australia's ETP market, says Morningstar associate director, manager research Alexander Prineas.

There's a trio of reasons the relief rally in risk markets, particularly equities, will carry on through 2019 and into 2020, according to Nomura Asset Management's Dickie Hodges.

The investment-management institutions are not the only ones on Wall Street that react rather than lead, writes John Rekenthaler.

Australian shares are expected to open flat following brief gains on Wall Street overnight after the US central bank indicated there would be no further rate hikes this year.

Westpac's decision to sell its loss-making personal financial advice business is a blow to customers and employees, but the financial impact on the bank is immaterial, says Morningstar equity analyst David Ellis. 

The Reserve Bank says economic risks from household debt and the housing market slowdown have increased over the past five months, but not enough to set alarm bells ringing.

Australian shares are expected to open flat after trade concerns limited gains on Wall Street overnight.

The head of the SMSF Association has backed a bill that would allow the number of members in a self-managed fund to increase from four to six, saying it will help retirees manage Labor’s plan to axe cash refunds for franking credits. 

Tuning out from unhelpful market noise is often a far better investing strategy than responding to events that are outside your control, and Brexit is a prime example, says Morningstar's Dan Kemp.

Auto stocks such as General Motors and BMW should generate solid profits and returns for investors albeit at slightly softer levels than last year, according to Morningstar analysis. 

Lyft's imminent IPO is one of the most high-profile stock market listings this year, and comes ahead of Uber's planned float in April.

Australian shares are expected to open higher, with a rise in the iron ore price likely to boost miners, while investors are watching for the Fed's vow to be 'patient' on rate cuts.

Oil Search and WiseTech are two notable inclusions in Fidelity Australian Equities' list of top 10 holdings, which is otherwise dominated by names from among the ASX's largest 20 companies. 

Australian government revenue is tipped to beat official forecasts by almost $3 billion when the federal budget is handed down next month.

Millennials and women are among the investor cohorts behind a record 20 per cent increase in the number of people in Australia pouring money into exchange-traded funds, says BetaShares.

Nearly 2 billion Asians head to the polls in 2019, with leadership of some of the biggest economies up for grabs, and much at stake for markets as the electoral battles play out.

A look at three companies tipped to weather a global downturn was among our top stories, alongside the effect of franking credit reform and the push by SMSFs to stock up on blue-chip shares.

Australian shares are expected to open higher after Wall Street rose at the end of last week, buoyed by tech companies and positive sentiment on trade.

Morningstar has named Sky Network Television among the most undervalued stocks on the ASX as the company trades more than 40 per cent below what equity analyst Brian Han thinks it's worth.

Sentiment towards listed investment companies may be on the mend, with upcoming initial public offerings set to test investor appetite. Are the boom times back for LICs?

British MPs have rejected leaving the EU without a deal in any scenario, paving the way for a vote to delay Brexit to seek a way out of the country's worst political crisis in generations.

Australian shares are expected to open higher after Wall Street traded on a flat note overnight amid investor jitters about US-China trade uncertainty.

A growing population of internet users, explosion of smartphones, social media and the rise of online shopping creates a long runway of global growth for leading domestic tech titans.

Investing in stocks is often the best way to reach long-term financial goals, but because cash also has its place, we've rounded up some of the best savings rates on offer.

Taking a contrarian approach to investing may result in greater returns that compensate for the additional risk, but it also pays to be cautious.

Commonwealth Bank is suspending the demerger of its mortgage broking and wealth management businesses to focus on customer remediation and implementing the recommendations of the royal commission.

Australian shares are set to open higher after a positive lead from Wall Street overnight, which included a rise for Boeing despite the US grounding the 737 MAX fleet.

Previous roles managing the Fairfax family’s money and at Qantas Super provide several contrasts and comparisons to Matt Wacher’s new chief investment officer role at Morningstar Investment Management Australia.

Roads and transport, healthcare and education are shaping as battleground themes as the knife-edge NSW state election looms.

Self-managed super funds have heeded calls to keep calm in the face of last year’s global market rout, finding pockets of opportunity among blue-chip stocks at bargain prices.

Head of equity research Peter Warnes explains why record shareholder returns are unsustainable; Brian Han examines the increasing competition in the telco sector while Mat Hodge tips a round of special dividends in the resources sector.

The indefinite suspension of deliveries of Boeing's MAX aircraft in the wake of a second fatal crash in six months could affect the planemaker's bottom line and disrupt supply chains, says Morningstar.

John Rekenthaler examines whether there is any substance to cryptocurrencies as assets, beyond pure speculation that quoted prices tomorrow will be higher than they are today.

Australian shares are expected to open slightly lower after a mixed lead from Wall Street overnight, puncuated by tame inflation and Boeing's share price fall.

Mortgage brokers will continue receiving trail commissions beyond 2020 under a federal coalition government, with Josh Frydenberg revealing a plan to scrap them has been dropped.

These five highly-regarded managed funds are notable not only for their performance but the fact their asset selection teams are headed by women.

