If your business is turning inspiration into innovation, it’s time to be recognised.
Let ASIC police big four conflicts: Samuel
Former ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel says the big four’s governance changes looked good on paper, but would not fundamentally change the culture of the firms.
ASX to rise, Wall St extends rally into third session
Australian shares are poised to gain, bolstered by the S&P 500’s advance as investors reset their bets on US rate cuts.
Chalmers’ budget to fight inflation first, spend up big second
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says his budget next week will avoid a “scorched earth” approach to fight inflation, but spending will come in the out years.
Hamas says it has accepted a Gaza cease-fire proposal
The statement came hours after Israel ordered about 100,000 Palestinians to begin evacuating from the southern city of Rafah.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Ken Moelis on Trump, interest rates and Ozempic
The billionaire investment banker thinks Donald Trump has his nose in front in the US presidential race, and that could have ramifications for interest rates.
ATO targets crypto traders’ tax affairs, bank details
The Tax Office is ramping up its surveillance of crypto traders, demanding that exchanges hand over details around clients’ ID, wallet addresses and bank accounts.
Gender of directors added no financial value: study
A study by the Australian National University has found that the gender of directors appointed to company boards had no impact on the financial performance of those businesses.
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Companies
Westpac deflects downturn with special dividend
The Westpac boss says the return of $1.5 billion to shareholders is a sign of confidence in the Australian economy and the outlook for bad debts.
- Updated
- Aviation
Qantas pays $120m to settle ghost flights case
Customers on cancelled flights will receive up to $450 in compensation after the airline admitted it misled travellers and agreed to pay $120 million to settle.
‘True energy impact’: Di Pilla defies gloom, appoints Gillard to $2b fund
The ASX-listed HMC Capital is banking on plenty of investor interest to defy a gloomy market outlook on the transition to clean energy for its latest vehicle.
NBN fixer Stephen Rue to restore Optus’ credibility
Stephen Rue has been charged with restoring Optus’ reputation with consumers and improving its services when he leaves the NBN to run the beleaguered telco group.
THL in $200m wipeout as grey nomads stop buying campervans
The operator of Britz and Maui brands said it was also expecting to impair its businesses overseas, and was surprised by how quickly sales had dried up.
ASX queries Kogan executive options sale ahead of share plunge
The online retailer, in response to questions from the market operator, said it did not think a poor sales update that sent its stock tumbling was material.
Transurban wants more drivers to see the benefit of toll fares
In a strategy presentation to investors, the motorway giant’s chief executive Michelle Jablko said the focus would be on ‘running the business better’.
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Markets
RBA’s radio silence fuels extreme rate rise bets
Traders’ bet that the RBA will lift the cash rate is fuelled by the central bank’s lack of communications since March as it undergoes sweeping reporting changes.
ASX tipped to hit 8300 by year-end defying rate talk
Brokers and investors have all turned more positive on the outlook for the sharemarket, despite traders pushing out interest rate cut expectations to next year.
Investors return to Chinese stocks on housing policy hope
Battered Chinese assets are getting a second look as a combination of earnings recovery, policy support and cheap valuations lure investors.
- Analysis
- Due diligence
Time for Rio Tinto dual-listing rethink with Anglo American in play
Trading the spread between the value of Rio Tinto’s dual-listed London and Australian shares is usually the province of specialist arbitrage funds. But BHP’s tilt at Anglo American has it back in focus.
- Exclusive
- Interest rates
Philip Lowe warns rates could rise again
The former RBA governor says with data surprising on the strong side getting back to a 2.5 per cent inflation level sustainably is not yet guaranteed.
Opinion
Why didn’t ACCC litigate Qantas?
Is what might be seen as regulatory brand ransom to force companies to admit to lesser charges and avoid the need to litigate, the way the watchdog should seek to uphold Australia’s consumer protection and competition law?
Editorial
Qantas’ Hudson takes the chance to shed some Joyce baggage
Vanessa Hudson has finally accepted reality by making a deal with the competition watchdog over ghost flights.
Columnist
Interest rates are the only tool for managing inflation
Economists are looking for other ways of braking inflation. But the impact of interest rates on housing costs is still the most reliable means.
It’s economically naive to cut China out of direct investment
There may be more “like-minded” investors out there for Australia’s resources sector, but will they be as competitive and efficient as China has proven to be?
Contributor
Big four’s reformation moment
Engaging with the Treasury process is an opportunity for the consulting giants to help modernise the partnership-based model founded in the 19th century and unfit for today.
Editorial
The great success story of Indigenous enterprise is missing
Indigenous businesses have proven robust and resilient against all the odds – that should be included in the Closing the Gap reports as well.
Reports
BOSS Best Places to Work
The awards celebrate the achievements of the best small, medium and large organisations and nine sector winners.
Politics
Navy helicopter near miss in latest Chinese confrontation
Australian personnel had to take evasive action when their helicopter was confronted by a Chinese fighter jet.
