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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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AnalysisCompanies

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 1 2025Bill Oplinger, chief executive officer of Alcoa, speaks at the Melbourne Mining Club. Picture: Brendan Beckett

‘Turn back the trains’: How Trump tariff blitz is hitting home

The CEO of US aluminium giant Alcoa is at the very front lines of a global trade war. Bill Oplinger has offered a revealing insight on navigating the new world.

Eric Johnston

MarketsFinancial Services

24/03/2025 CBUS deputy chief investment officer Leigh Gavin. Photo: Aaron Francis Photography

‘Don’t bet against America’: Cbus’ top stockpicker keeps faith

The new head of the $100bn construction-aligned industry fund major intends to keep deploying cash in the US.

Eric Johnston

AnalysisCompanies

Is Dan Murphy’s ready for the Jayne Hrdlicka experience?

The former Virgin Australia boss is known for her take-no-prisoners management style, but will this celebrity CEO have the freedom she needs to revive the liquor retailer?

Eric Johnston

CommentaryCompanies

James Hardie Industries NV fiber cement sheeting is stacked in the warehouse of the company's distribution center in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. James Hardie Industries NV, the biggest seller of home siding in the U.S., said third-quarter earnings fell 56 percent amid the worst housing slump since the Great Depression. Photographer: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg News

James Hardie still lumbered with high-priced deal

A costly acquisition has exposed bigger tensions in the running of a company that left Australia years ago.

Eric Johnston

CommentaryEconomics

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos APRIL 07:Treasurer Jim Chalmers addresses the media in a press conference in Sydney. Photo by Gaye Gerard / NewsWire

Big banks and states have most to fear from loss of ‘AAA’

Australia is a member of this exclusive financial club. The US doesn’t make it and the UK is not even close. Being stripped will be felt right through the economy.

Eric Johnston

CourtsFinancial Services

NZ’s ‘extraordinary’ move delivers Aussie banks big legal win

A move impacting the nation’s biggest class action signals a much closer relationship between business and PM Chris Luxon.

Eric Johnston

CommentaryEconomics

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA- NewsWire Photos APRIL 23, 2025: The treasurers debate between Treasurer Jim Chalmers (pictured) for Labor and Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor for the Coalitiion. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

Business forced to play long game over economic leadership

The Trump-induced trade crisis is another missed opportunity for much-needed economic reform and business leaders see nothing in Australia’s current leadership to give them confidence for change.

Eric Johnston

CommentaryCompanies

The Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. processing plant in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. Lynas, the only key supplier of the critical minerals outside China, has won further financial backing from Washington to build a plant in the US. Photographer: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Albanese’s woolly pricing signals on critical minerals

Just like the great wool stockpile of the 1990s, a mountain of government-owned rare earths can do more damage to a fragile market.

Eric Johnston

CommentaryMarkets

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos MARCH 15, 2024: General vision of the ASX on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Stock pickers come out second best in Trump’s wild ride

Hedge funds were torched, and long fund managers underwhelmed, adding to the pressure stock pickers find themselves under.

Eric Johnston

CommentaryTechnology

Musk flips the switch to Tesla rescue mission

Billionaire Elon Musk says he’ll have more time for Tesla and pushing for lower tariffs as he scrambles to move from MAGA waste slasher, back to a visionary tech boss. But is it too late?

Eric Johnston

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/eric-johnston/page/7