The S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) eked out a 0.1% gain on Friday, with the market finishing flat for the week.
Here are my three key investor takeaways from the week.
Data, data and more data
The pandemic has offered a massive opportunity to companies willing to invest, innovate and generally think more than one quarter into the future.
Last week’s announcement likely caught very few by surprise with Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) further increasing its majority stake in data analytics group Quantium for $223 million.
Quantium is a highly specialised business helping large corporates, including many of Woolies’ competitors, to not only gather important data from their customers but actually build strategies to harness it. Corporates can then use this to improve the customer experience and thereby their loyalty.
Green thinking set to dominate
Last week’s Climate Summit led by President Biden has clearly tilted the agenda to cleaner energy and greater sustainability, with solar stocks jumping as much as 5-10% on news that the US will seek to halve emissions by 2030.
The Chinese Government also flagged a reduction in coal use, with Australia slowly coming to the party as pressure grows from those countries with which we are seeking new trade deals.
Alignment key to corporate success
Management and long-term alignment was highlighted once again during the week after AGL Energy Limited’s (ASX: AGL) CEO stepped down, unable to commit himself to the recovery.
Meanwhile, AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) is now undergoing another unexpected split after several years of short-term focus by the board and management.
More than ever, leaders must be entrepreneurial and committed to the future of their company if they have any hope of remaining successful.
Looking ahead, the S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) is set to edge higher when the market opens on Monday. For all the latest, check out Rask Media’s ASX 200 morning report.
