In the latest episode of Ideas Exchange, Mark Freeman, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Foundation Investment Company (AFIC) joins us for a wide-ranging discussion on state of the markets, dividends and long term investing. Mark reflects on market activity over the summer break, shares his outlook for the Australian market in the year ahead and explains how AFIC strives to deliver stable and growing dividends through the listed investment company structure. We wrap up with Mark’s thoughts on a few Australian stocks he’s optimistic about as we move into 2026.

Visit our blog:

⁠⁠https://www.asx.com.au/blog⁠⁠

Follow us on:

X - ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ASX⁠⁠

LinkedIn - ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/asx/⁠⁠

YouTube - ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/ASXLtd⁠⁠

Instagram - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/asx__official/⁠⁠

Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/OfficialASX⁠

Explore our useful investment tools and resources

⁠⁠https://www.asx.com.au/investors/investment-tools-and-resources/personal-investor⁠

In the latest episode of Ideas Exchange, host Jacinta King from ASX welcomes back Gemma Dale, Director of SMSF and Investor Behaviour at nabtrade, for a timely conversation recorded at the end of 2025. This episode opens with a look at the current macroeconomic landscape, including the latest inflation figures and what they mean for investors as the new year begins. The discussion then turns to the Australian share market, recent volatility, standout sectors, and what’s driving performance. Finally, the episode explores findings from the Vanguard “How Australia Retires 2025” report, highlighting the confidence gap among Australians planning for retirement and practical steps to improve financial wellbeing. Whether you’re focused on market trends or long-term planning, this episode delivers insights and actionable ideas for investors starting 2026.

Visit our blog:

⁠⁠https://www.asx.com.au/blog⁠⁠

Follow us on:

X - ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ASX⁠⁠

LinkedIn - ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/asx/⁠⁠

YouTube - ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/ASXLtd⁠⁠

Instagram - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/asx__official/⁠⁠

Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/OfficialASX⁠

Explore our useful investment tools and resources

⁠⁠https://www.asx.com.au/investors/investment-tools-and-resources/personal-investor⁠

For our final episode of the year, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the conversations that shaped the seasons. This special edition brings together the most thought-provoking ideas, themes, and guests that sparked meaningful discussions throughout the year.

From simplifying investing and understanding market performance to exploring global infrastructure and disruptive innovation, we revisit the insights that stood out.

Visit our blog:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.asx.com.au/blog⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on:

X - ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ASX⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/asx/⁠⁠⁠

YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/ASXLtd⁠⁠⁠

Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/asx__official/⁠⁠⁠

Facebook - ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/OfficialASX⁠⁠

Explore our useful investment tools and resources

⁠⁠⁠https://www.asx.com.au/investors/investment-tools-and-resources/personal-investor⁠

In this episode of The Ideas Exchange, host Jacinta King is joined by Frank Thormann, Senior Portfolio Manager, Global Equities at Schroders to dive into Schroders' investment philosophy and how the Schroder Global Equity Alpha Fund generates alpha beyond the Magnificent Seven. Frank discusses how they assess free cashflow and capital allocation to uncover the underlying potential of a company. He also highlights the importance of diversification and risk analysis and shares global stock opportunities outside the US.

Visit our blog:

⁠⁠https://www.asx.com.au/blog⁠⁠

Follow us on:

X - ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ASX⁠⁠

LinkedIn - ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/asx/⁠⁠

YouTube - ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/ASXLtd⁠⁠

Instagram - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/asx__official/⁠⁠

Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/OfficialASX⁠

Explore our useful investment tools and resources

⁠⁠https://www.asx.com.au/investors/investment-tools-and-resources/personal-investor⁠

With five large banks and two major mining companies making up 40% of the ASX-100, many Australian equity investors risk overexposure to these sectors. In this episode, Robert Miller, Portfolio Manager at NAOS, explains their investment philosophy which focuses on companies outside the ASX50, with a high conviction, concentrated portfolio approach, aiming for long-term growth and value.

 Tune in to find out more about NAOS core values, how their high conviction model defines their investment style, how they manage volatility in Australian and global equities and what this means for investors.

