It was hard to find anyone working on a deal on Wednesday. Eyes were glued to TV screens and markets as bankers, lawyers, fundies, traders and the like were all caught up in the drama of Donald Trump and the US election.
The outcome's material for every deal in the M&A and IPO pipelines slated to launch this side of Christmas. It's particularly relevant for the big IPOs – Nuix and Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure – which have both slowed down somewhat to account for the potential volatility.
Royal Dutch Shell is taking its time with the country's biggest infrastructure auction - a $3 bilion plus stake in assets associated with its giant Queensland Curtis LNG project.
Recently departed Telstra group executive Michael Ebeid is understood to be top of politicians' wishlists to replace Christine Holgate at Australia Post.