What the Flux

Virgin Australia is promising millions of frequent flyer points to vaccinated Aussies once borders open.   Commbank predicts interest rates will rise in 2022 - which would have major implications for the Aussie housing market.   Tinder has revealed some of the biggest changes to the app since its 2012 launch - to cater for a more Gen Z userbase.   ---   Save money and win cash...

Commbank is continuing to sell ‘non-core’ divisions - and has now sold its home and car insurance arm for around $1 billion.   To fight off competitors, Twitter has opened up applications to test its new features - super follows and ticketed spaces.   Microsoft is now worth US$2 trillion and has joined Apple in the exclusive club.   ---   Save money and win cash pri...

Go1, the QLD based corporate training marketplace, has become Australia’s latest unicorn - cracking the $1 billion valuation.   After shutting down its game development business in 2016, Disney has made a big comeback in the space this month.   Bitcoin prices continue to slump as China tightens its crackdown on bitcoin mining.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up to...

The Seven Network has claimed it will win the TV ratings this year ahead of rival Nine - for the first time since 2018.   OnlyFans, the content subscription platform with focus on adult content, is raising new funding at valuation over $1.3 billion.   Spotify has launched its rival to Clubhouse - Spotify Greenroom - as it strives to give creators a place to connect with fans.   ---...

Coles will spend $2.5 billion over the next 2 years on a better online shopping experience, plus trolley-sized self serve checkouts.   Sky News Australia will launch a new free-to-air channel that will reach around 7 million regional Australians.   Chinese shopping retailer Shein has overtaken Amazon to become the #1 e-commerce app in the US.   ---   Save money and win cash pri...

What The Flux is Australia's no.1 business news podcast - and thanks to you Flux fam, we've grown our community to over 200,000 Aussies.   Today, we are really excited to share our first exclusive interview. Get to know the real (Treasurer) Josh Frydenberg as we ask him about: How he felt about “Josh Frydenberg, young and hot” becoming a popular Google search? His toughest opponen...

Sales of zero alcohol beer are growing faster than any other segment of the beer industry - even outpacing craft beer.   Two major sports stars have snubbed Heineken and Coca-Cola during press conferences - in what’s been dubbed ‘Bottlegate'.   Facebook has shared that the launch if its cryptocurrency named Diem (formerly known as Libra) is only months away.   ---  ...

Aussie delivery riders say new safety measures on platforms like UberEats and Deliveroo aren’t enough, and only better pay will improve working conditions.   Eftpos and BPay believe their merger will get approved by regulators, despite concerns it could create a monopoly.   The G7 has established its ‘Build Back Better World’ economic strategy to prevent China’s m...

Australia and the UK have agreed to a new free trade deal, with a focus on working visas and meat exports.   Peloton, the at-home fitness company loved by Justin Bieber and US President Biden, is launching in Australia.   Hyundai and General Motors are pushing ahead with plans to develop flying cars by 2025.   ---   *GUESS WHO OUR GUEST WILL BE ON FRIDAY'S SPECIAL POD FOR A CHA...

Netflix has launched netflix.shop, an online store where viewers can purchase show merchandise.   Facebook is planning to launch a smartwatch that could rival Apple’s.   Australian retail giant, Premier Investments, which owns Smiggle and Just Jeans, is expecting to nearly double its full-year profits.   ---   *GUESS WHO OUR PODCAST GUEST WILL BE THIS FRIDAY: https://flux...

Chinese inflation just hit its highest level since 2018, which could mean bad news for countries like Australia.   Aussie SMS marketing/tech company, MessageMedia, has been acquired by Swedish rival Sinch for $1.7 billion.   Facebook has revealed new ways for creators (aka influencers) to make MORE money on Instagram, in Facebook’s first ever 'Creator’s week'.   --- &nbs...

Paypal is taking on Afterpay and the big banks by expanding into the physical world - with a brand new credit card.   A 21-year-old Aussie entrepreneur has raised $65 million for his alternative chicken nugget company, Nuggs.   British American Tobacco provided a positive forecast for the rest of 2021 - after a record number of people bought its vaping products.   ---   Save mo...

