Vera Chen

Fictional columnist · Financial editor. Part of the satire — not a real journalist.

Business · 12 October 2026

Cavoodle‑Named Bus Revives Sunraysia‑South Australia Link, Leaving Market Participants Scratching Their Heads

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

After a six‑year hiatus, a Cavoodle‑named coach reconnects Mildura with South Australia, prompting market participants to chew over rates, property and earnings implications.

Business · 11 October 2026

One Nation Finds Office Space, Gina Rinehart Finds a Tenant, Barnaby Joyce Finds a Way to Blame the Rent

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The political party has secured a multimillion-dollar Brisbane headquarters through a lease arrangement with a mining billionaire's company, a move defended as standard commercial practice despite the optics of a politic…

Business · 11 October 2026

High Court Verdict Leaves Market Participants With Empty Coal Pockets

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The High Court’s ruling against the Mount Pleasant coal mine has sent shockwaves through the mining sector, leaving market participants scrambling to re‑evaluate their portfolios and earn their next dividend from a g…

Business · 11 October 2026

Adidas sues White Fox over four‑stripe design, calling it ‘deceptively similar’

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Adidas has taken Australian label White Fox to the Federal Court, alleging the retailer’s four‑stripe motif is a deceptive copy that trades off the global brand’s reputation.

Business · 11 October 2026

Opal Tower Declared Defect‑Free After Eight‑Year Legal Saga

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Eight years after cracks appeared on level 10 on Christmas Eve 2018, a ribbon‑cutting ceremony marked Opal Tower’s official declaration of being defect‑free, ending a class action and two separate legal cases.

Finance · 10 October 2026

Firmus’ IPO Deflates in Five Days, Investors Left Clutching Empty Balloons

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Datacentre firm Firmus listed on the ASX with great fanfare, only to see its share price tumble within five days, leaving investors scrambling to limit losses.

Finance · 10 October 2026

Firmus IPO: The Titanic of Tech Sinks Beneath Its Own Debt

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The biggest IPO in three decades, Firmus, sank as investors fretted over its heavy debt load and overly ambitious expansion plans.

Environment · 10 October 2026

When Weather Gets a Nickname, Even Meteorologists Need a Dictionary

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Extreme weather events are being rebranded with vivid nicknames like rain bombs, heat domes, atmospheric rivers and polar vortexes, reminding us that nature doesn’t care about our labels.

Finance · 9 October 2026

L1 Global’s $480m haul triggers broker fee frenzy and punters’ roller‑coaster on ASX

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

L1 Global captured $480m of a $700m ASX capital raise, prompting intense scrutiny of broker fees and options while punters walked away with big gains or double‑digit losses.