Vera Chen

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

Business · 2 days ago

KMD Brands, owner of Rip Curl and Kathmandu, in exclusive talks with US retail giant

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

KMD Brands, the parent of Rip Curl and Kathmandu, confirmed on Monday it is in exclusive discussions with an unnamed US consumer brand group about a possible takeover, sparking speculation among investors and surf‑an…

Finance · 2 days ago

Westpac predicts 11% house‑price drop while posting $6.8 bn profit

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Westpac, Australia’s second‑biggest lender, said interest rates will stay elevated and house prices could fall more than 10% by March, even as it reported a $6.8 bn profit.

Business · 3 days ago

Garth Hamilton Calls Time to Toss Super‑For‑Housing Into the Ashes

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Liberal MP Garth Hamilton has publicly warned that a proposed superannuation‑to‑housing conversion is out of step with public sentiment, urging the party to pivot its policy. The move could spark a fresh debate among…

Business · 3 days ago

Julius Dam: Half‑Century Old Waterworks Still Quenching the Outback

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Opened in 1976 as Mount Isa’s answer to water shortages, Julius Dam continues to supply water to North West Queensland communities and industry half a century later.

Business · 3 days ago

Teenage Protesters Turn France’s Streets into a Market Forecast Nightmare

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Hundreds of thousands of high‑school students have taken to the streets across France for the third weekend, demanding lower living costs and better education, prompting market analysts to scramble to adjust their fore…

Business · 4 days ago

Alice Springs House Sales: Melbourne and Sydney Buyers Snap Up Outback Homes in 24 Hours, Rental Yields Soar

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Investors from Melbourne and Sydney are buying Alice Springs homes within a day of listing, chasing the town’s unusually high rental yields and turning the remote outback into a hot property market.

Business · 4 days ago

Etsy Tightens AI Rules, Sellers Still Uncertain About Their Digital Art's Future

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Etsy has rolled out new AI‑copying policies amid a chorus of user complaints, but many sellers remain unconvinced that the changes will protect their creative livelihoods.

Business · 4 days ago

Horsham’s lone LPG pump goes silent, leaving motorists to hitch a ride to the nearest town for cheap fuel

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The final LPG dispenser in Horsham has closed as demand dwindles, meaning drivers must travel out of town to fill up with the once‑cheap alternative to petrol.

Finance · 5 days ago

NGX Limited’s Namibian Gold Licences Spark Glitter‑Strewn Frenzy

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

NGX Limited’s shares surged 92.9% after securing seven gold licences in Namibia that cover more than 1,300 square kilometres, making the company the ASX runner of the week and turning the market into a treasure hunt.