Latest news with #AaronHill
Newsweek
19-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
S&P 500 Study Shows Dark Personality Trait Could Be Key to CEO Success
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In the cutthroat world of corporate leadership, being strategically cunning may pay off—literally. Researchers at the University of Florida's Warrington College of Business recently published a study that found that CEOs that exhibit Machiavellian personality traits earn more. Machiavellianism is marked by manipulativeness, a drive to win at all costs and a focus on personal gain—all traits that help CEOs earn more, according to the research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. A file photo of a man in a suit holding a handful of cash. A file photo of a man in a suit holding a handful of cash. Nature/Getty Images The study, led by management researcher professor Aaron Hill of the University of Florida, examined links between CEO personality traits and executive pay outcomes using a longitudinal sample of S&P 500 firms. Unlike traditional self-assessment surveys, the team enlisted trained clinical psychologists to analyze publicly available video recordings of top executives, identifying traits associated with Machiavellianism. "Broadly, we find that CEO Machiavellianism positively relates to their own pay, their severance pay and the pay of their C-Suite or top management team," said Hill. "Our findings suggest that in this way, CEOs higher in Machiavellianism may pay their top management team members more to set up their own pay raises." What is Machiavellianism? Machiavellianism is a psychological term that takes its name from Niccolò Machiavelli, a 16th-century Italian diplomat, philosopher and political theorist. His most famous work, The Prince, offered pragmatic, and often controversial, advice to rulers on how to maintain power. Machiavelli advocated for realism over idealism, famously suggesting that it is "better to be feared than loved." The trait is one part of what psychologists call the "Dark Triad" of personality traits, alongside narcissism and psychopathy. While Machiavellianism is often portrayed negatively, it isn't always; in some environments, especially competitive or high-stakes ones like corporate leadership or politics, a degree of Machiavellian thinking can be a positive. Researchers found that Machiavellian CEOs were significantly more likely to structure compensation, both for themselves and others, in ways that maximized personal gain. They often boosted the pay of their top teams, a move the researchers believe is used strategically to elevate their own salary benchmarks. Read more Map shows US states with the most psychopaths and other dark personalities Map shows US states with the most psychopaths and other dark personalities The pattern was clear: the more Machiavellian the CEO, the more successful they were at boosting their total compensation, including severance terms and bonuses. Higher management team members also tended to earn more when working under such CEOs. Hill said the findings highlight an important governance blind spot: the role of personality in executive pay decisions. He concluded: "Hopefully, as managers, we can acknowledge those and work to accentuate the positives and limit the potential downsides—in effect, take advantage of the positives and work to mitigate the negatives." Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about psychology? Let us know via science@ Reference Recendes, T., Hill, A. D., Aime, F., Ridge, J. W., & Petrenko, O. V. (2025). Chief executive officer (CEO) Machiavellianism and executive pay. Journal of Applied Psychology.
News.com.au
12-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Melbourne family buys $1.92m acreage sight unseen
A Melbourne family who hadn't even inspected the home stole the keys to an over six-hectare Diggers Rest estate at auction. The dual-dwelling property was snapped up for $1.92m after the family fell in love with it on the spot. The rare lifestyle compound at 35 Lance Rd was the city's top reported sale of the weekend, with four family groups bidding in front of a spirited crowd before the property passed in at $1.85m and was swiftly negotiated to a $1.92m deal. Offering two fully self-contained homes, landscaped gardens and sweeping views toward the CBD, the property had a price guide of $1.75m-$1.95m and proved a magnet for buyers seeking space, flexibility and long-term upside. Ray White Sunbury director Aaron Hill said it was one of the most unique offerings he'd seen so close to Melbourne. 'You're only 15 minutes to the airport and about 30 (minutes) to the Melbourne CBD, but you've got over six hectares, a second residence, and room for the whole extended family,' Mr Hill said. 'It's incredibly rare to find this much land and accommodation with city access.' Mr Hill said the winning buyers — who hadn't inspected the home before auction — turned up unannounced, placed the final bid, and signed contracts after a brief negotiation. 'It really was love at first sight,' he said. 'They own a larger rural property further out and wanted to be closer to the city. This gave them that balance.' The main residence includes four bedrooms, a master retreat, open fireplace and a separate upstairs apartment with its own kitchen and living space. The second home, a three-bedroom cottage, is currently tenanted and offers rental income, Airbnb potential or extra family accommodation. All four bidders were families, with the dual-residence set-up adding extra appeal for multi-generational buyers. The Ray White Sunbury director said the sale price also reflected strong buyer appetite in Melbourne's western growth corridor, where larger landholdings remain relatively affordable. 'We had another auction in Sunbury the same weekend with five bidders and it also sold above reserve,' Mr Hill said. 'This whole corridor is booming. It's still undervalued compared to suburbs the same distance east, but people are waking up to it.' While the property is not currently earmarked for rezoning, Mr Hill said the site had long-term subdivision potential. 'It's a classic buy-and-hold opportunity,' he said. 'There are developers already securing similar land nearby. 'In ten years, this could become a very smart investment.'
