What the Flux

Foxtel is set to launch its new streaming service Binge next week. Lululemon sales soar as working from home attire becomes the company's new best friend. Huawei, the Chinese phone maker and telecommunications company, is once again right in the middle of tensions between China and the US. --- Facebook group: http://bit.ly/whatthefluxgroup Cash burn tool: www.flux.finance/cashburn Web: https://www...

Kogan.com, the online retailer, is entering furniture and homewares with the acquisition of the furniture company Matt Blatt. Facebook has acquired Giphy, the animated gif search engine, in a deal worth around $400 million. Bondi Sands, known for its self tanning products, is speaking to potential investors about a full or partial acquisition. --- Cash burn tool: www.flux.finance/cashburn Web: htt...

Xero, the cloud accounting giant, has achieved its first full year of profit after 14 years. Facebook and Google should pay around $600 million a year to Australian media companies according to Peter Costello - Chairman of Channel Nine and former federal treasurer. Houseparty, the video chat app, is embracing a new direction: co-watching live video with friends. --- Cash burn tool: https://bit.ly/...

Australia’s Atlassian has acquired a startup to become more integrated with the popular messaging app Slack. EY, the professional services firm, has admitted that 20% of its staff do not want to return to the office as the Australian government prepares to kickstart the economy. Restaurant Brands International, the global company that owns Burger King and other fast food chains, believes the fast...

Australia’s third airline, Regional Express Holdings (aka REX), is set to capitalise on Virgin Australia's collapse by launching flights between Australia’s capital cities. Australia’s largest retail company, Premier Investments, is pushing for a totally new rent model for landlords - based on a percentage of sales rather than fixed monthly fees. To save his struggling airlines, Richard Branson, t...

Channel Ten is getting ready to launch a new channel later this year with a special focus on the 16-39 year-old age bracket. Shopify, the e-commerce platform, has launched a new consumer-facing app that meshes Instagram and Amazon. A new Aussie start-up named LimePay has built a new version of Afterpay that lets retailers create their own form of buy-now-pay-later. --- Web: https://www.flux.financ...

After almost two years of dating, TPG and Vodafone have been given the green light to get married (aka merge), - and the wedding is set for July. Nintendo’s annual profit has risen by over 40% - Nintendo’s best numbers in 9 years. Toll Group, the Australian logistics giant, has suffered a second major cyber attack this year. --- Web: https://www.flux.finance/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/fluxinsta Fac...

Amazon's share price fell this week when the company announced it will invest its latest profits into COVID-19 related expenses like worker safety. Despite the fabulous growth of UberEats, Uber's main business is suffering and has had to layoff 14% of its global workforce. Judo Bank, a new Australian bank focused on small businesses, has raised over $200 million at a valuation of more than $1 bill...

Blackmores, the Australian vitamins company, has enjoyed a sales boost as Aussies hoard immunity products like Vitamin C. Telstra is investing in a major cyber security program that will protect its customers from COVID-themed cyber attacks. Electronic Arts, the video game publisher known for FIFA and Apex Legends, has achieved its best sales in 10 years thanks to the global shutdown. --- Facebook...

Qantas is burning through $40 million a week because the majority of its flights are grounded due to the pandemic. Guzman y Gomez, the Australian-born, Mexican-style food chain, has abruptly stopped its high profile overseas expansion plans. Australia is missing out on $4bn of economic activity with every week of social distancing that goes by. --- Facebook group: http://bit.ly/whatthefluxgroup Fa...

Westpac's 70% profit drop = its hardest year in history. AFL, NRL and other top Australian sports could miss out on $200m in broadcasting revenue this year - even if sport competitions recommence. Flight Centre does backflip after being stared down by the consumer watchdog - the ACCC. --- Facebook group: http://bit.ly/whatthefluxgroup Facebook page: http://bit.ly/Fluxfacebook Instagram: http://bit...

Tencent, the internet giant that owns the Chinese version of Facebook, has bought 5% of Afterpay for $300m. Universal Pictures’ Trolls World Tour is succeeding at the box office despite the closure of cinemas - the movie has pioneered a new direct-to-streaming model, which could change the movie industry forever. Tesla has achieved a surprise profit for the last 3 months, despite factory closures...

