December 4, 2024

Dr Shane Oliver, Head of Investment Strategy & Chief Economist at AMP, discusses key themes for 2024. Key points The key themes for 2024 were: better than feared growth; global divergence; more disinflation; falling interest rates but with Australia lagging; and more geopolitical threats but not as bad as feared. As in 2023, returns were […]

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite surged to record highs on Wednesday, driven by strong reports from Salesforce and Marvell Technology, with tech stocks leading the rally. The broad market index rose 0.61 per cent, closing at 6,086.49, while the Nasdaq climbed 1.3 per cent to finish at 19,735.12. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained

DroneShield (ASX:DRO) has announced a repeat order worth $8.2m from a major European military customer. The contract involves providing dismounted and vehicle-mounted counter-drone (Counter-UxS) systems, with delivery expected over the next three months, including from existing stock. Full cash payment is anticipated in Q1 2025. CEO Oleg Vornik commented: “Larger orders of this type from

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced plans to build what it claims will be the world’s largest artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputer. Dubbed Project Rainier, the supercomputer is expected to be operational by 2025. The announcement was made on 3 December at the AWS re:Invent conference in Las Vegas. The computer will be powered by AWS’s

Shares in Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) surged more than 10% in after-hours trading following the release of the company’s fiscal Q3 2025 earnings report. The company exceeded revenue expectations, raised its full-year revenue outlook, and highlighted advancements in its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. Shares are currently trading at US$366.30, up from US$331.76 at Tuesday’s close. Salesforce

Bravura Solutions (ASX:BVS) has upgraded its financial guidance for FY25, reflecting strong performance and the successful execution of its strategic transformation over the past 18 months. The company also announced plans to recommence dividend payments, signalling a return to profitability and robust cash generation. The upgraded guidance includes: Cash EBITDA of $33m to $36m, up

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released economic data today. Here’s some of the key figures. Growth Australia’s economy grew by 0.3% in the September quarter 2024, marking the slowest annual growth rate since late 2020. This compares to a 0.8% growth rate in September 2023. Year-on-year, gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.8%, continuing a pattern

Alterity Therapeutics (ASX:ATH) has announced the completion of the Phase 2 clinical trial in multiple system atrophy (MSA) for its lead drug candidate, ATH434. No results were released, but Alterity plans to release topline results in late January or early February 2025. “We are very excited to announce that the last participant in our Phase 2 study

China has announced an export ban to the United States on critical minerals gallium, germanium, and antimony, all of which hold significant military and technological applications. This move marks the latest escalation in trade tensions between the two global superpowers following Washington’s crackdown on China’s semiconductor industry. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce cited national security

COSOL (ASX:COS) has announced the acquisition of Toustone Pty Ltd, an Australian data analytics firm, for up to $22.4m. The acquisition aligns with COSOL’s strategy to expand its asset management solutions and enhance data analytics capabilities, particularly in sectors such as transport, agriculture and infrastructure. COSOL helps organisations in industries such as natural resources, infrastructure