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If your business is turning inspiration into innovation, it’s time to be recognised.

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Shemara Wikramanayake is confident in Macquarie’s outlook after a tough year.

Macquarie is betting on an uncertain green rebound

Investors have been looking past the group’s big profit drop and betting that the drought in renewable energy asset sales will end. But the rebound may be bumpy. 

Cash App is growing, including by incorporating Afterpay. But regulators have been scrutinising its compliance controls.

Buy now, pay later surges as Dorsey realises Cash App vision

Block’s BNPL volumes are rising as Afterpay is rolled into Cash App, which has 24 million active users in the US. The stock jumped more than 10pc on Friday.

Police advance on pro-Palestinian demonstrators in an encampment on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles.

Biden says ‘order must prevail’ as US college arrests top 2000

The US president has broken his silence, calling for order on college campuses where protests against Israel’s war are escalating and some have turned violent.

NSW to deliver emergency domestic violence package

NSW is also considering a royal commission into domestic violence. Ex-NSW roads executives say the Rozelle interchange created irreversible congestion. Follow for more.

Why Apple’s earnings call gives hope for more exciting devices

Announcing iPad and iPhone sales that were lower than last year, Apple CEO Tim Cook says something that could make us all want to upgrade … and of course, it involved AI.

ASX gains; Block surges, Macquarie drops, Pro Medicus hits record high

Miners, tech lift shares 0.4pc. Afterpay grows sales 25pc. New car sales hit record in April. Apple lifts dividend, buyback to record $US110b. Follow here.

The two big threats haunting global sharemarkets

Investors appear to have moved on from the news that US interest rates will be higher for longer, but analysts warn of two lurking dangers that risk puncturing their optimism, writes Karen Maley.

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review

How to get a meeting with the UAE’s $2.3 trillion man

Deals with hard-to-reach decision maker Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan are often built on years of relationships with one of his network of gatekeepers.

Xavier Huillard, CEO of Vinci: “I am not a businessman. I am a philosopher. I am a chemist of human beings.”

Business school blather can’t beat real-world CEO know-how

What’s needed is a new management theory that avoids the deceptive certainties of neoliberalism and the equally deceptive vagaries of stakeholder capitalism.

Central banks are traditionally viewed as regulation-oriented market fixers that should focus only on guaranteeing financial stability.

What will central banks do in a cashless world?

The development puts new pressure on such institutions to reimagine their role and become more innovative.

There hasn’t been a series this complex – and funny – in a long time

One of the bigger gags in this Vietnam War tale, is the casting of Robert Downey jnr in several make-up-heavy roles.

Our world is already ravaged by nuclear war

Annie Jacobsen’s new book, written in the style of a techno-thriller, sets out what might happen if that fateful button is pushed.

Features include the ability to save articles, dark mode and real time notifications.

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Companies

Bapcor was owned by private equity group Quadrant from 2011 to 2014. It runs the Autobarn, Autopro and Burson brands, with 1100 outlets.

Bapcor shapes as takeover target after share price rout

Macquarie says the Autobarn owner is a target after the 24pc plunge in its share price. It had private equity owners more than a decade ago.

Jon Adgemis.

Adgemis, fighting fires, now has the Tax Office at his door

The Tax Office is knocking on the door of Jon Adgemis’ embattled pub group for more than $10 million as the former KPMG rainmaker attempts to save his empire.

Former Macquarie executive Nick O’Kane.

Once Macquarie’s $58m man, Nick O’Kane’s pay fell to $1m

Once the financial conglomerate’s highest-paid executive, Mr O’Kane resigned in March so was not eligible for the lucrative profit share bonuses.

One of Bonza’s 737 Max 8s blocked off at the end of the Melbourne airport.

Bonza directors say they were blindsided by lease cancellation

The airline laid off staff and extended its flying outage to Tuesday because it can’t find planes.

Wesfarmers flaunts its growth record, hopeful of lithium fortune

From hardware giant Bunnings and retailer Kmart, to the emerging lithium business and health unit, Mr Scott says Wesfarmers is well-placed amid a slower economic environment.

Tax Office investigating Lachlan Murdoch’s Nova radio assets

The parent of SmoothFM revealed it is under an ATO microscope, hauling in PwC for tax compliance services.