The record $85bn in shareholder returns for the first half of 2019 isn't likely to be replicated any time soon, says Morningstar’s Peter Warnes, who also singles out a few winners and losers.

Australian shares are expected to advance on Tuesday, following a jump in tech shares in the US and global optimism around China's stimulus to shore up its slowing economy.

Blackmores, Woolworths and Carsales.com each suffered share price falls of more than 5 per cent in the 24 hours following their announcement of their first-half earnings, Morningstar research shows.

Leading indicators point to a slowdown in the Australian economy, but Reece Birtles, chief investment officer at Martin Currie Australia, still sees opportunities for domestic stocks.

Women hold 16 per cent of all company board positions, but there are several caveats including company size and a higher rate of double-up, according to a Morningstar US report.

Our look at who is affected by the franking credits shift drew most attention this week alongside the entry of Pact Group and oOh Media into our Global Best Ideas list, and an earnings update on three wide moat favourites.

The US President's top adviser on Sunday dismissed concerns about the prospect of a US-China trade deal amid reports of pushback from Beijing.

Australian shares are expected to open lower after a negative lead from overseas at the end of last week following growing concerns over global growth.

Maturing domestic equity markets, reduced volatility and a better environment for good companies to outperform are encouraging signs, say Nikko's Robert Mann and Trumann Du.

When it comes to money, women are dealt a bad hand: they are at least twelve years from financial equality, but one key to closing the earnings gap is through investing.

Australian shares are expected to open lower as the European Central Bank's decision to slash its forecasts further stoked concerns about a global slowdown in growth.

Whether it becomes law or not, Labor's franking credits policy has certainly had a polarising effect, which is set to intensify in the countdown to the May 2019 federal election. 

Investing via managed funds is commonly viewed as a way of boosting portfolio diversification, beyond holding direct shares alone, but even Australia's active managers can be prone to favouring sectors, writes Morningstar’s Michael Malseed.

State Street’s Thomas Reif explains smart beta exchange-traded funds, how style tilts such as value, size and low volatility work, and how such ETFs respond to higher volatility.

A cyberattack on a bank in the form of a large theft could lead to a loss of faith in the financial system and widespread bank runs, some advisers warn.

A simple behavioural nudge can help people discover what they truly want.

Amazon, Microsoft and Google stand to reap enormous rewards by convincing us to share our investments as well as our personal information.

Australian shares are set to open flat after a negative lead from Wall Street overnight in which healthcare and energy shares dragged the S&P to its biggest one-day fall in a month.

Brambles, Commonwealth Bank and InvoCare may have had a flat half but their long-term outlook remains positive, according to Morningstar analysis.

Myer's cost-out strategy is improving profit margins and its balance sheet, as CEO John King makes his mark on the department store retailer.

Australian shares are expected to open higher despite a mixed lead from Wall Street overnight while Asian markets digested China's forecast lower growth rate. 

Despite Hayne fallout and other short-term pressures, three of the big four remain undervalued and dividends are solid, says Morningstar’s David Ellis.

Very few companies the size of Microsoft can offer 12 percent revenue growth and 15 per cent earnings growth in each of the next several years.

The Reserve Bank has kept the official cash rate at a record low of 1.5 per cent despite noting Australian economic growth probably slowed in the second half of 2018.

The Chinese government has set an economic growth target of 6 to 6.5 per cent for 2019 - a range that would mark China's slowest economic growth in almost three decades.

The RBA believes labour market improvements will offset Melbourne and Sydney house price falls, but it may be underestimating property's economic effect, says AMP's Shane Oliver.

Our look at the key election theme of franking credits topped last week's coverage alongside Platinum's plunge in first-half profit and an examination of diversification and how many shares you need to achieve it.

Australian shares are expected to open lower after a negative lead from Wall Street overnight while Chinese stocks rallied on talk of a breakthrough in trade.

Australia's reputation for financial services regulation combined with our $3 billion pool of superannuation assets hold strong appeal for foreign company IPOs, writes Nicki Bourlioufas.

Plastics-packaging business Pact Group and outdoor advertiser oOh Media are the newest Australian names to forge a place in Morningstar's list of Global Equity Best Ideas.

An Australian asset manager known for its late founder's tireless work advocating for individual investors has again been awarded Morningstar's Fund Manager of the Year. 

Approvals for the construction of new homes rose 2.5 per cent in January, ending a three-month run of declines.

A lacklustre earnings season in which many blue-chip companies reported curbed profit growth is leading some to question whether Australia is heading for an economic slowdown. 

Australian shares are expected to open higher following a positive lead from overseas at the end of last week, and developing signs of a trade deal.

Investing basics: Buying a fund, even just one, gives you instant portfolio diversification. How can you achieve this if you prefer to DIY stock pick?

China's domestic A-shares stock market is likely to see $67 billion of inflows in 2019 alone after MSCI confirmed their weighting would quadruple from 5% to 20% this year

Many gaming companies are selling their products as software as a service and using blockchain technology to enhance their games - and ASX-listed names stand to benefit.