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Market Overview

The S&P 500 Index increased by 15.19% (total return, in USD) in the second quarter of 2026, whereas the Russell 2000 Index increased by 21.51% (total return, in USD). The second quarter marked a reversal from the prior period, as US

For more than 25 years, Sefiani Communications Group has helped some of Australia’s most recognizable brands build, protect and elevate their reputations — and today, as a proud member of the global Clarity network, the Sydney-founded firm is better positioned than ever to deliver world-class strategic communications with a distinctly personal touch.

A Founder’s Vision, Built on Real Results

Sefiani’s story began in December 1999, when founder and CEO Robyn Sefiani launched the agency from her own living room. Within just six months, that vision had already paid off: the fledgling firm landed a landmark contract managing communications and issues management for VISA, a top sponsor of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. It was an extraordinary early win — and a sign of the caliber of work that would come to define the agency for decades to come.

Robyn brought serious credentials to the table. Before founding Sefiani, she spent 12 years at global PR powerhouse Edelman, rising to Co-President of Asia Pacific and earning a seat on the firm’s global board. Along the way, she worked directly with Edelman’s legendary founder, Daniel J. Edelman, an experience she credits with shaping the philosophy she still practices today. “I had the pleasure and privilege of working directly with Edelman’s founder and PR pioneer, Daniel J. Edelman, who taught me the fundamentals of how to operate a successful agency and build enduring client relationships, which I practice to this day,” she has said.

That combination of big-agency expertise and entrepreneurial drive is exactly what has allowed Sefiani to thrive as an independent firm for more than two decades — a rare feat in an industry increasingly dominated by global holding companies.

Deep Expertise Where It Matters Most

What sets Sefiani apart is not just longevity — it’s specialization. The agency has built genuine depth in the sectors that matter most to Australia’s economy: financial and professional services, technology, education, engineering and infrastructure, energy, tourism, retail and agriculture.

In financial communications, Sefiani helps companies clearly articulate how they drive growth and deliver shareholder value to the full range of stakeholders who matter — from business media and regulators to peak bodies and government. In technology, the firm works with some of the world’s largest tech brands directly from its Sydney headquarters, crafting media relations programs, PR strategy, social campaigns and speaking opportunities that don’t just generate coverage — they drive real business outcomes and sales.

Global Reach, Independent Spirit

In January 2023, Sefiani joined Clarity Global, instantly expanding its international capabilities while preserving the independent, client-first culture that built its reputation in the first place. The firm also serves as the exclusive Australian affiliate for three respected global agencies — APCO, Grayling and Ruder-Finn — giving Sefiani clients seamless access to world-class communications support anywhere in the world, and giving international clients a trusted local partner right here in Sydney.

Behind that global reach is a seasoned leadership bench: Robyn Sefiani as CEO and Reputation Counsel, Nick Owens leading the corporate practice, Nicole Schulz heading brand strategy, Nicole Thurston directing creative, and Tina Peng overseeing finance and operations. It’s a team built, in Robyn’s words, to be a “world’s best practice firm with personal service and local connections” — and clients consistently notice the difference.

A Reputation Built on Client Trust

Don’t just take our word for it. Sue Ashe, head of communications at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, put it simply: “Having worked with various agencies and individuals I was immediately impressed with the ‘polish’ of Sefiani — clever, very professional staff; responsive and concerned about their clients.”

That kind of feedback isn’t an outlier. Clients consistently praise the agency’s flexibility and hands-on approach, with one describing the team’s “all hands on deck” mentality whenever it matters most — proactive, responsive and always ready with smart ideas.

Recognized Among the Best in the World

Sefiani’s excellence hasn’t gone unnoticed. The agency has been named among the world’s 100 best PR agencies by PRovoke Media, cementing its place not just as a leading Australian firm, but as a genuine global player in strategic communications.