‘Consumers pulling back’: Bapcor in $500m wipeout

Shares in Bapcor, which runs 1100 stores under the Autobarn, Autopro and Burson banners, tumbled as much as 35 per cent after a hefty profit downgrade.

Companies in the News

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Markets

An advertisement for the opening of a new Apple store in Shanghai last month.

Apple’s shares rally after return to sales growth forecast

The tech giant announced $US110 billion in share buybacks and raised the quarterly dividend by 4 per cent.

Ernie Garcia II, who founded the company with his son.

Father-son duo make $16.7b in 3000pc stock rebound

The shares of Phoenix-based online used-car dealer Carvana have surged from historic lows, but the company still faces challenges.

The unprecedented has become the new norm.

Markets cheer after Fed chief rules out rate increases

Traders have ramped up US rate cut bets this year after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates on hold, but the prospect of higher rates in Australia this year is still on the cards.

What happened overnight? Traders turned to key US jobs data

Australian shares were set to rise as tech stocks drove higher before Apple’s earnings. Traders were also gearing up for the US jobs report tonight.

Blackstone taps vast source of cash in $1.5trn credit push

Blackstone has been eagerly driving the expansion of the booming multi-trillion dollar private-debt markets. And it’s paying off.

Opinion

Bonza’s grounding strands airline competition too

Had the government dealt with some of the highly public problems of aviation with more alacrity than it has, the failure of one small player would not have seemed such a blow.

The AFR View

Editorial

The AFR View

BHP is betting self-interest trumps politics on Anglo American

Convincing South Africa’s government its $60 billion takeover bid for the mining multinational is politically palatable is part of BHP’s challenge in a particularly complex deal.

How to make sure JAUKUS is a success

It’s a no-brainer to bring Japanese technology into AUKUS pillar 2. But it needs to take account of Tokyo’s inexperience and concerns about high-level military co-operation.

Chalmers’ ‘new growth model’ lacking on the supply side

Jim Chalmers is right to say that Australia cannot draw an “artificial distinction between our prosperity and our security”. It has been a theme of The Australian Financial Review’s since our 2022 Business Summit.

The AFR View

Editorial

The AFR View

Labor election plans start blowing smoke

Labor is banking on at least one rate cut before calling an election. That scenario is no longer guaranteed.

Phillip Coorey

Political editor

Phillip Coorey

The US presidential election is casting a long shadow over the Fed

Lingering inflation has caused hopes for US interest rate cuts to wither. That means the Federal Reserve risks becoming dragged into a divisive election.

Karen Maley

Columnist

Karen Maley

Reports

BOSS Best Places to Work

The awards celebrate the achievements of the best small, medium and large organisations and nine sector winners.

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Politics

CEOS

OECD warns sticky inflation means rates higher for longer

The warning came as CEOs deliver upbeat assessment of the economy and financial markets push out expectations for rate cuts to May or June 2025, potentially after the next federal election.

“It’s why there will be financial incentives, regulatory changes and other enablers,” the treasurer said.

PM, Chalmers mull go-it-alone power price discounts

The Albanese government is considering a second round of power bill discounts, on top of $1000-per-household credits promised by the Queensland government.

Korean shipbuilders Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai Heavy Industries have their Daegu class frigate under consideration for the Australian navy’s general purpose frigate.

Hanwha could face long wait for answer on Austal bid

The Albanese government is likely to prioritise picking a new frigate design over considering a foreign takeover bid for the Perth shipbuilder.

Blow to China’s bid to join trade pact

New Productivity Commission modelling has found there would be little economic benefit to Australia if China was admitted to the trans-Pacific free trade deal.

Housing focus as Pallas warns of horror Victorian budget

Economists warn that Victoria has no choice but to cut spending in next week’s budget, after slugging businesses and property investors last year.

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World

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is hoping to avoid a wipeout this weekend.

Angry, broken Britain set to push its PM off a cliff

If Rishi Sunak can’t prevent a complete hammering at 100-plus mayoral and council elections, his party might kick off yet another leadership spill.

Image from video provided by the Philippine Coast Guard of one its vessels being sprayed by Chinese coast guard water cannons this week.

Philippines summons Beijing envoy in South China Sea flare-up

The Philippines has accused China of elevating tensions in the South China Sea after its coast guard used water cannon and damaged two vessels.

