What the Flux

The Commonwealth Bank has called out ApplePay for being anti-competitive on tap-and-go payments.   Vaccine maker Pfizer expects $45 billion in vaccine sales this year.   SoftBank has lost around $5.4 billion on its investment into Chinese ride-hailing app Didi, as regulators continue their crackdown.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up to $250k weekly: https://bit.ly/Wint...

Spaceship, the micro-investing app, is now managing more than $1 billion in investments from nearly 200,000 Aussies.   Tiffany & Co is getting a brand makeover and is aiming to target younger consumers with an aggressive campaign.   Duolingo, the language learning app, has increased the price-per-share target just ahead of its IPO.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up...

Global cigarette maker Philip Morris International wants cigarettes banned in the UK by 2030. Um, what?   Infamous share trading app Robinhood is considering launching retirement accounts as it prepares for its long awaited IPO this week.   Aussie online health clinic Mosh has raised $10m as home delivery becomes routine for over 5 million Aussies.   ---   Save money and win ca...

Lorna Jane has been fined $5 million for claiming certain products prevented covid from spreading.   Aussie buy now pay later company Zip believes the future of its business is offshore - as growth in its local business slows down.   Volvo has achieved record financial results - ahead of where it was at pre pandemic - and as a result is considering an IPO.   ---   Save money an...

Coles is ending its Little Shop plastic toy promotions as it strives to become Australia’s most sustainable supermarket.   Aussie miner BHP has closed a deal with Tesla, the world’s biggest electric car maker, to supply nickel for its batteries.   Salesforce has closed its $27.7 billion USD purchase of Slack - bringing Slack one step closer to its goal of killing email. &nbsp...

Brisbane can expect economic losses as host of the 2032 summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.   Aussie cosmetics giant Mecca is striving to enter the content and media space with its new podcast.   Commbank is expanding into the telco space after acquiring 25% of an industry upstart - and the bank has plans to offer discounted broadband.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up...

Aussie furniture retailer Nick Scali is preparing a bid to buy rival Plush Sofas - as the industry consolidates.   JB Hi-Fi’s profit is expected to rise by around 67% as Aussies continue to spend money on electronics and appliances in lockdowns.   Australia-born mining giant BHP is said to be considering exiting the oil and gas business as investors turn against fossil fuels. &nbsp...

Afterpay is launching a new banking app to take on the big banks, and it has its eyes on Gen Z and millennial women.   After two failed attempts at a premium app, CNN is launching a new streaming service named CNN+.   Major Olympic Games sponsor Toyota is refusing to run Games-related TV ads - just days from the big event.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up to $250k week...

The RBA has revealed that borrowing money to buy shares ('margin lending') is at an 11-year high.   Movie-maker Warner Bros has partnered with over 200 big brands to promote its new Space Jam movie.   Chinese tech company Xiaomi has surpassed Apple to become the world’s second-biggest smartphone maker.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up to $250k weekly: https://bit...

The Reserve Bank of Aus is chatting with other central banks about a “central bank digital currency” for everyday use.   Netflix is making its first big move beyond TV and movies, with plans to expand into video games.   LG has invested over $7 billion in batteries and announced it wants to service the entire renewable energy industry.   ---   Save money and win cas...

Sydney Airport’s board has rejected a $22 billion takeover offer from local and international investors.   Facebook and Instagram will spend $1.3 billion on social media creators in a fight to retain top talent.   Levi’s has capitalised on the death of skinny jeans, with shares up 46% this year.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up to $250k weekly: https://bit....

Apple is entering the buy now pay later space, whilst PayPal has ditched late fees, adding pressure on Afterpay.   Aldi is developing a new small store format to expand into heavily populated urban locations - just like Woolies.   HelloFresh wants to get into the ready-made meal space and has offered to buy Aussie company Youfoodz for $125 million.   ---   Save money and win ca...

