The lead up to the end of financial year is an opportune time to review your asset allocation, the individual stocks in your portfolio, and your goals and ambitions for the next 12 months.
I'm giving my portfolio a little spring clean, making a conscious effort to allocate more of my cash balances to dividend paying stocks.
To emphasise the point, with its fully franked dividend in mind, as I mentioned last week, I'm seriously considering adding to my BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP) holding.
When grossed up for franking credits, the dividend yield for the Big Australian is a not-to-be-sneezed-at 5.1%.
Later this week I'll share the name of one other ASX dividend stock that's firmly on my radar.
It's a household name, trading on a dully franked dividend yield of 5% — 7% when grossed up for franking credits — and the company has solid growth prospects.
I already own the stock, and Motley Fool Share Advisor's Scott Phillips recently tapped it as his Top Dividend Stock for 2014-15. Watch this space.
Last week US markets extended their winning streak, with the Dow closing Friday at yet another all time high.
Talking about the US economy, Bloomberg quoted one equity strategist as saying…
"Earnings are rising, interest rates are low and inflation is elevated, but not at extremes. That's a favourable environment for equities to march higher."
The trend finally seems to be catching on here in Australia, and with the end of financial year just around the corner, not before time.
The ASX is riding high today, up close to 50 points in lunchtime trade.
Chinese manufacturing data came in stronger than expected, pushing the Aussie dollar sharply higher, now above US94 cents — music to the ears of people like me who are also taking advantage of the strong dollar to pile into US-quoted stocks.
Yes, Foolish investors. Step right up.
The end of financial year rally I've long been talking about could finally be upon us… and this time it just might stick.
Remember David McDonald of Credit Suisse's year end prediction of 5,800 for the blue chip index?
It doesn't look so far fetched now.
For all investors, particularly those of the SMSF variety, I encourage you to read Foolish contributor Tim McArthur's article below.
SMSF investors beat the pros at their own game
If ever there was a case of you taking control of your own financial future, and not leaving it to someone else, and therefore to chance, this is it.
