The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX:XJO) was eventful this week. Here are four big stories that affected the ASX 200 index:
Trade war off, trade war on
A week ago things looked rosy as President Trump and the Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed a 90-day truce on the trade war where tariffs would not be increased to 25%. This sent growth shares like Altium Limited (ASX: ALU) higher.
However, then came the news of the arrest of the Huawei executive which sent tensions rising and share prices down as hope vanished for the near-term removal of tariffs.
CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) just keeps expanding
The ASX 200 is becoming influenced to a greater extent by the healthcare giant and there is plenty of more opportunities ahead as CSL unveiled its latest product R&D pipeline.
CSL could be one of the best healthcare businesses on the ASX and its current pipeline should result in profit growth for several years to come.
Takeovers continue
The latest ASX business facing a takeover is Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) which received a preliminary offer from Long-Term Asset Partners for $10.42 per share.
The acquisition includes a complex financing structure with significant leverage comprising $3.2 billion in acquisition facilities from Goldman Sachs and $400 million from Westbourne Capital.
IOOF Holdings Ltd (ASX: IFL) is smashed
An APRA notice smashed the share price by 35% with the regulator seeking disqualification orders against most of the IOOF leadership team.
IOOF also faces additional risk, compliance and monitoring costs if APRA is successful in imposing licence conditions on IOOF's APRA regulated entities.