And Sefiani isn’t resting on its laurels. As AI-driven search increasingly becomes what the agency calls “the front door to brand reputation” for buyers, customers and journalists alike, Sefiani is already evolving its strategic approach to help clients stay ahead of the curve — ensuring the brands it represents aren’t just protected today, but positioned to thrive in tomorrow’s rapidly changing media landscape.

The Bottom Line

From a Sydney living room to the global stage, Sefiani Communications Group has spent more than 25 years proving that world-class strategic communications doesn’t require sacrificing personal service, independent thinking or genuine client care. For brands looking for a partner who can navigate today’s complex reputation landscape — while never losing sight of what made them successful in the first place — Sefiani continues to set the standard.

Shares of Domino’s Pizza Enterprises rose more than 4% Monday, extending a recovery for the Brisbane-based pizza franchisor as investors continue to weigh signs of an operational turnaround alongside ongoing takeover speculation surrounding the company.

The stock traded at 20.93 Australian dollars, up 0.84 dollars, or 4.18%, on the Australian Securities Exchange. The gain builds on a stronger stretch for the stock in recent weeks following the release of the company’s second-half fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 25, which showed improved franchisee profitability and cost savings even as overall sales and order volumes declined.

According to a summary of the results published by stock analysis firm StockAnalysis.com, Domino’s reported full fiscal-year revenue of 2.05 billion dollars, down 11.19% from 2.30 billion dollars a year earlier, while the company posted a net loss of 134.16 million dollars, a sharp increase from the prior year’s loss. Despite the weaker headline numbers, the company said franchisee profitability reached a three-year high during the period, supported by cost discipline and what it described as a reset balance sheet. Domino’s said its priority for fiscal 2027 will be restoring profitable sales growth, applying lessons learned from its turnaround efforts in Western Australia, and maintaining disciplined capital allocation going forward.

The company’s shares have also remained under close watch this month amid renewed takeover speculation. According to reporting from Kalkine Media, Domino’s confirmed earlier in August that it had engaged external corporate advisers after media reports indicated a large global private capital firm was examining a possible approach for the company, a standard defensive step companies typically take when responding to sustained takeover chatter without confirming that any formal approach has actually been received. No formal proposal had been disclosed as of that reporting.

This is not the first time Domino’s has found itself the subject of takeover speculation in the past year. In October 2025, shares surged as much as 17.3% in a single session after the Australian Financial Review reported that private equity firm Bain Capital was exploring a potential 4 billion Australian dollar acquisition of the company, a report that prompted a trading halt before Domino’s issued a statement saying it had not received any proposal from, nor had any communication with, Bain. Executive Chairman Jack Cowin said at the time that his focus remained on turning the company around regardless of the takeover chatter.

Domino’s has faced a difficult stretch over the past several years, with the stock losing roughly half its value amid a series of earnings downgrades tied to rising input costs and a slowdown in consumer demand for delivery and takeaway food following the end of pandemic-era ordering patterns. The company holds master franchise rights for the Domino’s brand across a wide international footprint, including Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Denmark, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and several other markets.

Analyst sentiment on the stock has remained mixed even as shares have recovered from their lows. According to data compiled by StockAnalysis.com, the average rating among 16 analysts covering Domino’s currently sits at “hold,” with a consensus 12-month price target of roughly 20.25 Australian dollars, a level close to where the stock traded even before Monday’s gain. That relatively cautious analyst positioning stands in contrast to the stock’s more volatile trading pattern in recent months, which has been driven as much by takeover speculation and turnaround optimism as by the company’s underlying earnings trajectory.

Domino’s has historically paid two dividends per year, typically in March and September, and has listed on the Australian Securities Exchange since May 2005. Any formal takeover proposal, should one materialize, would need to navigate the company’s various master franchise agreements across its international markets, along with change-of-control approval requirements attached to those arrangements, a factor that could shape both the structure and timeline of any eventual deal.