Victoria open to tax breaks to boost home building
Premier Jacinta Allan says her Labor government is open to pulling every lever available to boost housing supply, after developers called for taxation tweaks to boost investment.
- Exclusive
- Renewables
‘A big risk’: Voters wary of nuclear replacing coal-fired power
Voters in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley have raised the spectres of Chernobyl and Fukushima when asked about Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s plan to build large-scale reactors in their community.
Social cohesion ‘fraying’, Albanese admits amid anti-Israel backlash
Anthony Albanese defended his efforts to keep the community together but would not be drawn on a looming UN vote on Palestinian statehood.
Minister was warned about radicalised teen before police shooting
A 16-year-old school boy shot dead by police in Perth over the weekend after a stabbing incident was part of a state-run deradicalisation program.
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World
France’s cognac exports to China could be hit like Australian wine
China opened an anti-dumping investigation into brandy imported from the EU in January, sparking fears cognac could suffer a similar blow to that taken by Australian wine.
Israel urges Rafah evacuation ahead of assault
Israel has described Rafah as the last significant Hamas stronghold after seven months of war, and its leaders have repeatedly said they need to carry out a ground invasion.
Warren Buffett anoints Berkshire’s new king
Warren Buffett said Greg Abel should have final decisions on investments at Berkshire at the first annual meeting since business partner Charlie Munger died.
- Opinion
- US election
How one public gaffe can destroy your career
Potential Trump vice president candidate Kristi Noem, who admits shooting her dog, is not the only public figure to have disastrously misjudged popular opinion.
‘Dark day for media’: Israel shuts down Al Jazeera’s operations
The government accused the Qatari-funded satellite channel of being a “Hamas mouthpiece” and a threat to national security.
Property
Labor steps up fight to stop dirty money from buying homes
Proposed anti-money laundering rules will rope in real estate agents and lawyers, amid concerns Australia could become a destination for dirty cash.
Victoria has become a poor state: economist Saul Eslake
The southern state’s high dependence on property and population growth has a fallout felt beyond its borders.
Why Michael Hill chose Chadstone to sell $1m diamond earrings
Michael Hill’s global flagship store will open in Melbourne’s biggest mall Chadstone, and will include a $1m pair of yellow diamond drop earrings.
The complicated $1.8m sale of a ‘gamble’ that didn’t pay off
A suburban family bought their neighbours’ house to give them a larger block, but when interest rates went up further something had to give.
- Analysis
- Affordable housing
Why Australia’s housing crisis has gone global
Households are going backwards in 13 developed economies, including Australia, as record immigration runs into a housing crisis.
Wealth
Why there is no such thing as a simple will
You’ve got to understand what you’re giving up when you sign a simple will – and how there are better ways to protect your loved ones.
Shaw and Partners boss says ‘fed-up’ Morgan Stanley brokers walked
“Heavy-handed” Morgan Stanley’s loss is Shaw’s gain, says co-CEO Earl Evans, who now manages $5 billion in WA wealth alone.
- Opinion
- Venture capital
Stick or twist? How start-up investors know when it’s time to sell
VCs selling down Canva stakes could leave huge gains on the table, but don’t want to leave selling too late. Poorly timed sales have a history of destroying value.
Technology
- Analysis
- AI
AI start-ups face a rough financial reality check
The AI revolution, it is becoming clear in Silicon Valley, is going to come with a very big price tag.
Sydney AI customer bot start-up raises from Peak XV
The Funded blog is the home for news on the tech deals that are done in Australia, as soon as we hear about them.
- Exclusive
- Cryptocurrencies
ASIC-investigated NGS Crypto was accused of ‘passing off’ as NGS Super
The Gold Coast-based cryptocurrency miner under investigation by the corporate watchdog was accused of passing itself off as part of a similarly named superannuation fund.
Work & Careers
Case shows how right to disconnect law could ‘bleed into compo claims’
A tribunal has invoked Labor’s upcoming right to disconnect laws in finding that an employer’s contact of a staffer during sick leave was not reasonable.
Chinese do better than others in student visa crackdown
Nearly every Chinese student who applies for a visa to study at an Australian university gets approved. It’s a different story for others.
Life & Luxury
Should doctors prescribe Ozempic for heart disease too?
A landmark study has shown Ozempic can reduce the risk of death in people with serious heart problems who are overweight or obese but do not have diabetes.
How fashion took over the kitchen
Using the design principles and marketing nous of fashion brands, homewares are getting a chic makeover.
Sydney’s best restaurants for a business lunch
Where to go when you’ve got a deal to discuss, when you want to impress your top client or thank the team – as tested by our reviewers.
Between a rock and a hard place? That’s this director’s sweet spot
“I love the feeling of accomplishment when I’ve worked on a hard climb,” says the managing director of Perth-based Access Analytics.
Introducing the AFR’s new restaurant guide, Fin Dining & Wine
Fifty Australian restaurants at the top of their food game that also understand the particular needs of those doing business over lunch.
