FEAR & GREED | Business News James Hardie chair dumped; Trump accelerates nuclear testing; Nvidia hits $US5 trillion
Oct 30, 2025
Shareholders make headlines by ousting the chair of James Hardie over a controversial $14 billion merger. In a surprising twist, Trump vows to speed up nuclear testing during discussions with Xi Jinping. Coles outpaces Woolworths with a faster sales growth, while Nvidia achieves an astonishing $5 trillion market valuation. Retailers like Bunnings and Kmart report an alarming increase in aggressive shopper behavior, further shaking the retail landscape.
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Chair Ousted Over Controversial Merger
- James Hardie's chair Anne Lloyd was voted out after pushing a $14 billion merger with ASEC without a shareholder vote.
- Shareholders also ousted two other directors after the share price plunged and governance concerns surfaced.
Shareholders Have Growing Bite
- The James Hardie episode signals growing shareholder activism when boards ignore investors and performance worsens.
- Proxy firms and big investors like the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors can force rapid board change.
Timing And Incentives Fueled Backlash
- Timing and perceived self-dealing worsened shareholder anger, including a CEO cashing out incentives before a downgrade.
- These details amplified the governance backlash against the board.