Check out our blog:

⁠⁠https://www.asx.com.au/blog⁠⁠

Follow us on:

X - ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ASX⁠⁠

LinkedIn - ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/asx/⁠⁠

YouTube - ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/ASXLtd⁠⁠

Instagram - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/asx__official/⁠⁠

Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/OfficialASX⁠

Explore our useful investment tools and resources

⁠⁠https://www.asx.com.au/investors/investment-tools-and-resources/personal-investor⁠

APRA’s ruling on hybrids not only represents a shift towards a more resilient financial system but also opens opportunities for investors to redeploy capital into other income-focused investments. 

Join us this month as Blair Hannon, Head of ETFs Australia at Macquarie Asset Management discusses APRA's decision to phase out bank hybrids, why they were popular and the impact their removal may have on income-focused portfolios. He also highlights suitable alternatives to supplement income and shares Macquarie’s management approach of the fixed income strategies in their ETF portfolio. 

Visit our blog:

⁠⁠https://www.asx.com.au/blog⁠⁠

Follow us on:

X - ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ASX⁠⁠

LinkedIn - ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/asx/⁠⁠

YouTube - ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/ASXLtd⁠⁠

Instagram - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/asx__official/⁠⁠

Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/OfficialASX⁠

Explore our useful investment tools and resources

⁠⁠https://www.asx.com.au/investors/investment-tools-and-resources/personal-investor⁠

In this episode of ASX Ideas Exchange, we dive into Bell Direct's research on how Australian market sectors have performed over the past decade. Join Grady Wulff, Senior Market Analyst at Bell Direct as she unpacks standout performers like financials, tech, healthcare and consumer discretionary and takes a closer look at those that lagged behind like materials and energy. Plus, find out how understanding sector trends can help sharpen your investment decisions.

Visit our blog:

⁠https://www.asx.com.au/blog⁠

Follow us on:

X - ⁠https://twitter.com/ASX⁠

LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/asx/⁠

YouTube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/ASXLtd⁠

Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/asx__official/⁠

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OfficialASX

Explore our useful investment tools and resources

⁠https://www.asx.com.au/investors/investment-tools-and-resources/personal-investor⁠

In the last episode in our thematics series we explore all about long/short investing, a strategy designed to take advantage of both rising and falling stocks.

Dr. David Allen, Head of Long/Short Strategies and Portfolio Manager of the Plato Global Alpha Fund at Plato Investment Management, joins The Ideas Exchange to discuss what it means to take long and short positions, the role that a long/short strategy plays in an investors’ portfolio, and what makes it different from other more traditional investment strategies. 

Tune in to hear how Plato identifies strong performers to go long on and weaker ones to short, how they manage risks and volatility to determine the net exposure for their fund as well as some successful examples that have helped the fund outperform its benchmark. 

Visit our blog:

https://www.asx.com.au/blog

Follow us on:

X - https://twitter.com/ASX

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/asx/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/ASXLtd

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/asx__official/

Explore our useful investment tools and resources

https://www.asx.com.au/investors/investment-tools-and-resources/personal-investor

In a world that continues to digitise, investing in companies or technologies that have the potential to fundamentally change existing industries, markets or ways of doing business has become the focus of fund manager Loftus Peak. 

In this episode, Alex Pollak, Chief Investment Officer and Co-Founder of Loftus Peak, explains what disruption is and how it differs from innovation. Emphasising the importance of AI as a main driver of change, Alex also highlights the role of cyber security and how Loftus Peak harvests return from global sharemarkets by focusing on understanding those changes.

Check out the ASX blog for more insights:

https://www.asx.com.au/blog

Not only is global infrastructure the backbone of modern society, it's also a compelling long-term investment opportunity. In this episode we’re joined by Sarah Lau, GLI Portfolio Manager at Resolution Capital to dive deep into the world of global listed infrastructure.

 We unpack what this asset class is, why it's becoming increasingly relevant in today’s markets, and how investors can gain exposure to it. Sarah shares Rescap’s unique approach to portfolio construction, insights on key themes like energy transition and mobility  and what she’s watching in the space for 2025 and beyond.

 Whether you’re looking for steady yield, inflation protection, or exposure to the world’s essential assets—this episode will give you a clear roadmap.

Investor Day link: https://www.asx.com.au/investor-day