ASIC's next "punch in the face" to the ASX includes its announcement on 26 June that it has appointed a three-member panel, including former RBA Deputy Governor Guy Debelle, to investigate the ASX's governance and risk management. This follows a serious "tap on the shoulder" warning of what was to come via a joint RBA/ASIC letter to the ASX on 31 March. This is after what Reuters politely called "escalating tensions that have simmered for years amid a botched software upgrade and a series of trade-processing glitches". The panel's report is expected by March 31, 2026.
ASIC and 8 peer global regulators ran a week-long blitz on influencers pushing high-risk products without a licence. In Australia, 18 finfluencers received formal warning notices; overseas actions ranged from account takedowns to arrests. ASIC says unlicensed promoters of CFDs, OTC derivatives and copy-trade “signal groups” are its next enforcement focus.
The number of financial advisers in Australia has dropped from over 25,000 in 2019 to 15,488 as of mid-2025. This decline is linked to impending stricter qualification standards set for 2026 and a decrease in financial planning degree programs. The middle-tier advisory market is shrinking, leaving many average investors underserved.
Goldman Sachs has emerged as the top M&A advisor in Australia for FY2025, handling deals worth US$63 billion and capturing nearly 46% of the market share. Notable transactions include the US$24.4 billion acquisition of Santos by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and The Carlyle Group, and Blackstone’s US$16 billion purchase of AirTrunk. The surge in deal value is attributed to robust activity in resources, technology, and infrastructure sectors, driven by high commodity prices and the growing demand for data centres.
After previously withdrawing a US$2 billion offer for Australian wealth manager Insignia Financial due to market volatility, Bain Capital is now considering re-entering the bidding process. The initial withdrawal followed tariff-related market disruptions. With the exclusivity period expired, Bain's renewed interest could reignite competition for Insignia. At the time of writing, ASX:IFL was trading at $3.82, compared to approximately $4.50-4.75 on this day 10 years ago.
Jyoti joined us from Canada. She has built her career around a simple idea: stories connect us. With over 8 years of PR experience under her belt across finance, luxury hospitality, entertainment, and lifestyle, she leads with one main goal: to capture attention in an oversaturated world. Before PR, Jyoti began her career in television production, contributing to Emmy award-winning series like Vikings and Penny Dreadful.
You’re receiving this email because you’ve previously subscribed, attended one of our events, are a client, friend of BlueChip or previously connected with us. Don’t want to be on this list? Unsubscribe hereto opt out from this list or unsubscribe here to opt out from all email.
.png?upscale=true&width=740&upscale=true&name=Your%20paragraph%20text%20(12).png)
.png?upscale=true&width=300&upscale=true&name=Untitled%20design%20(24).png)
