Billionaire MinRes boss hits back at Dutton
Chris Ellison says tax credits to help build a critical minerals industry that will be around for decades are of high value to Australia, and the Coalition is on the wrong side of history.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Telstra’s biggest surprise isn’t its 2800 job cuts
Telstra boss Vicki Brady is sending a message to the market: the telco must lift returns on investment, and that means hard choices.
Macquarie says there is a 50pc chance of recession this year
Macquarie Group economist Sophie Photios said the economy was like a “masquerade”, where immigration had masked it going backwards in per person terms.
- Live
- Markets Live
ASX slips as James Hardie craters, BHP climbs ahead of bid deadline
Shares ease; Telstra eyes AI; Sonic profit warning; James Hardie misses consensus; Hard Rock denies Star offer claims; cryptos surge. Follow updates here.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Prospect of Lendlease writedowns impossible to ignore
It’s hard to get a good price when trying to sell assets quickly and cleanly: that’s the juggle inside Lendlease ahead of Monday’s investor day, where writedowns are on the cards.
Households tipped to save 80pc of stage three tax cuts
The RBA board has “limited tolerance” for inflation remaining above the mid-point of its target band beyond 2026, but the latest Westpac consumer sentiment survey suggests that might not be a problem.
- Opinion
- US election
Seven theories of why Biden is losing
The US president is running like he’s winning, which he isn’t. From his age to economic management, voters are turning off the Democrats’ nominee, writes Ezra Klein.
Wealth Generation: News and views to help aspirational investors grow their wealth. In your inbox every Wednesday.
tuesday tech
Microsoft fights back against Apple with AI laptops
Microsoft says it now has laptops that can match Apple for battery life as well as performance. Plus, they have AI.
- Exclusive
- Venture capital
Big win for Square Peg as Nvidia buys AI start-up Deci
The Melbourne VC firm will soon be toasting a rich profit on its investment in an Israeli AI start-up, when it is acquired by chip titan Nvidia for $447 million.
How business websites will have to change for Google’s AI era
Enterprises hoping to attract the attention of the search engine’s Gemini platform will need short, punchy web pages, says a digital advertising expert.
- Exclusive
- Mergers & acquisitions
Government-backed green tech firm goes broke, gets acquired for $5m
Scipher Technologies, an e-waste processor that the government invested $15 million in, has been bought for $5 million after it entered administration in March.
- Opinion
- Digital Life
Why the iPad Pro still hasn’t made itself useful enough
Apple’s latest tablet is undoubtedly one the greatest feats of computer hardware engineering ever. But what about its software?
Get the latest business news on the go with the AFR’s new iOS app.
Companies
Telstra axes 2800 jobs in restructure
Telstra will get rid of thousands of employees by the end of the year as it struggles to compete against cheaper internet-based communications services.
Hard Rock contradicts Star, says it has made no approach
The Florida-headquartered entertainment giant said it had not authorised its name for use, despite Star telling investors it had received a proposal.
Zip’s Larry Diamond returning to Sydney, says US mission accomplished
Diamond says he heeded warnings from James Gorman, setting Zip onto a profitable path in the US, where he expects BNPL to keep winning share off credit cards.
Four listed fintechs say they’ll be smashed by credit report rules
Plenti, MoneyMe, Harmoney and Wisr allege major banks are conspiring against them by restricting access to crucial credit file data they use to price loans.
ALS CEO gave up $6m bonus after backlash
The former chief executive relinquished up to $6 million in potential bonuses following a shareholder backlash against pay at the Brisbane-based testing giant.
- Exclusive
- Consulting
Accenture set to buy Partners in Performance
Consulting firm Accenture is set to acquire Partners in Performance, in the most significant consulting market deal in nearly five years.
James Hardie in $3.5b wipeout on weaker housing outlook
The share price slumped 14.8 per cent, with CEO Aaron Erter expecting volumes to fall by about 5 per cent in Australia in what he calls a “very challenging” market.
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Markets
Trillion-dollar fund managers pile money into Asia, emerging markets
Schroders is bullish on European and Japanese equities, and Blackrock has gone overweight on emerging markets for the first time since 2020.
Crypto lifted by ether’s biggest jump since 2022 on ETF hope
Social media is alive with speculation that the US regulator may be warming to the idea of an ether exchanged traded fund.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Nine signs there’s a ‘mini melt-up’ on the ASX – and 12 stocks to buy
UBS strategist Richard Schellbach says Wall Street’s relentless grind higher will inevitably flow through to the ASX, and has picked some local stocks to watch.
Ivan Boesky, convicted of 1980s insider trading scandals, dies
The rogue trader was believed to have inspired the character of Gordon Gekko, the rapacious villain played by Michael Douglas in the 1987 film Wall Street.
Technobabbling liar: Judge tears strips off Aussie’s bitcoin claims
A UK judge had already ruled that computer scientist Craig Wright was not bitcoin inventor Satoshi Nakamoto. But in an excoriating full judgment, he let rip.
Opinion
Gas industry hawks its carbon credentials
Barrow Island and its inhabitants of kangaroos, perentie lizards and rare native fauna is also home to the world’s largest dedicated carbon capture and storage project.
Columnist
Why you can’t argue the $300 energy rebate will lower inflation
Energy bill relief increases real disposable income and boosts aggregate demand. We can debate how far they push inflation, but not that the direction is up.
Economist
Arrest warrants huge blow for Israel and massive gamble by ICC
The question of how the US president responds to this, along with Congress, now becomes critical.
