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In recent years, shorting stocks has become a common strategy for professional and individual investors alike, so there’s a growing population of investors on the lookout for stocks they believe will fall in value.

There has been considerable hype lately surrounding the weight-loss drugs Ozempic/Wegovy which was initially designed for managing diabetes. From short sellers who believe Ozempic will disrupt competitors to endorsements by high-profile figures like Elon Musk and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, these slimming drugs have transcended medical circles, shaking up entire industries from biotech and healthcare to fast food.

Recently, Microsoft and Google’s parent company Alphabet, two of the 'Magnificent Seven' tech companies, released their third-quarter earnings. The results were initially well received with both companies exceeding the market’s revenue and earnings expectations.

Headlines about Elon Musk’s idiosyncratic behaviour have become inextricably connected with the public’s perception of electric vehicles (EVs). Even after Tesla’s recent Q3 earnings call, some analysts were more concerned about Elon Musk’s off-topic remarks about everything ranging from the economy to weight loss than they were about the company’s numbers.

It’s not often the management of companies which outperform in the extreme share the secrets of their success with the investment world at large. When it happens, it pays to sit up and listen. For investors, these conversations provide valuable clues as to how to identify the management teams of future multi-baggers.

It’s long been recognised that stock markets have a habit of making intelligent people look stupid. The fundamental reason is simple but often ignored… share price movements can be wild and unpredictable, and often confound investor’s expectations. And yet, with investors increasingly watching their stock price movements like hawks the temptation to account for unexpected stock moves with rational explanations often leads to sub-optimal results.

Aussie investors are generally overweight equities so establishing the right timeframe for equity investment is a common question. It’s also core to ensuring your portfolio delivers the performance you want and deserve. And with average holding periods moving in the wrong direction, the chances are high that many investors are leaving valuable returns on the table. So it could well be time to ask yourself… what’s the right timeframe for investing in equities?

Most market experts believe equities are expensive right now while bonds are cheap. Despite this fundamental backdrop, the much talked about switch from equities to bonds hasn’t happened yet. During market extremities like this, it’s worth asking why fundamentals are being so ignored in favour of momentum.

The economic news from China is getting worse. From deflation to falling exports, high unemployment, and a debt-laden property sector, the global economic powerhouse is facing significant challenges. Clearly, these growing economic challenges are bad news for the many ASX-listed stocks exposed to China.

Nvidia's second-quarter earnings show just how lucrative it can be to sell powerful chips that help drive AI applications. After delivering a revenue forecast that topped expectations, Nvidia shares soared to an all-time high of US$512 in August. The chipmaker is up more than 240 per cent year to date, adding more than $800 billion in market value. This remarkable surge has solidified its position as one of the most important tech companies, boasting a valuation of over $US1.2 trillion.

The world of yield investing has been through a dramatic transformation in recent months as central bankers have raised rates at an unusually aggressive pace. Equity and bond markets have fast adapted to this new world order, but what happens if the current yield split between equities and bonds doesn’t apportion risk fairly?

The AI craze continues to take the market by storm, with investors showing unprecedented interest in the technology since ChatGPT’s debut a mere eight months ago. It’s easy to see why the market has become so excited. The AI sector is expected to grow by 42% p.a. over the next decade, with the initial surge coming from businesses providing the necessary infrastructure to train AI systems, followed by applications and devices that use AI.