New News Corp starts trading at $15 per share NEW News Corp, the publishing company created by the News Corp split, debuted today on the ASX at $15 a share, lower than analysts' expectations. The newly-created company started trading at midday on the ASX on a deferred settlement basis ahead of News Corp's formal split on June 28. New News Corp controls the media group's publishing businesses in Australia, the UK and the US, including News Limited in Australia, HarperCollins book publishing, 50 per cent of Foxtel, Foxsports, online real estate business REA Group and the digital education business Amplify. Most analysts predicted a share price of less than $20, with CIMB valuing the stock at $US17.95 ($18.89) and 21st Century Fox at $US25.81 ($27.17). Trading in the New News Corp's class B voting shares debuted at $15 each before The B shares slipping to $14.85 each shortly after trade opened at close to midday. Class A voting shares in the New News Corp opened at $15.60. The early share price will be watched carefully by News Corp for any signs investors are dumping shares. 21st Century Fox, the entertainment business that comprises the other half of the split, will continue to trade under the News Corp title until the formal split. Shortly before the start of trading on NNC shares, 21st Century Fox stock had dropped more than $3 to $29.65 WaveStone Capital co-founder Ian Harding said the combined News group was worth more today than yesterday, based on early trade. "The stocks are trading in the boundaries of what people were expecting," Mr Harding said. But the real test will be tonight (our time) in the US, and we will tend to follow that lead. In the absence of leadership from offshore, I think NNC has done a fraction better today than what might have been the case.