For now, Monday’s gain reflects the continued uncertainty surrounding the stock, with investors weighing genuine signs of operational improvement under the company’s cost-cutting and balance sheet reset against the possibility that renewed private equity interest could eventually crystallize into a formal offer for the embattled pizza franchisor.

Shares of Ather Energy rallied 4% to Rs 1,675 on the BSE on Monday after the electric two-wheeler company launched its new Konarc electric scooter at a starting price of Rs 99,999. The company is positioning the new model as a more accessible electric scooter for Indian riders.

The Ather Energy stock is up 132% in the last six months. It will be available in six variants across the S and Z product lines, with IDC range options of up to 200 km.

The S line will have four variants offering IDC ranges of 100 km, 125 km, 161 km and 200 km, while the Z line will comprise two variants with ranges of 125 km and 161 km. The Konarc S 100 km is priced at Rs 99,999, the S 125 km at Rs 1,21,999 and the S 161 km at Rs 1,44,999, with all three prices applicable ex-showroom Bengaluru. Ather has not disclosed prices for the remaining variants.

The Konarc S 125 km and S 161 km variants will be the first to go on sale, with bookings and deliveries scheduled to begin in mid-September through a phased rollout. The initial launch will cover select variants and states before being expanded to more locations across India.

Also read: Ather Energy among 4 stocks flashing bullish signals, hinting at a possible uptrend

Tarun Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO of Ather Energy, said the Konarc has been designed to make EVs mainstream in India by addressing the requirements of buyers who are yet to switch to electric vehicles. He highlighted features including metal panels, a 200 km range, a once-a-year service interval, fast home charging and a comfortable ride, while retaining Ather’s premium experience and technology. Mehta also said the scooter has been designed to scale, with Ather’s vertical integration and manufacturing capacity at AURIC expected to support expansion across more riders and markets in India.
The launch adds to Ather’s electric scooter portfolio, which currently comprises the performance-focused 450 series and the family-oriented Rizta.

Why are analysts bullish on Ather Energy stock?

Nomura recently maintained its Buy rating on Ather Energy and raised its target price to Rs 1,714. The brokerage retained Ather as its top pick in the electric two wheeler segment, saying EV penetration in India has reached an inflection point, with demand continuing to outpace supply. It expects the upcoming EL platform to nearly double the company’s total addressable market while significantly lowering costs.

Also read: Ather Energy raises Rs 1,200 crore from India-Japan Fund, Hero Motocorp, founders, launches Rs 1,500-crore

The Japanese brokerage believes margin risks have largely eased, while improving scale and operating leverage should help Ather achieve EBITDA breakeven by FY28. The brokerage also sees the company’s potential entry into the motorcycle segment as a long term growth opportunity. It added that policy measures such as ICE vehicle restrictions or additional EV incentives in more states, along with Ather’s inclusion in the PLI scheme, could provide further upside.

CLSA also maintained its Outperform rating on Ather Energy with a target price of Rs 1,600. The brokerage said Ather’s volumes rose 81% year on year in the first quarter of FY27, outpacing the electric two wheeler industry’s 68% growth. CLSA noted that bookings are running at around 50,000 units per month, well above the current production capacity of 35,000 units, indicating that the company is constrained by capacity rather than demand.

Ather Energy Q1 results snapshot

The company reported a sharp improvement in its June quarter performance, including a net loss narrowing to Rs 51 crore from Rs 178 crore and EBITDA turning positive despite commodity headwinds, Ather Energy has won fresh support from foreign brokerages, with target prices going as high as Rs 1,714. Shares of the company surged as high as 18% to Rs 1,500 on the BSE earlier in the day.

Ather’s revenue from operations jumped 88.8% year on year to Rs 1,217 crore. Consolidated EBITDA turned positive at Rs 9 crore during the quarter, against an EBITDA loss of Rs 106 crore a year earlier. Margins improved 319 basis points sequentially to -2.7% despite commodity headwinds.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)