Our Team

Cliona O’Dowd joined The Australian in 2016 and writes on financial services. She was previously the editor of business news and commentary website Business Spectator. Before moving into journalism she spent a number of years working in the financial services industry in Dublin and London. She holds a master’s degree in European public affairs and law.

@ClionaODowd

Cliona O'Dowd

Latest

MarketsBusiness

Digital background depicting innovative technologies in (AI) artificial systems, neural interfaces and internet machine learning technology generic.

Fundies pore over ‘Magnificent Seven’ in wake of tech carnage

Last year’s tech darlings have been at the centre of the US sharemarket sell-off. But are any of them worthy of buying at the current price?

Cliona O'Dowd

EXCLUSIVEFinancial Services

Investing to make money, wealth management, financial planning, market analysis, hand holding dollar sign puzzle complete arrow sign

PEP to broaden access of its Gateway fund beyond the rich

Pacific Equity Partners’ Gateway fund has been returning up to 20 per cent to wealthy investors in recent years and soon access is expected to be made available to a broader clientele.

Cliona O'Dowd

InvestingBusiness

07/03/2025. Simon Conn, senior portfolio manager, is leaving Investors Mutual after 27 years. He was a founding member of the fund manager and well known in investment circles. Photographed at their offices in Martin Place, Sydney. Britta Campion / The Australian

‘We’re quite vulnerable to shocks’, warns stockpicker Conn

Simon Conn is leaving Investors Mutual after 27 years. This is what he thinks about Trump, markets and government spending.

Cliona O'Dowd

SuperannuationBusiness

5/3/25: SS&C founder and Global Chair Bill Stone in Sydney. John Feder/The Australian.

SS&C reveals major Australian expansion plans

Through its novel deal with Insignia, US software and admin giant SS&C Technologies has big plans to become a major player in the Australian superannuation market.

Cliona O'Dowd

WealthWealth

Golden years starting to lose their lustre

Mountains of debt and bigger bills mean Australians are now a lot more worried about retirement, but are their concerns well founded?

Cliona O'Dowd

TakeoversBusiness

Thursday 29th February 2024.Insignia Financial CEO Scott Hartley.Photograph by Arsineh Houspian.

Bain, CC Capital fire up Insignia bidding war

The takeover tussle for Insignia has narrowed, with rivals Bain Capital and CC Capital lobbing $5-a-share bids to value the wealth manager at $3.35bn.

Cliona O'Dowd

EarningsMarkets

????SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA : NewsWire Photos - FEBRUARY 24 2025; A general view of people walking past the digital boards of the ASX in the Sydney CBD. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Results day ‘surprises’ come under ASX scrutiny

The ASX is cracking down on companies over their disclosure obligations during results season – particularly those which make market-moving announcements.

Cliona O'Dowd

SMSF investigationFinancial Services

Generic aerials over Melbourne taken from a hot air balloon. Melbourne Skyline. CBD. Sunrise. Picture: Alex Coppel.

ASIC probes links between First Guardian and Shield Master funds

The same group of advisers who spruiked now collapsed Shield Master Fund to superannuation investors, were also recommending now suspended First Guardian Master Fund.

Cliona O'Dowd

EXCLUSIVEFinancial Services

A glass jar full of Australian money; superannuation generic money

AustralianSuper cuts more ties with troubled MUFG

The nation’s biggest superannuation fund has severed ‘member facing’ operations with administrator MUFG and will bring advice in house in order to repair its reputation.

Cliona O'Dowd

ExclusivePolitics

Harvey Norman chief executive Gerry Harvey.

Harvey: nation’s day of reckoning ‘inevitable’

Prominent retailer Gerry Harvey says Australia has the worst energy and industrial relations policies in the world, but is still doing well; however, whoever wins the election we still face a daunting black hole of debt when the reckoning comes. And it will.

Eli Greenblat and Cliona O'Dowd

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/cliona-odowd/page/3