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Explore a collection of insights, analysis, and perspectives from the UoA Investment Club, covering markets, companies, investment strategies, and the wider world of finance.
Market
FINTECH OF THE FUTURE: ARE KLARNA IPO READY?
With a delayed initial public offering, questions around consistent profitability, and more and more regulations arising, the future looks uncertain for Swedish Fintech company Klarna. The shift into more Neobank style operations and heavy company reshuffles looks to be a path to success. Will these actions be enough to overcome a tough market environment, or are we in store for an even longer delay on what could be the IPO of the year for the Fintech industry?
Aug 18
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420 Min read
Issue #85
NEOCLOUD PROVIDERS: SELLING SHOVELS IN THE GOLD RUSH
In order for the AI disruption to take place in our daily lives, there must be a facility that houses the specific infrastructure needed to train, deploy and deliver AI applications and services. These are called AI data centres. They are physical rooms that store and manage data associated with services.
Aug 11
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9 Min read
Issue #84
SHARESIES BETS ON CRYPTO, CHARTING ITS NEXT GROWTH FRONTIER
In what has been a tremendous year for crypto, with Bitcoin rallying to an all-time high, a kiwi investment platform, Sharesies, is betting the timing is right to venture into digital assets. The Wellington-based fintech will launch crypto trading in August, starting with Bitcoin and Ethereum – its first foray into decentralised finance.
Aug 4
Issue #83
RHODE TO A BILLION: BEAUTY, BUSINESS AND BABYSITTING A BOYFRIEND
On May 28 2025, e.l.f. Beauty announced its USD 1 billion acquisition of Rhode, Hailey Bieber's skincare line - and arguably the coolest three year old in the industry. In just three years and with fewer than 10 products, the brand has cemented itself as more than just another celebrity passion project. This deal stands as one of the biggest beauty acquisitions of the decade. But what happens when a mass-market brand built on affordable drugstore dupes buys a prestige skincare line rooted in minimalism and aesthetic perfection? And perhaps more intriguingly, why is Hailey's husband acting like a spoiled teenager on Instagram instead of celebrating her billion-dollar win and Vogue cover?
Jun 13
Issue #82
ROME DIDN’T FALL IN A DAY
In 2024, economists Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson were awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for research that now feels uncomfortably relevant. Their central argument? Long-term prosperity doesn’t hinge on natural resources or luck. It depends on institutions. Strong ones. In 2025, under the Trump administration, those very institutions are under siege. Court rulings ignored. Inspectors general dismissed. Entire federal agencies dissolved by executive whim. The question is no longer academic: can America still lead as a superpower in a world that’s watching it come undone?
Jun 3
Issue #81
NEUROECONOMICS IN INVESTING: HOW BRAIN SCIENCE IMPACTS FINANCIAL DECISIONS
Picture this: you’re staring at your trading screen as the market dips 3% in ten minutes – your pulse surges, palms sweat, and before you know it you’re hitting “sell” on your best-performing stock. What just happened wasn’t a spreadsheet error or a sudden shift in fundamentals – it was your amygdala hijacking your calm, logical prefrontal cortex. Welcome to the world of neuroeconomics, where dopamine spikes, cortisol surges and subconscious impulses can turn even seasoned investors into impulsive traders. In this article, we’ll unpack the brain circuits behind every buy, hold and panic-sell, so you can spot – and outsmart – your own hardwired biases.
May 26