Khaleej Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Gold prices steady in early trade after rising Dh4.5 per gram day before
Gold prices were steady on Wednesday morning after jumping Dh4.5 per gram on Tuesday. The 24K was selling at Dh402.75 per gram at the opening of the markets in Dubai on Wednesday, up Dh4.5 per gram since Tuesday morning. Among the other variants of the precious metal, 22K, 21K and 18K were trading at Dh372.75, Dh357.5 and Dh306.25 per gram, respectively. Spot gold was 0.6 per cent at Dh3,342.52 per ounce. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Aaron Hill, chief analyst at FP Markets, said geopolitical theatrics — particularly US President Donald Trump's hardline stance and potential flashpoint with world leaders — remain as ongoing drivers of volatility risks. 'In tandem, the softer labour market sentiment and easing inflation expectations lower immediate odds of Federal Reserve rate cut and sustain the bullish medium-term scenario for gold. The strength of the metal will depend upon whether such supportive fundamentals trump near-term risk swings over global trade news,' he said. 'A break above $3,328 on a sustained basis would reaffirm bullish pressure, while failure to hold above $3,293 risks unleashing further technical selling pressure. As such, gold is still positioned precariously — its next move resting on a delicate balancing act of central bank expectations, political posturing, as well as new information flow,' said Hill.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Wall Street Futures jump as US-China tariff deal lifts global sentiment
US stock index futures rose sharply on Monday after the United States and China agreed to scale back tariffs, easing fears of an escalating that had weighed heavily on in recent weeks. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, following talks with Chinese officials in Geneva, announced that the two nations have agreed to a 90-day pause on additional trade measures. During this period, tariffs will be reduced by over 100 percentage points, bringing them down to 10%. "This marks a pivotal moment in global trade dynamics," said Aaron Hill, chief analyst at FP Markets. "However, the 90-day timeframe indicates these tariff cuts are a negotiation tactic rather than a permanent resolution, creating uncertainty about long-term trade policies." The announcement had an immediate impact on market sentiment. At 4:08 a.m. ET: Dow E-minis were up 822 points, or 1.99% were up 822 points, or 1.99% S&P 500 E-minis gained 141.75 points, or 2.5% Nasdaq 100 E-minis surged 666.25 points, or 3.31% Futures tied to the Russell 2000 small-cap index jumped 3.5% The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), commonly referred to as Wall Street's 'fear gauge,' briefly slipped below 20 points for the first time since late March, before recovering slightly to 20.37, as reported new agency Reuters. Major technology and growth stocks moved higher in premarket trading. Nvidia rose 4.6%, Tesla gained 6.7%, and chipmakers Advanced Micro Devices and Marvell Technology advanced 4.9% and 7.5%, respectively. Crude oil prices climbed over 3% following the announcement, boosting energy stocks. Shares of Chevron and Exxon Mobil both rose around 2%. The development comes on the heels of a limited trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom, further easing concerns about the global impact of US President 's reciprocal tariff plans announced on April 2. As of the last close, the S&P 500 had recouped nearly all losses sustained since early April, helped by strong earnings reports and the improving trade outlook. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, not all sectors benefited. Pharmaceutical stocks slipped after President Trump said he plans to reduce US prescription drug prices to align with levels in other high-income countries — which he said were 30% to 80% lower. Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and Johnson & Johnson each dropped more than 2%. Key economic data, including consumer inflation (CPI), producer prices, and retail sales, is due later this week. In addition, several Federal Reserve officials, including Chair Jerome Powell, are scheduled to make public remarks, which could further influence market direction. Retail giants such as Walmart, as well as Cisco and Deere, are expected to report earnings in the coming days.