Wesfarmers, the owner of Bunnings and Officeworks, could be getting into the pharmacy space, offering $687 million to buy the owner of Priceline.   Telstra has launched its first brand campaign since 2016 as it strives to win back trust from the Australian community.   Microsoft will acquire security intelligence company RiskIQ to fight back against the rise of cyber attacks on companies...

Westpac has lost around $290 million to an Australian fraudster and his company.   Glossier, the makeup brand adored by millennials, has reached a $2.4 billion valuation off the back of a big 2020.   China’s competition regulator is blocking Tencent’s $7B plan to merge China’s top two video game sites.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up to $250k weekly:...

F45, the Aussie-born fitness chain backed by Mark Wahlberg, is finally going public and expects a valuation around $2B.   The European Union has fined BMW, VW, Audi and Porsche for colluding on emission control technology.   Visa has announced itself to the crypto world by striking a partnership with over 50 crypto companies.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up to $250k w...

The retail billionaire behind Smiggle and Peter Alexander wants to flip Myer’s board after buying $16.4 million worth of shares in the company.   Chobani, the greek yoghurt maker, has announced its plans for a big fat, creamy IPO - with some expecting a valuation around $13 billion.   Wise, the company formerly known as TransferWise, has been valued at $16 billion on its first day...

Foxtel owners News Corp and Telstra are considering an IPO for the company, as Kayo and Binge grow significantly.   Telstra will pay $25M in refunds to over 50,000 customers after it failed to inform them of slower than promised NBN speeds.   Softbank, known for big investments in WeWork and Uber, has bought a Yahoo trademark license for $2.1 billion.   ---   Save money and win...

A group of Aussie and global investors has proposed to buy Sydney Airport for $22 billion.   Zoom is pioneering video-based commerce and will start helping consumers shop without going into stores.   TikTok is raising the stakes against rival YouTube as the company rolls out longer videos.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up to $250k weekly: https://bit.ly/Wintheweek Get...

Australian share trading app Superhero is adding US shares to its platform as it strives to compete with CommSec.   China has ordered the removal of ride-sharing app Didi from app stores - just days after their IPO.   Life insurers are bracing for a potential $1.5 billion hit after lockdown - as fewer people go to the doctor to get regular check ups.   ---   Save money and win...

Aussie lingerie brand Honey Birdette has been sold to the owner of Playboy for $443 million.   Share trading app Robinhood has announced its IPO plans one day after copping a record-breaking fine from regulators.   Dating app Bumble is opening a restaurant, as it expands into hospitality and networking.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up to $250k weekly: https://bit.ly/W...

Telstra has sold half of its mobile phone tower network for $2.8 billion - and it believes the sale won’t impact its strong position in the market.   Aussie tech company Nuix is facing bombshell insider trading allegations as ASIC puts their IPO under the microscope.   Shares in China’s version of Uber, named Didi, have hit $91 billion just after their massive IPO.   ---...

Commonwealth Bank and NAB have extended their lucrative banking deals with Australia Post by a decade.   Facebook has launched an independent publishing/newsletter platform named “Bulletin” to fight Substack and Twitter.   Elon Musk’s Starlink is on track to deliver internet across the globe within weeks (possibly to 500,000 people over the next year).   ---  ...

Uber Australia says its new monthly subscription service UberPass will help it build a more stable business over the next few years.   The government is open to bringing in skilled migrants to combat Australia’s slowing economic growth and population.   Facebook’s market value has surpassed $1 trillion for the first time.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up to...

Facebook has rejected talks with Aussie publisher The Conversation, which could test the government’s new media code.   Nike shares surged 15% and hit a record high as a result of a post-lockdown sales boost.   Panasonic, the Japanese electronics giant, has sold its stake in Tesla for $4.7 billion as their relationship cools.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up to $...

Afterpay will let shoppers ‘shop anywhere’ (not only where Afterpay is offered) when using the company’s new virtual card.   Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica is considering suing the company it planned to buy for $11.3 billion.   BuzzFeed is going public - but not through the traditional IPO path - instead via SPAC, a special-purpose acquisition company.   ---  ...