Crikey

It’s an unwritten rule in Australian media: finance journalists spend years writing about shares but never reveal their own holdings. For all the commentary, the scoops, the scandals - we almost never put our cards on the table with our readers.

Today Eureka Report publisher Alan Kohler, superannuation editor Trish Power and I are opening our broking accounts to the public: we are publishing a full listing of the stocks we hold (the first three alphabetically from each portfolio are listed below). And as we buy and sell, we’ll let subscribers know, on Eureka Report.

The lists are in no way meant to be exemplary or instructive; they do not constitute advice. Rather, they are a real life snapshot of our personal shareholdings in late 2007.

There are commonalities: we all have BHP. There are distinct differences: Alan is prepared to invest in speculative tehnology companies; Trish Power has a a strong “ethical” filter running through her portfolio and I seem to be alone in my willingness to directly invest offshore or to place money with hedge funds.

Alan Kohler: The cornerstone of my portfolio is BHP Billiton and has been since 2005. I thought then, and still think, that the starting point for any portfolio had to be BHP; not just because it’s Australia’s biggest company but because it’s the best, most comprehensive way for an Australian to invest in the industrialisation of China:

BHP Billiton (BHP) – One of Australia’s most recognised and successful companies; Minerals exploration, production and processing (particularly coal, iron ore, copper and manganese ore) and hydrocarbon exploration, production and refining.

Clive Peeters (CPR) Electrical goods retailer.

Freshtel Holdings (FRE) Develops and markets Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephony products and services.

James Kirby: I’d describe my share portfolio as “borderline blue-chip”. It’s basically a conservative list of about a dozen stocks lightly spiced with calculated bets:

AMP Limited (AMP) Provider of life insurance, superannuation, pensions and other financial services in Australia and New Zealand.

AWB (AWB) Agribusiness. Wheat management and marketing services for Australian wheat producers in international markets.

BHP Billiton (BHP).

Trish Power: I’m a long term investor. I am not interested in achieving the top returns in the market for my investments but year in year out I want my returns on shares to be in the top quartile. I plan for 12–15% returns in income and capital each year on my shareholdings (although returns since 2003 have obviously been much higher than my long-term return objective). Over the long-term, this means that my original investments and contributions should double in value every five or six years, assuming I re-invest any dividends, which I do.

AFT Corporation Limited (AFT) (held in family trust) Investment in air purification products.

Australian and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) General banking, mortgage and instalment lending, investment banking, investment and portfolio management.

Babcock & Brown Infrastructure Group (BBI) Infrastructure investment.

To read the full list of more than 50 stocks see this evening’s Eureka Report at www.eurekareport.com.au