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Eric Johnston is an associate editor of The Australian. He has more than 25 years experience as a finance journalist, including a former business editor of The Australian. He has been business editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age and financial services editor with The Australian Financial Review. His work has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal.

@ejohnno

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CommentaryEconomics

TOPSHOT - A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) during afternoon trading on April 9, 2025 in New York. Wall Street stocks rocketed to close solidly higher Wednesday, with dramatic advances on all three major indexes as US President Donald Trump delayed steep new tariffs hours after they took effect. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 7.9 percent to 40,608.45, the broad-based S&P 500 Index rallied 9.5 percent to 5,456.90, and the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite Index jumped more than 12.2 percent to 17,124.97. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

The Trump tariff ‘capitulation rally’ doesn’t mean it’s all over

Trump’s deal-making leaves US consumers worse off and has shaken confidence across the rest of the economic world. Then there’s the big unknowns to come.

Eric Johnston

CommentaryEconomics

Shipping containers are seen on a cargo ship at the Port Jersey Container Terminal in Jersey City, New Jersey on April 8, 2025. China vowed Tuesday to

Tariff fight pitches Middle America against China’s factories

There’s a new pain threshold being calculated by global markets, and it’s getting to the point where the winner really will take all.

Eric Johnston

GamingCompanies

‘We’ll find unpleasant truths’: US mogul’s Star confession

The casino boss set to take control of Star Entertainment is working on a ‘day one action plan’ to fundamentally change the way the cash-strapped resort operates.

Eric Johnston and Glen Norris

CommentaryInvesting

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 07: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on April 07, 2025 in New York City. Markets around the world fell dramatically again on Monday as global leaders, businesses and economies try to understand and come to terms with President Trump's tariff policy. Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by SPENCER PLATT / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The real test of Trump’s market pain is yet to come

The danger of Trump’s tariff strategy – even if it is all a negotiating bluff – is he risks starving the US economy of the crucial funds it needs to stay alive.

Eric Johnston

CommentaryMarkets

For markets, Trump has become the ultimate key man risk

The Trump dump has delivered extreme moves, however there’s one important thing that is so far preventing this becoming a full-blown financial crisis.

Eric Johnston

CasinosBusiness

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA : NewsWire Photos - MARCH 11 2025; A general view of the Star Casino in Sydney. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Star rescued from brink of collapse with Bally’s deal

Troubled casino operator Star Entertainment has accepted a $300m takeover offer from US-based Bally’s Corp, helping it narrowly avoid administration.

Glen Norris and Eric Johnston

CommentaryCompanies

BRISBANE AUSTRALIA FRIDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2025 The Star Casino group has halted trading on the Stock Exchange this morning. Generic pictures of The Star at Queens Wharf Brisbane Picture David Clark

Time almost up for Star as all survival options in balance

Star’s board has been war gaming at least two administration scenarios ahead of a critical week. One of them is its own extreme break-up.

Eric Johnston

CommentaryEconomics

TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order after delivering remarks on reciprocal tariffs during an event in the Rose Garden entitled

The three fatal flaws in Donald Trump’s tariff fantasy

Trump’s ideal of a self-reliant America is built on economically flawed assumptions. The plan really is bananas.

Eric Johnston

CommentaryEconomics

An electronic stock board shows that Nikkei stock average dropped over 1,500 Japanese yen in Tokyo Monday, March 31, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)

The bigger worry is the tariff bomb Trump has set off in Asia

Asia is the heart of the world’s manufacturing hub with Australia at the start of a complex supply chain. Despite relatively mild tariffs on our exports, Asia’s hit will be seismic.

Eric Johnston

CommentaryCompanies

There are two roads ahead for Star, both lead to dead ends

NSW pulled the pin on Star’s much-needed financing deal leaving Star boss Steve McCann with limited options. This is what comes next.

Eric Johnston

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/eric-johnston/page/10