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    James Thomson

    Columnist

    James Thomson is senior Chanticleer columnist based in Melbourne. He was the Companies editor and editor of BRW Magazine. Connect with James on Twitter. Email James at j.thomson@afr.com

    James Thomson

    This Month

    Research by Professor Hendrik Bessembinder found that 59 per cent of US companies were a drag on investor wealth between 1925 and today, and just 4 per cent of companies accounted for the net wealth creation in that period.

    Time to sell stars like CBA and Nvidia? History says be careful

    More market watchers are getting worried the stars of this rally are starting to fade. But new research says big winners tend to keep winning. 

    • Updated
    Guzman y Gomez co-CEO Steven Marks has a focused plan for growth, and  bigger, bolder goal.

    What Guzman y Gomez can learn from the Domino’s disaster

    Domino’s’ latest downgrade tells a story about long-term growth plans that investors in Guzman y Gomez should take note of. 

    Xi Jinping and Donald Trump appear to be on a collision course.

    Nvidia crash shows dark side of the Trump trade

    Donald Trump’s comments on Taiwan added to a global sell-off in computer chipmakers. The episode has three big lessons for investors. 

    • Updated
    The CFMEU scandal raises obvious questions about how the governance standards of super fund boards could be improved.

    CFMEU scandal should force rethink on super fund boards

    Union-backed industry super funds have pushed hard to lift governance and accountability at public companies. Shouldn’t they want to improve their own governance, too?

    • Updated
    Andrew Forrest’s says Fortescue will remain financially disciplined as it pursues its green vision.

    Reality bites for Forrest’s hydrogen dream. Investors won’t mind

    The biggest shake-up of Fortescue’s structure and strategy in years will be music to the market’s ear, but is more evidence the energy transition is spluttering.

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    Investors just keep pushing sharemarkets higher. But there are signs of fragilty.

    Stocks just keep rising, but bonds are flashing a big warning

    Wall Street’s rally is grinding on, and now seems to be broadening out. However, beneath the surface, there are signs of fragility that shouldn’t be ignored.

    Renovation rescue: CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith says the union is best placed to clean up its mess.

    The CFMEU can’t fix itself – just ask the banks, casinos and PwC

    If union and Labor leaders really want to win back trust in the CFMEU, only an independent and transparent inquiry into the union will do. 

    Australia’s long-standing iron ore trade faces a trio of threats in the coming years.

    Beware the triple threat to Australia’s China riches

    Approvals for Rio Tinto’s new $34 billion Simandou mine are a reminder that the next 30 years for the iron ore sector will look much different to the last. 

    Markets might be flying, but the outlook is very mixed.

    Why these 14 ASX stocks could be set to disappoint

    The sharemarket might be flirting with all-time highs, but there’s a growing sense investors are far too optimistic about earnings growth next financial year. Here’s why.

    Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan faced tough questioning about the CFMEU scandal on Monday.

    Labor’s ‘shocked and appalled’ act on CFMEU scandal is a joke

    As the billions pouring into Victoria’s Big Build rose, so too should have the accountability. Premier Jacinta Allan must explain how the CFMEU gained sway over this honey pot. 

    The big tailwinds that have driven the ASX 200 to 8000 points also carry risks.

    Why this strategist thinks the ASX at 8000 is a warning sign

    Barrenjoey’s chief macro strategist won’t spend much time celebrating the latest milestone. He says the index’s fair value is about 7300.

    Donald Trump now looks near-certain to win in November. But can he engineer a sweep of Congress too?

    Why Macquarie guru Viktor Shvets says ‘Trump trade’ just got trickier

    More certainty for markets of a Trump victory now might mean more uncertainty later if he sweeps November’s elections.

    June

    Neil Howe says the world is building towards a climax. “This book is not about where we want to go, it’s about where we are going – whether we want to go there or not.”

    Why the favourite demographer of market gurus predicts catastrophe

    History says something really ugly is coming, according to Neil Howe. Investors need to be ready.

    Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock is walking a fine line balancing interest rates and inflation.

    Bullock v the burritos: $3b float speaks to the RBA’s nagging problem

    Central banks have a problem: rate hikes are slowing the economy, but a wealth effect from housing and shares is keeping inflation sticky.  

    Nice little earner: The ASX debut of Guzman y Gomez provided a financial windfall for co-CEOs Steve Marks and Hilton Brett, and early backer Tom Cowan of TDM Growth Partners.

    Winners are grinners at Guzman y Gomez, but real test to come

    TDM Growth Partners’ initial $40 million bet has delivered a massive return. But while first-day profits are nice, it’s long-term success that counts. 

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    Office property valuations may not have hit the bottom just yet.

    Why the office property market is still in real pain

    Sliding valuations in Australian office real estate means the debate about whether the sector has hit the bottom will rage on. 

    Guzman y Gomez bosses Hilton Brett and Steven Marks will expand in South Australia via Viva Energy.

    This ASX giant is a secret winner from Guzman y Gomez float

    As Guzman y Gomez prepares for one of the most hyped floats in years, a $5 billion ASX giant is watching on with interest. 

    Feeding frenzy: Guzman y Gomez co-founder and CEO Steven Marks, and TDM Growth Partners founder Tom Cowan.

    How the market lost its mind over the Guzman y Gomez float

    The reaction to the fast-food group’s IPO has startled many market watchers. But strip away the memes, hoodies, bulls and bears, and it’s all about valuation. 

    • Updated
    Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang keeps delighting the market.

    Why Nvidia’s rise is stunning – and scary

    It’s no surprise Nvidia has become the world’s most valuable company, but it’s 43 per cent surge in just a month suggests emotion is driving the stock – and the broader market.

    Michele Bullock is waiting for more clarity on inflation.

    RBA’s narrow path is getting narrower. Blame the housing market

    The RBA’s concern is that rising household wealth – thanks in large part to strong house price growth – could keep inflation stickier than it wants.