Executives spent most of the conference denying, defending and deflecting. But the week’s most revealing moments came when they talked about their plans for humans in an AI world.
Finance and markets
On one side of Sydney, the government confirmed plan to reduce gas shortfalls. On the other, CEOs were figuring out how to cope with a quadrupling of power demand caused by data centres.
Chief executive James Manning laughed off questions about a recent short report that shot holes in his business. But a bigger question posed by a key partner may be harder to push aside.
Clive Palmer is weighing in on a push to bring prediction markets to Australia. The lobby’s claim it should not be regulated as gambling may be its biggest bet.
The iPhone maker has taken the gloves off in a major escalation of its long running feud with Australia’s largest bank and most valuable company.
HMC Capital is “pivoting really fast” out of the US as data centre projects face growing community opposition. CDC’s CEO says Australia is becoming “the next best option”.
Storied investment firms Soul Patts and Perpetual and hedge fund Regal have all revealed plans to deepen their exposure to the booming but controversial asset class.
Canva’s secondary offers have created generational liquidity for staff. They may also be making it easier for early leaders to leave.
SGH’s Ryan Stokes takes BlueScope takeover pressure public.
Despite rising loss rates, higher interest rates and potential tax changes, the nation’s second biggest bank is sticking to its strategy of winning the investor segment.
The chief executives of Qantas, Wesfarmers and Endeavour Group fronted investors at the Macquarie Australia Conference as another rate hike loomed large.