Peloton is suffering a market and share slump.

Peloton crashes to record low as CEO quits amid lay-offs

The interactive exercise bike company was a pandemic superstar but is now struggling heavily and laying off 15 per cent of the workforce.

New Solomons PM still close to China, but more diplomatic

Despite being foreign minister for almost five years, Jeremiah Manele is unlikely to strictly follow the pro-China policy of his predecessor, according to some.

OECD upgrades global growth outlook as US outperforms

A faster-than-expected fall in inflation has set the stage for central banks to begin rate cuts in the second half of the year, boosting consumers’ incomes, according to the OECD.

Property

The Frydenbergs have listed their Hawthorn home in Melbourne’s inner east.

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg lists family home

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg and his lawyer wife Amie have listed their family home in Melbourne’s Hawthorn.

The 37 largest community housing providers bid for funding to develop more than 26,000 social and housing units in developments such as this one in western Sydney’s Penrith.

$10b housing fund should be doubled, community providers say

The massive response to the federal government’s first tender to develop affordable and social rental housing shows more funding is needed, developers say.

Ransomware group claims attack on valuer HTW

In a post on the dark web, Black Suit says it has obtained 20 gigabytes of the valuation firm’s customer and transaction data.

A housing boom is coming – for the wealthy

Investors, downsizers and upgraders will drive the next wave of residential development. First home buyers will hardly get a look in.

Singapore’s offices await a new wave of tenants

An eight-year cycle in which the tech industry provided demand for working space is coming to an end. Landlords don’t know who their next tenants will be.

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Wealth

Hornsby resident Alex De Muelenaere may live in Sydney but when hunting for an investment property he looked north to Brisbane.

Why long-distance property investing might be for you

Investors from Sydney and Melbourne are increasingly looking further afield in the hunt for value. But how do you go about buying in an unfamiliar market?

What every buyer needs to know about auction clearance rates

Auction clearance rates give some clues about when to buy or sell.

There’s more trouble coming for apartment owners. Here’s why

The Netstrata insurance scandal rocked the strata management industry in NSW, but that’s just the beginning as an independent inquiry starts to dig deeper.

Technology

‘Country mile ahead’: How PsiQuantum won a $1b investment

Chief scientist Cathy Foley said US-based PsiQuantum showed it was a “country mile” ahead of other Aussie companies in trying to build a world-first quantum computer.

Amazon posts strong cloud unit sales on rising AI demand

The e-commerce company’s operating income more than tripled as Amazon Web Services and adverts provided a boost.

Fruit flies show signs of consciousness.

Don’t swat fruit flies – they’re smarter than you probably think

Researchers say many species, from insects to invertebrates, have consciousness. It turns out humans aren’t so special, after all.

Work & Careers

Dr Amantha Imber of Inventium

CEO who started four-day work weeks says her company’s now in trouble

Workplace consultancy Inventium was the first company in Australia to adopt a shorter schedule, but three years later it is not on track to hit its targets.

Why Kogan refuses to buy into market fears about his new strategy

BOSS sat down with Kogan.com founder Ruslan Kogan just as his share price collapsed by 30 per cent.

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Life & Luxury

This week’s edit of lovely luxuries for Mother’s Day

From active mums to working mums and even sleep-deprived mums, we have inspired gift ideas for the maternal figure in your life right here.

An MRI scan. A trial showed that twice as many cases of prostate cancer were picked up by such scans than by the diagnostic blood tests in use at the moment.

The nine things every man needs to know about prostate cancer now

Experts at the cutting edge of new research into the causes and treatments answer the questions you might be afraid to ask.

Evidence now emerging suggests that smartphone use in children is linked with poor mental health outcomes.

Inside the fight for smartphone-free childhoods

A rising number of parents around the world, who have become addicted to handheld devices themselves, want to ban under-16s from having them.

The best Mother’s Day gadget gifts – ranked by price

How much do I love you? Let me count the dollars. This year’s guide doubles as a handy reckoner, revealing how you feel about the matriarch in your life.

Maurizio (left) and Christian Mussati, father and son co-founders of Wonderglass in Venice.

The ex-financier and his father blowing fresh life into Murano glass

Christian and Maurizio Mussati started WonderGlass to make lighting – even furniture – in tandem with some of the world’s most exciting contemporary designers.

From the gallery