The ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) was eventful again this week. Here are four big stories you may have missed that affected businesses in the ASX 200 index:
Growth now for buy now, pay later companies
This week we saw the reports from Afterpay Touch Group Ltd (ASX: APT), Splitit Ltd (ASX: SPT) and Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL).
Each of the companies reported very impressive merchant growth, customer growth, transaction growth and revenue growth.
For now there's enough global room for them all to succeed, but it will be interesting to see how things go over the next few years.
Another special dividend
If you thought the special dividends had finished with the franking credits removal no longer on the cards, you'd be wrong.
Retail giant Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) reported a mixed result this week with solid numbers at Bunnings but a weak performance from the Kmart & Target segment. Despite that, Wesfarmers decided to pay a large special dividend – adding to income returns we saw from various blue chips earlier in 2019.
Another tough week for construction
At the start of reporting season we saw a savage sell-off of the Adelaide Brighton Ltd. (ASX: ABC) share price and this week we saw a painful drop for Boral Limited (ASX: BLD).
It takes a while for the recent property slowdown to work its way through into the reports of the construction companies. Approvals are falling and that means the shorter-term outlook also isn't very inspiring.
Macquarie Group Ltd's (ASX: MQG) growth plans needs at least $1 billion
Many investors think that this economic cycle may be getting close to the end, but Macquarie is still seeing plenty of opportunities.
The investment bank tapped investors for (at least) $1 billion this week and outlined it is investing in technology, renewables and infrastructure. The company also guided that it expects the first half of FY20 profit to be 10% higher than the first half of FY19, however FY20 profit is still expected to be a little down on FY19 profit.
