Today
- Opinion
- Opinion
Why bad news has the ASX bulls running
Bad news from the job market turned a good day on the ASX into a great one. Investors are ploughing into market darlings in the firm belief that rate cuts are coming.
- 1 hr ago
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
How to build a cash war chest and get permission to spend it
Thursday’s two big profit results show what investors want from Australia’s big companies. And it doesn’t have to be just buybacks and special dividends.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Opinion
How gridiron and cartoon elves sent this ASX giant surging
The 12 per cent surge in Aristocrat Leisure’s share price reflects a solid profit beat. But there’s a secret sauce behind its long track record of growth.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
How inflation relief and Buffett’s new bet gave bull market fresh legs
Wall Street popped to new record highs on better than feared US inflation data. But there’s a big contradiction at the heart of the bulls’ outlook.
- James Thomson
Yesterday
- Opinion
- Opinion
Queensland in secret bid to buy stricken coal-fired power plant
It’s three years since Queensland power station Callide C blew up, and the fallout hasn’t stopped. Now, a secret deal for the government to buy a 50 per cent stake is in doubt.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Opinion
Why BHP’s hopes of buying Anglo American are fading fast
BHP boss Mike Henry has taken his takeover pitch directly to Anglo American investors. But the hurdles to this bid are multiplying, and time is running out.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
Fundies are riding a wave of stimulus. Jim Chalmers just added to it
Investor bullishness is as strong as it’s been since 2021, but one key question in BoA’s latest fund manager survey particularly resonates after the latest budget.
- James Thomson
This Month
- Opinion
- Opinion
Why Andrew Forrest is a big budget winner
Jim Chalmers’ $23 billion bet on turning Australia into a green industry superpower ignores many of the issues on the top of the business sector’s wishlist.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
Anglo American shapes up for $64b fight with BHP
Anglo American has pulled out a takeover defence with the works. Now, it has to convince shareholders not to side with BHP.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Opinion
Where Australians are spending their larger pay packets
Australian household income is up, but so is spending on some undesirables. The result is what our retail CEOs are talking a lot about - shopping for value.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Opinion
BHP turns Anglo pursuit into $64b chess game
BHP has bid against itself and disclosed it, in an effort to put pressure on the London-listed miner. The next move is Anglo’s, and only hours away.
- Updated
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Opinion
Meme stock stupidity is back at the dumbest possible time
The $6 billion jump in the value of crappy US retailer GameStop is a sign of pure speculative excess.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
How Rio Tinto executives can get paid more this year
Rio Tinto has made a step-change to executive remuneration. Bonus payments could increase materially, but not for the usual reasons.
- Updated
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Opinion
Investors shouldn’t believe Chalmers on inflation just yet
For inflation to get back to target by Christmas, more pockets of pain will have to emerge. But the corporate sector is holding up well.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
The five rules of Wall Street legend Jim Simons still ring true
The death of Jim Simons, the quant king hailed by many as the world’s greatest investor, is a reminder that greatness is rarely made by running with the pack.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
PEXA’s offshore venture shows much-needed proof of life
Going global has brought plenty of successful Australian businesses undone. This unheralded tech unicorn needed proof it was making headway – and it found some 10 days ago.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Opinion
There’s a bigger story behind Perpetual’s sad break-up
The break-up of Perpetual is a story of mismanagement, but it also speaks to the structural changes sweeping across Australia’s financial sector.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
What we learnt as CEOs meet capital markets kings, queens
It’s been three days of watching CEOs pitch to fund managers and hearing their off-record feedback at Macquarie’s annual conference. Both sides are more upbeat.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Opinion
CBA shows this is not your parents’ slowdown
CBA’s chief executive started banging the drum on loss-making mortgages early last year. Now, the broader banking sector appears to be thinking along the same lines.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Opinion
‘Why would I invest a single cent in Australia?’ asks Orica boss
The explosives giant’s CEO, Sanjeev Gandhi, is getting a little tired of hearing about the Albanese government’s much hyped Future Made in Australia policy.
- James Thomson