The best and worst performing stocks of the week

We've all been told the same story: work hard, keep tipping money into your super, and let 'time in the market' do the heavy lifting.

Supposedly, that's the ticket to a comfortable retirement.

But here's the uncomfortable truth: the numbers don't stack up, which is why we are sharing some simple super DIY super hacks that will triple your retirement fund.

According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), you'll need around $595,000 as a single or $690,000 as a couple to retire "comfortably" from age 67. Add 10 or 20 years of inflation and higher living costs, and those targets will balloon.

Now look at the reality. The median super balance for Aussies in their late 50s is just $202,583 for men and $140,662 for women, nowhere near enough.

To hit the so-called benchmark, most people would have to triple their balance in a decade if they're single or double their balance if they're a couple.

Do you honestly believe employer contributions and 'set and forget' investing will do that? It won't.

But here's the good news: you don't have to play by those rules.

You can take control right now with your existing super fund. Options like AustralianSuper's Member Direct let you invest directly without the cost or hassle of setting up a self-managed super fund (SMSF).

And here's the kicker: you don't need to be Warren Buffett. You just need to follow a few simple rules that professional investors have used for decades:

1. Protect yourself from big losses

A 50% fall means you need a 100% gain just to break even. That's why "time in the market" is a myth. Look at the global financial crisis - it took 12 years to recover. Most retirees don't have that kind of time.

The simple hack: check your investments monthly. By watching the price chart, you can spot when sentiment is shifting.

Remember, markets don't crash in a single day, the signs build over time, and if you're paying attention, those shifts become obvious, and you can step aside before the damage is done.

2. Go with the trend

When an investment is moving up strongly, like gold today, you don't need a finance degree to see it.

You just need to be on board.

3. Cut your losses early, let your profits run

The secret isn't avoiding losses; it's making sure the losses stay small while the winners grow big. Identifying a price level where you will get out if the price goes against you before you get into a stock is a great way to keep your losses low.

Follow these rules and you're not just hoping your super will be enough, you're actively building wealth and creating income that lasts into retirement.

The system wants you to stay passive, but the opportunity has never been better than now to take control. The only question is, will you?

What are the best and worst-performing sectors this week?

The best-performing sectors include Information Technology, up more than half a per cent, followed by Consumer Discretionary and Utilities, both up under half a per cent.

The worst performing sectors include Energy, down more than 3%, followed by Healthcare, down more than 2.5% and Real Estate, down more than 1.5%.

The best performing stocks in the ASX top 100 include Pilbara Minerals up more than 15%, followed by IGO Limited, up more than 10% and Whitehaven Coal, up more than 9%.

The worst-performing stocks include Santos Limited, down more than 11%, followed by Evolution Mining, down more than 6% and Washinton H. Soul Pattinson, down more than 5%.

What's next for the Australian stock market?

The All-Ordinaries Index slipped again this week, closing Thursday down more than 1%. It's the first genuine test of bullish momentum since the rally kicked off back in May.

For now, that momentum remains intact, but another week of weakness could tip the scales. If that happens, the next logical support sits near 8900.

That level isn't just technical noise, it was the former all-time high before April's tariff-driven correction, and with prices only 2% above it, it's well within striking distance.

What makes this pullback harder to ignore is that the index has now posted three straight red weeks, something we haven't seen since the March tariff crash. While this doesn't look like the start of another collapse, a reset toward 8800 feels overdue and healthy.

So, where's the opportunity?

Real estate has been the quiet achiever. Despite September's jitters, the sector is holding firm, helped by spring momentum and the government's 5% deposit scheme.

The ASX Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) is consolidating at record highs, and sentiment looks set to improve further.

Tech shouldn't be overlooked either. After months of grinding sideways, the sector now looks ready to break into new all-time highs.

As September winds down, October may still feel heavy, but the broader picture remains constructive.

This isn't a collapse, it's consolidation. For sharp-eyed investors, that means opportunity. The market is laying the groundwork

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