Columnist
Hamas’ defeat, helping Ukraine win, best for West
The sooner Israel defeats Hamas, the better. And also the sooner the US focuses attention on helping Ukraine win the war, the better.
Editorial
Why WA loves the critical minerals budget boost
Peter Dutton’s refusal to endorse Labor’s plan for production tax credits for critical minerals processing and green hydrogen won’t make him popular in must-win seats in Western Australia.
Columnist
China and Russia have one bed but different dreams
Russian weakness has enabled China to emerge as Eurasia’s dominant power. But it also limits the partnership of the two.
Columnist
Reports
The future of financial advice
This special report looks at options to make financial advice more accessible and affordable, including robo-advice.
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- Exclusive
- Income tax
ATO freezes former Young Rich Lister’s muscle cars, mansion
The flamboyant accountant Steve Di Petta, who has a penchant for Ford Mustangs, is facing allegations he and his wife owe the Tax Office over $3 million.
Nearly 46 hours a month to read all privacy policies: study
Australians would spend nearly 46 hours a month reading all the privacy policies they encounter, according to a new report into data firms.
Risk of summer blackouts in NSW, Victoria rises
Power users face an increased risk of summer shortages in NSW and Victoria due to delays in transmission lines and renewable projects, and large users may need to switch off plants to avoid blackouts.
Voters like gas better than wind power but solar is still king
A slide in support for wind farms has allowed gas to become entrenched as the nation’s preferred energy source after solar, an AFR/Freshwater Strategy poll has found.
- Exclusive
- Live exports
Farmers prepare to go to war with Labor over live sheep trade
A heated meeting between federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt, the prime minister and senior National Farmers Federation officials last week may mark a low point in relations.
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World
Political bombshell hits Israel’s leaders over Gaza war
The application by the ICC prosecutor for the arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu is loaded with symbolic and practical implications.
‘Are you staring me down?’: Heated Trump trial boils over
The judge cleared the court in the former president’s trial after his tense exchange with a defence witness. The star prosecution witness also admitted stealing.
Death of Ebrahim Raisi to test unity of Iran’s hardline factions
An emergency presidential election next month could drive the tense political rivalry among loyalists of the theocratic system to a new level.
Outrage over Netanyahu war-crimes arrest warrant
Joe Biden called the ICC prosecutor’s decision “outrageous”, adding “there is no equivalence – none – between Israel and Hamas”.
- Opinion
- Protests
What campus protesters get wrong about divestment
Resisting magical thinking about how financial markets work would help them better direct their efforts today.
Property
Accor readies Melbourne Airport hotel and co-working hub for take-off
The hotel offering of 464 rooms across two Accor brands – a Novotel and ibis Styles – will include a two-level co-working hub when it opens on July 1.
- Exclusive
- Retail property
UBS bets on co-working and bowling to fix troubled Melbourne mall
UBS has secured two big tenancies for St Collins Lane, an arcade in the Melbourne CBD that has been one of the city’s worst performing malls for years.
- Exclusive
- Industrial
ISPT to put $250m of logistics sites on the market
The super fund investor is trying to turn around its flagship fund by selling three industrial sites. It plans to recycle that capital into larger sites.
Fund manager busy buying assets in a struggling office market
Brisbane-based Exceed Capital has snared its second office building in nine months and is now circling bigger CBD assets
Regional housing values gather steam
Persistent demand for homes in regional areas with lifestyle advantages and affordable price points sparked a re-acceleration in price growth in the past three months.
Wealth
‘I lost my 95-year-old mother’s $1.6m life savings to scammers’
Great-grandmother Elaine Spring is ‘too frail’ to be told that the proceeds of the sale of the family home are gone.
- Opinion
- Managed funds
More zeros than heroes in active funds management
Don’t be fooled by short-term performance data and carefully assess after-fee returns.
JobSeeker, JobKeeper cut wealth inequality
Lower-income households benefited the most from early COVID government payments, but higher-income households had the greatest gains in the recovery.
Technology
How to lose yourself in the wild without getting lost
Having wireless communications with you when there’s no mobile reception isn’t just about making adventure travel more social. It’s safer, too.
- Exclusive
- Funding
NSW surgeons bet they can beat investment bankers with VC fund
Two surgeons behind a new $50 million venture capital fund based in Bowral, NSW, have launched a new venture capital fund.
- Opinion
- Digital Life
Why the iPad Pro still hasn’t made itself useful enough
Apple’s latest tablet is undoubtedly one the greatest feats of computer hardware engineering ever. But what about its software?
Work & Careers
Academics seek pay for emails out of hours
A major union is using Labor’s new right to disconnect laws to scrap a “common practice” where casual academics do not get separately paid to be contacted outside of hours.
- Exclusive
- Insolvency
Doctors owed millions in collapse of service provider
The Melbourne-headquartered eReports allegedly failed to disclose $7.2 million owed to more than 400 specialists before calling in administrators.
Life & Luxury
Pirates, pampering, rum bars and more - the Caribbean has it all
The region has many drawcards in addition to its famous white-sand beaches and azure waters. Norwegian Cruise Line offers a tantalising taster.
How to quit the treadmill and travel for six months – yes really
We all crave time out from routine and life stress to discover a different, more peaceful world. Here’s how one Australian couple pulled off “the impossible”.
This week’s edit of lovely luxuries for travellers at heart
From seasoned adventurers to those just looking for a short break away from home, we have inspired suggestions for you.
How to lose yourself in the wild without getting lost
Having wireless communications with you when there’s no mobile reception isn’t just about making adventure travel more social. It’s safer, too.
What five common sweeteners are really doing to your body
New research has revived fears about whether sweeteners cause health problems.
