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

(FILES) US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after landing at the Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida on February 16, 2025 after attending the Daytona 500 car race earlier in the day. Donald Trump's first 100 days back in the US presidency have showcased his unique ability to shock -- and sometimes entertain -- with outrageous remarks that pull no punches. From stroking his own ego to berating American allies, Trump has given many memorable quotes since he returned to the White House (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP)

Buy and hold investing won’t survive the Trump 2.0 era

The smart money says Donald Trump’s protectionist policies have shattered a well-worn investing strategy.

Cliona O'Dowd

InvestingBusiness

BASEL, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 11: General view of the Swiss pharmaceutical and drug company Novartis AG headquarters on April 11, 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. Before US President Donald Trump postponed a range of imminent tariffs, Switzerland was facing a daunting 31% levy on most Swiss goods to imported to the United States, a higher rate than would have been imposed on European Union countries. Such a tariff would've been high damaging to iconic Swiss industries like chocolate and watchmaking. The reprieve will provide breathing room for Swiss officials looking to negotiate a deal with the US, although Swiss goods will still face a 10% tariff in the meantime, and the fate of a potential separate tariff on pharmaceuticals is unknown. (Photo by Sedat Suna/Getty Images)

Platinum’s ill-timed big pharma bet turns red

Platinum’s flagship international fund initiated positions in several pharmaceutical companies in the lead-up to Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’.

Cliona O'Dowd

MarketsBusiness

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos APRIL 15:A view of the digital boards at the ASX in Sydney. Photo: Gaye Gerard / NewsWire

‘This is more than tariffs, it’s a reset’

Donald Trump’s radical agenda to up-end the global trade order is part of a broader structural reset — and he still has the support of Middle America, investors say.

Cliona O'Dowd

MarketsBusiness

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos APRIL 09: ***Strictly for editorial use only*** A general view of the digital boards at the Australian Stock Exchange in Sydney after the ASX plummeted for a second day, with another 50 billion dollars wiped off the Australian stock market today, as a result of fears US President Donald TrumpÃƒs reciprocal tariff policies will send the global economy into a recession. Photo: Gaye Gerard / NewsWire

Relief rally as tariff optimism lifts ASX

Investors latch onto hopes of a thawing in US trade tensions, even as President Donald Trump injects fresh uncertainty into the path ahead. Analysts say the gold rally has further to run.

Cliona O'Dowd

Managed investment schemeBusiness

Falcon, First Guardian to be wound up

The Federal Court has appointed liquidators to wind up the failed entities, as the corporate regulator extends its investigation.

Cliona O'Dowd

MarketsBusiness

President Donald Trump speaks as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Washington. (Pool via AP)

How the bond market scared Trump into action

The US President blinked as a violent sell-off of US treasuries sounded the alarm for a full-blown financial crisis.

Cliona O'Dowd

hackFinancial Services

State Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said some people were behaving disgracefully, preying on the vulnerable and pretending to be licensed electricians and they were “opportunistic grubs”. Picture: Supplied

AusSuper’s six-day delay on cyber scam

AustralianSuper sat on its hands for close to a week after scammers wiped more than $400,000 from a pensioner’s account.

Cliona O'Dowd

EXCLUSIVEBusiness

Scammers siphon $406,000 from pensioner’s AusSuper account

A 74-year-old Queensland woman has had her life savings stolen from her AustralianSuper account by scammers. The fund took a full week to alert the public of any fraud risk.

Cliona O'Dowd

EXCLUSIVETechnology

Hackers using laptop computers to penetrate security systems to steal big data from the server room; scammers generic fraud cyber

Super funds face steep fines after key security flaw let hackers in

A coordinated cyber attack has rocked Australia’s biggest superannuation funds, revealing major security lapses and igniting fresh criticism over industry governance and risk oversight.

Cliona O'Dowd and Jared Lynch

MarketsMarkets

Trump and a trader with arms raised on red stocks background

Market carnage as Wall St plunges 6pc, $A dives

A global recession is almost inevitable after China waded into Donald Trump’s trade war with retaliatory tariffs of its own.

Cliona O'Dowd

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/cliona-odowd/page/8