The NSW Government has secretly offered $50 million in taxpayer dollars to keep Qantas’ headquarters in Sydney.   An Aussie TikTok family has been named and shamed for promoting a new crypto, prompting questions around influencers and financial advice.   Apple is taking on Zoom and Facebook with its latest updates, which include expanded video conferencing.   ---   Save m...

Twitter has picked Australia as one of only two countries to launch its new premium subscription service, Twitter Blue.   Afterpay has recruited actress Rebel Wilson for its new global advertising push in order to spice up its brand image.   G7 nations have reached a landmark deal to set a 15% tax rate on multinational companies like Google, Apple and Amazon.   ---   Save money...

Bunnings plans to build a new network of ‘professional’ tool stores and will buy companies that will help it gain market share.   The ABC has asked the government for $90 million to create more children’s and drama content over the next 3 years.   The local arm of co-working giant WeWork has posted a $102 million loss for the 2020 financial year.   ---   Save...

Woolworths has announced it will challenge the big banks with its own payment service businesses.   Airtasker is expanding to the US and has acquired a similar US-based services marketplace for $3.4 million.   Etsy, the online handmade and vintage items retailer, is buying youth-friendly social shopping app Depop for $2 billion.   ---   Save money and win cash prizes up to $250...

The fight between Qantas and Rex Airlines has escalated after Rex took out full page ads highlighting the public’s dissatisfaction with Qantas refunds.   The RBA has kept rates on hold at 0.10% and has said further COVID outbreaks will hurt Australia’s economic recovery.   Zoom’s financial performance exceeded expectations for the first 3 months of 2021, but as the worl...

Zara, the global fashion behemoth, is planning on cutting costs in its Australian business following a tough couple of years.   Nestlé has admitted that over 60% of its traditional packaged consumer food and beverage products are not ‘healthy’.   China’s new three-child policy has sent stocks soaring in China’s baby and maternity industry.   ---  ...

Aussie comparison website Finder is now offering to pay its employees 25% of their salary in bitcoin, rather than cash.   The Australian fashion industry makes over $27 billion annually and employs almost 500,000 workers (77% of whom are women), according to a new report from EY.   Netflix wants the government to ditch a proposal that would introduce content production quotas for streami...

The owner of Pizza Hut is buying ASX-listed company Dragontail Systems for $94 million, a company that its rival Domino’s relies upon.   McDonald’s has launched its long-awaited meal with K-pop sensation BTS - Maccas’ first celeb collab to launch globally.   A pro-climate change investor will drive a more green agenda at oil giant ExxonMobil after winning board seats an...

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has said it is coming after crypto investors at tax time this financial year.   Facebook and Instagram are giving their billions of users the option to hide “likes” on their own posts - and the posts of others.   Meme stock GameStop has announced plans to launch a new platform for non-fungible tokens (NFTs).   ---   Save money and win...

Chemist Warehouse is getting ready to launch a new electronic prescription service - meaning patients can get their prescriptions delivered.   Virgin Galactic has completed its first human spaceflight ever, which means we are one step closer to ‘space tourism’.   The New York Times is looking into the potential acquisition of fast-growing sports media company The Athletic. Se...

An Australian e-commerce startup - that wants to be the ‘homepage of online shopping’ - has raised $30 million from Commbank (before launching).   Zip Co will invest more than $160 million to buy 100% of two overseas buy now pay later companies - in Europe and the Middle East.   Australia’s chief medical officer won’t rule out a cash lottery or other financial inc...

eBay is allowing trusted Australian regulators to directly take down listings from its marketplace where there is a risk to consumer safety.   Amazon Prime Video is expanding into sports broadcasting as it prepares its bid for the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup to be hosted in Australia.   Snap, the owner of Snapchat, is going all in on augmented reality glasses with the purchase of W...

Qantas has announced it has lost over $16 billion in revenue since COVID began.   The owner of Bonds says the company is now worth $500 million - and Richmond AFL star Dustin Martin has helped it succeed in the youth market.   The founder of TikTok owner ByteDance is stepping down as CEO after admitting he lacks skills that make an ideal manager.   ---   Save money and win cash...