To combat the falling residential market, realestate.com.au is offering free listings of properties - and they will only take a fee if the property sells. Microsoft has delivered strong sales of $35bn for the last 3 months, despite the economic impact of the coronavirus. Marley Spoon, the meal-kit delivery company, has achieved a 70% increase in sales over the last few weeks. --- Facebook group: h...

A growing number of pessimistic investors are betting that Myer will collapse in the coming months, following a sharp fall in sales due to the pandemic. Velocity Rewards, the frequent flyer program of Virgin Australia, has requested that Virgin Australia repay the $150m it owes to Velocity and its members. According to Unilever, one of the world’s largest personal care product companies, lockdown...

Target has struggled so much during lockdown that its owner, Wesfarmers, is considering all available options, including potentially selling or closing down. Online sales at Accent Group, the company that owns The Athlete’s Foot, Platypus and Hype DC, have grown significantly in recent weeks, with the company converting stores into mini fulfilment centres. Younger Aussies who have had work hours c...

As media companies battle the effects of the pandemic, Foxtel is launching a new streaming service to rival Netflix. Australia's sovereign wealth fund, AKA the investment fund for Australia's economy and citizens, shrank by $6 billion in the last 3 months. Australians are used to being tracked by Facebook and Google, and now the Australian government is using similar technology to fight COVID-19....

Kanye West's brand Yeezy has bucked the retail trend after achieving a $3 billion valuation. Facebook is copying another competitor, Zoom, with its new videoconferencing product named Messenger Rooms. Salesforce and Australia's Atlassian are among the companies that have made huge profits from their investments in Zoom last year. --- Facebook group: http://bit.ly/whatthefluxgroup Facebook page: ht...

Some retailers, such as Chemist Warehouse and Super Retail Group (owner of Macpac and Rebel stores), are refusing to pay rent despite strong financial performance. Snapchat's share price had its best day in two years after announcing a major rise in revenue, following announcements from Facebook and Twitter that revenue has taken a hit in 2020. Buy now, pay later providers and predatory 'payday le...

Due to both social distancing, and hit shows like Tiger King, Netflix has added more than 15 million subscribers between January and March. This week oil prices fell below zero for the first time on record as oil producers run out of space to store the oversupply of oil left by the coronavirus crisis. Treasury Wine Estates, the Australian company that owns Penfolds and Wolf Blass, has signed a par...

Virgin Australia has become the biggest corporate casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic with the company falling into voluntary administration. What does this mean for investors, Qantas and us? --- Facebook group: http://bit.ly/whatthefluxgroup Facebook page: http://bit.ly/Fluxfacebook Instagram: http://bit.ly/fluxinsta Web: https://www.flux.finance/ --- The content in this podcast reflects the views...

In order to keep up with demand, and to sell fewer items, Amazon is changing its website by removing personalised recommendations. Facebook and Google are being forced to pay Australian media companies when publishing their news stories - under a world-first code here in Australia. Prescriptions for medical cannabis are on the rise in Australia, as self isolation and the crumbling economy causes a...

The Commonwealth Bank expects house prices to drop by 10% over the next 6 months because of the coronavirus, with Melbourne and Sydney to experience the biggest drops. As major sporting competitions are paused due to the coronavirus, Esports is soaring in popularity, with Esports investors seeing returns of over 12% in the last year. Despite the significant drop in retail sales across Australia, a...

Virgin Australia's biggest shareholders, including Etihad and Singapore Airlines, have rejected a request to invest more money into the struggling airline. Health insurance company NIB is preparing to offer members cash handouts to compensate for lost benefits following the coronavirus shutdown. A young Australian payments company named Airwallex has managed to raise $250 million despite the pande...

Afterpay shares jumped 29% as the company announced it now has over 8 million customers despite the global shutdown. Disney is becoming one of Hollywood's biggest coronavirus victims after being forced to let go 43,000 employees temporarily. Bubs, the Australian baby formula, has reported its highest revenue for a 3 month period, due to a boom in demand for infant formula in China. --- Facebook gr...

Westpac will incur $1.4bn in one-off costs after it breached bank industry rules like anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing last year. Traditional Big Tech rivals Apple and Google have joined forces to launch a COVID-19 tracking tool. Because pubs and restaurants are closed, online sales for alcohol have jumped around 20%, as people embrace new ways to purchase and consume alcohol....