Ardern’s Aussie shift, Qantas CEO interview, stocks on fire

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It was the house inspection that set the internet ablaze. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is planning a move to Australia after she was spotted with her husband eyeing property in Sydney — frankly, she always seemed like more of a Melbourne person to me. Either way, she may feel at home: tens of thousands of Kiwis moved here in 2025 alone. French billionaire investor Olivier Goudet has also found something to like in the Great Southern Land. After recently buying into Australia's iconic Treasury Wine Estates, he told me during an interview in Melbourne that he's in it for the long haul. And with the end of earning season drawing nearer, Qantas's chief executive told us why a new aircraft fleet will transform the carrier. — Ben Westcott, Asia Agriculture reporter What's happening now Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her family are relocating to Australia, becoming the most high-profile addition to a growing wave of Kiwis moving here. More than 60,000 New Zealand citizens left the country in 2025, with 61% headed across the Tasman. Qantas Airways CEO Vanessa Hudson played down concerns about diminishing profits from international routes, saying the arrival of new aircraft on order will transform returns on the airline's global network, in an interview with Bloomberg TV yesterday. Qantas shares slumped 9.2% on Thursday after earnings at its international unit unexpectedly fell. French billionaire investor Olivier Goudet says he wants to see Treasury Wine Estates back in the ASX 50. Touring the vintner's Australia operations after buying a 5% stake in December, he told Bloomberg he supports new CEO Sam Fischer's plan to turn around the beleaguered Penfolds maker. Enjoyed in France, even. Photographer: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg Australian stocks are on course for their best February performance since 2019 after a bumper results season helped restore some confidence in a market that has lagged peers in recent years. Meanwhile, our often overlooked technology stocks may offer signs of resilience amid the global unease over artificial intelligence disruption. BlueScope Steel said a revised bid from US firm Steel Dynamics and Australian conglomerate SGH undervalues the company, but that it remains open to a better offer. Elsewhere in metals, Lynas Rare Earths posted a surge in half-year profit after increasing output and selling its main product at higher prices. Retiring comfortably in Australia is getting more expensive as living costs continue to climb. On our latest podcast, host Rebecca Jones speaks with my Melbourne colleague and pensions reporter Amy Bainbridge about what the new targets mean for workers decades away from retirement, and how super funds are adapting to an ageing membership base. What happened overnight Wall Street traders lifted stocks away from session lows as oil erased its gain amid signs of progress in US nuclear talks with Iran. Chipmakers sank as Nvidia's results failed to inspire investors seeking reassurances about artificial intelligence. Even after giving a bullish forecast, Nvidia tumbled 5.5%, dragging down almost every company in a key semiconductor gauge. On the local front, ASX futures point to a steady open for stocks this morning. Sydney-based hedge fund GCQ Funds Management said the bottom is in for the software selloff, snapping up about A$200 million worth of tech stocks caught in the downdraft. CEO Doug Tynan spoke to my Melbourne colleague Richard Henderson yesterday, revealing that the fund sold some of its top performers to invest in beaten-down software stocks. China removed nine military lawmakers from its national parliament in the latest sign that President Xi Jinping's purge of key defense establishment personnel continues to widen. Meanwhile, If Washington is serious about countering Beijing's strong-arm tactics, it should strengthen relationships in Asia, not strain them, writes Bloomberg Opinion's Karishma Vaswani. Xi Jinping applauds during the closing of the Third Session of the 14th National People's Congress. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg Israel and India agreed to jointly produce weapons and intend to conclude a free trade agreement soon, a move that underscores deepening ties between the two countries. The agreement came as India President Narendra Modi wrapped up his two-day visit, his second, to Israel. What to watch All times Sydney: • 11.30 a.m. — Australia private sector credit data for January One more thing... Thought about having a little plastic surgery? Slimmed or lifted noses were once easy to spot — and gossip about. But today's newer offerings are better at flying under the radar. People are increasingly opting for discreet plastic surgery that focuses on the tip of the nose, or minimizes it without changing the front view. They're also using filler — gel-like substances injected into the nose — that can obscure humps or refine the nose's tip. Illustration: Sean Dong NEW: Explore live streaming news and interviews, documentaries, reporter analysis and more, all in one place. Check out Bloomberg.com/videos. Enjoying Australia Briefing? 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