Money

Australian government urged to support breakup of supermarket giants

Published

2 years ago

March 7, 2024

Calls for Australia’s antitrust regulator to be granted authority to break up supermarket behemoths Woolworths and Coles resounded in a Senate inquiry.

The National Farmers Federation Horticulture Council, representing growers, decried the dominance of the “large corporate duopoly,” insisting that divesting assets from these giants could inject much-needed competition into the market and benefit both producers and consumers.

“The ability to divest, from a government policy point of view, should never be taken off the table,” said Council member Jeremy Griffith during the inquiry’s hearings.

“From a competition point of view, in five years time, we could be in a lot more competitive position than we’re in now.”

Market dominance

The spotlight has intensified on Woolworths and Coles in recent years, with concerns about their market dominance exacerbated by two years of high inflation. The combined grocery sales of these giants account for approximately two-thirds of Australia’s market, rendering it one of the most concentrated in the world.

Despite repeated calls for change, the centre-left Labor government has not disclosed its stance on potential reforms, while the rural-focused opposition party, the Nationals, has rejected compulsory breakup proposals.

Representatives from Woolworths and Coles were not immediately available for comment, but they defended their operations in written submissions to the inquiry, citing Australia’s highly competitive grocery sector with some of the world’s lowest profit margins.

They also highlighted newer entrants like ALDI as contributing to competitive pressures.

Money

U.S. dollar weakens while Australian dollar rises amid global market shifts

Published

2 days ago

January 30, 2026

Harvey Vargas

US dollar weakens as Trump comments; Australian dollar gains from commodity prices and RBA rate hike expectations

The US dollar is coming under pressure as the economy remains strong and President Trump comments on its decline. We explore how this is impacting major currencies around the world and what it means for investors.

Meanwhile, the Australian dollar is benefiting from rising commodity prices and growing expectations of an RBA rate hike. Global investors are increasingly drawn to Australia’s bond market as economic conditions shift.

Currency trading strategies are adapting to this changing landscape, with potential implications for interest rates and international markets. Steve Gopalan from SkandaFX breaks down the trends.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

#USDDollar #AustralianDollar #ForexTrading #RBA #InterestRates #GlobalEconomy #CurrencyMarket #Ticker

Money

Wall Street slides as AI spending raises investor concerns

Wall Street dips as AI spending scrutiny rises; Microsoft struggles while Meta thrives. Tune in for insights!

Published

2 days ago

January 30, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Wall Street dips as AI spending scrutiny rises; Microsoft struggles while Meta thrives.

Wall Street closed lower on Thursday, with the Nasdaq leading losses as investors questioned whether Big Tech’s massive AI spending will pay off. Microsoft shares tumbled after revealing record AI infrastructure costs, while Meta rallied on strong earnings and a bullish outlook.

Kyle Rodda from Capital.com joins us to explain what spooked markets, which tech names are holding up, and whether AI budgets are getting too big.

We also discuss rate expectations, macro risks, and what to watch in the upcoming earnings season.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

Money

Tesla brand value plummets amid Elon Musk’s political focus

Tesla’s brand value plummeted to $27.61 billion in 2025 amid Musk’s political shift, sparking investor concern.

Published

5 days ago

January 28, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Tesla’s brand value plummeted to $27.61 billion in 2025 amid Musk’s political shift, sparking investor concern.

Tesla’s brand value plummeted by $15.4 billion in 2025, falling to $27.61 billion from $66.2 billion in early 2023. Analysts say Elon Musk’s political focus and a slowdown in new models have distracted the company’s core business.

In the U.S., Tesla’s recommendation score sank to just 4 out of 10, down from 8.2 in 2023. Despite this, loyalty among existing owners remains high at 92 per cent, showing a strong but shrinking fan base.

#TeslaNews #ElonMusk #BrandValue