Today
- Opinion
- Retail
Why big Sigma backer sold down ahead of Chemist Warehouse ruling
It is usually worth following the money in merger deals, which makes trading in Sigma Healthcare interesting.
- Anthony Macdonald
Yesterday
- Opinion
- Mergers & acquisitions
Why a blockbuster IPO would be better off in private equity hands
We all like to see businesses list on the ASX, but APM is one that would be better in private equity hands. Its credibility is shot.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Mergers & acquisitions
Packaging group hits the turps, investors stuck with the hangover
A once boring packaging company is doing what it can to make investors more wary of big offshore M&A.
- Updated
- Anthony Macdonald
This Month
- Opinion
- Investment banking
Meet the Australian running Citi’s new team of 6000 bankers
From running Credit Suisse and Citi in Australia, to being involved in the biggest reshuffle at Citi in 25 years, David Livingstone says he wouldn’t have it any other way.
- Updated
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Private equity
Private capital’s surprisingly sluggish year prompts rethink
Just when we thought the push to private capital was flying, new fundraisings have slowed down. Is it a hiccup, or more?
- Anthony Macdonald
March
- Opinion
- Opinion
Lessons from a fund that has beaten the market for 50 years
Since 1973, Capital Group’s New Perspective Fund has ridden the shifting tides of world trade. With deglobalisation taking hold, will the strategy hold up?
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Cochlear
Can a vaccine slow down the Cochlear train?
Cochlear is firing for investors, but you have to wonder whether everyone’s getting a bit carried away.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Mining
Soul Patts’ Millner rails against secretive new laws
Two words are frightening senior Australian executives; few are willing to say them publicly. The words are “nature positive”.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Opinion
Westpac’s $3.5b tech catch-up is a warning to ANZ
Fifteen years after buying St George, Westpac is finally unifying its banking systems. ANZ investors will hope they’re not hearing about the Suncorp integration in 2039.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
Ninety days to remember and what could go wrong from here
Despite a plethora of risks, the first quarter of 2024 has turned out to be better than expected across markets, economics and geopolitics. But don’t get comfortable.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
The shocking data that stopped Larry Fink cold
“I’ve seen a lot of numbers. But no single data point has ever concerned me more than this one,” the CEO of BlackRock says.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
The feeding frenzy that sent CBA shares to $120
Commonwealth Bank’s staggering $120 a share price came up a few times at The Australian Financial Review Banking Summit. Brian Johnson nailed why it had run so hard.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Opinion
It’s time for banks to take more risk, not less
While the prudential regulator sees more stresses ahead for banks, top CEOs worry the sector has become too risk-averse. They’ve got three big ideas to drive growth.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Mergers & acquisitions
Seven starts throwing haymakers to get Boral bid moving
An independent expert’s report is the tip of the iceberg in the battle for Boral. The fight is ramping up.
- Updated
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Opinion
Solomon Lew’s $3b bet on global growth
Premier Investments is set to split itself in three, launching the Smiggle and Peter Alexander divisions onto the ASX as separate companies.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
Ross McEwan reveals his biggest win from 40 years in banking
In an extraordinary four decades in banking, Ross McEwan has rescued two big banks from crises. And all while driving a Holden ute.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
David Di Pilla draws line in the sand at Healthscope
David Di Pilla’s HMC Capital wants to make a few things clear about where it stands as a landlord to struggling hospital operator Healthscope.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- McGrath
Why real estate agent John McGrath couldn’t crack the ASX
His brokerage broke the golden rule of IPOs – and paid for it ever since. It’s a reminder that for every success, dozens never quite crack the big time.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Mergers & acquisitions
Surprise energy transition story in Monday’s $1b buyout
The last time vessel owner MMA Offshore hit the headlines, it was an offshore oil and gas services group going broke. Now it has a $1 billion bid, and investors can thank the energy transition.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Opinion
Macquarie’s new FOMO meter flashes red, points to these eight stocks
Macquarie’s new measure of investor sentiment should be a warning sign for those chasing this impressive rally.
- James Thomson