Sticky inflation not deterring homebuyers at auction
Auction markets didn’t react to renewed interest rate hike fears as the pool of homebuyers remains big enough relative to the number of homes up for sale.
- Opinion
- Interest rates
How Boomers are busting hopes for rate cuts
Macro commentator James Aitken says interest rates may have to head higher after we underestimated the increasingly powerful wealth effect, writes Jonathan Shapiro.
Australia unleashes another $100m of military aid to Ukraine
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles visited Ukraine to unveil the package, including drones and air-defence systems, which swings Australia behind fresh US and UK support.
- Analysis
- Gas
Woodside caught between twin objectives on a collision course
Woodside is hoping that technology, hard work and deployment will reconcile fidelity to net-zero with growth by pumping oil and gas.
Banks stare down spectre of bad debts, eye $4.5b return
Analysts say banks may declare higher dividends and share buybacks over the next fortnight’s earnings season as margin pressures ease.
Why China’s spies are being caught all over Europe
A flurry of arrests this week reflect the continent’s newly toughened response to Beijing’s espionage activities and political meddling.
Tasmea helps break IPO drought after spurning private equity
Stephen Young says he held out for the thawing of the IPO market rather than commit a “breach of faith” by selling to private equity buyers.
Wealth Generation: News and views to help aspirational investors grow their wealth. In your inbox every Wednesday.
Edition
AFR Magazine - May
See the inner workings of the Gold Dinner charity gala, find out which Australians gave away the most money last year and don’t miss out women’s watch special.
smart investor
A child won a share of her dad’s estate – despite planning to kill him
A 75 per cent success rate in contesting wills is encouraging more family members to sue for a bigger share. Here’s how to protect your final wishes.
- Opinion
- Inflation
You heard right – the RBA could raise rates again
The Reserve Bank of Australia will likely be forced to warn that it could raise rates again.
Why you’ll live longer than you think (and what it means for your wealth)
Very few people die at their age of life expectancy, giving rise to financial planning’s biggest conundrum: longevity risk.
I’m an expat with shares and property. What are my tax obligations?
One of the most common mistakes expats make is not adjusting their investment strategy to minimise tax, advisers say.
How will $3m super tax work when my balance goes all over the place?
You won’t get a refund if you’ve paid the tax and your fund later loses money. But you can carry forward the loss to offset gains in later years.
Get the latest business news on the go with the AFR’s new iOS app.
Companies
NSW wants fintechs to be part of the country’s largest bank contract
Westpac, ANZ and Citi are incumbents, but NSW Treasury wants innovative pitches to help solve issues, such as helping get payments to victims of domestic violence who may not have access to banks.
Anglo American rejects BHP’s $60b bid for copper supremacy
Anglo American investors were already cool on BHP’s offer as the race between global mining heavyweights for copper assets hots up.
Woodside looks inward after climate gambit defeated
The oil and gas producer felt the force of big super and green investors when it took a transition plan to shareholders. Now it has no choice but to do better on emissions.
- Investigation
- Shares
Broking bad: ASIC ‘threat’ fears about Morgans revealed
The corporate cop dealt with problems brewing at leading stockbroker Morgans for three years before a public crackdown. New documents detail the scale of its concern.
CEO and former exec accused of undisclosed relationship
The board and chief executive are expected to be named in a soon-to-be-lodged legal claim by Harmers Workplace Lawyers, Super Retail said.
- Exclusive
- Food & drink
Jon Adgemis’ lender pushes to sell his Darlinghurst Hotel
Another lender does not want the sale to go ahead. The crisis highlights the rosy valuations of the indebted pub baron’s properties.
- Exclusive
- Rural property
Huge mango farm operation to be sold by receivers
Receivers are hoping to recoup almost $10m owed to NAB through the sale of the Cheeky Farms aggregation of mango plantations.
Companies in the News
Search companies
View stories and data from an ASX listed company
Markets
Investors bet global central banks forced to delay rate cuts
Market expectations for loosening interest rates in Europe and the UK have been pushed back, as the US grapples with a hot economy.
Market bets the RBA will raise rates by August
Traders are ascribing a more than 50 per cent chance the Reserve Bank will lift the cash rate as early as in August to stamp out inflation.
Kogan executives handed $17.6m payday three weeks before stock crash
The online retailer disclosed earlier this month that key executives would be able to sell options back to the company without having to exchange them for shares.
Activist Elliott builds $1b Anglo American stake
The hedge fund led by Paul Singer has built a billion dollar stake in BHP target Anglo American, placing it among its 10 biggest shareholders.
BHP’s bid for Anglo casts cloud over $9b mine
BHP’s takeover proposal of rival Anglo American is throwing uncertainty over the future for Anglo’s massive fertiliser mine in England.
Opinion
Fight to the last Ukrainian
More aid is clearly a relief for Kyiv, but will it be enough to reverse the tide of the war?
International editor
The RBA is still threading the needle
The Reserve Bank’s next policy move is more likely to be a rate cut despite the evidence seen in the stronger than expected March inflation figures, says GSFM’s Stephen Miller.
Former advisor Paul Keating
If Musk wins high stakes global battle, X could still lose the war
A court victory in the legal stoush over Australia’s eSafety commissioner’s take-down order might invite government intervention that bolsters regulation of the social media giants.
Lawyer
Chalmers’ narrow budget path is now in peril
The sudden change in the interest rate outlook this week could be political dynamite for the Albanese government and the budget.
Editorial
You heard right – the RBA could raise rates again
The Reserve Bank of Australia will likely be forced to warn that it could raise rates again.
Columnist
Australia’s embassy should move back to Kyiv
Most other big democracies have moved their diplomats back to the Ukrainian capital. Australia is a notable laggard.
Contributor
Politics
Imploding Star, Woodside battle & hot inflation, again
This week on the Chanticleer podcast, James & Anthony look at casino operator Star Entertainment’s second brush with disaster, go inside the battle over energy giant Woodside’s climate plan, and ask where rates go next after hot inflation numbers.
Government spending surge to fuel sticky inflation
Monthly spending figures show the federal budget bottom-line in the nine months to March was running $4.1 billion ahead of projections from December,
Police killings spur $161m national register of firearms
More than 35 years after it was first proposed, a national database will be established to track millions of firearms around the country.
US ban on non-competes will likely ‘embolden’ Labor
A blanket ban on non-compete clauses in the United States is likely to embolden the Albanese government to go hard on regulating post-employment restraints in Australia, some legal experts have predicted.
Start-ups, dentists drain retirement savings in ‘super scam’
The value of super withdrawn for dental treatments nationally jumped 373 per cent to $313 million from 2019 to 2023, and Labor has warned of a potential crackdown.
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World
US commander says China pursuing ‘boiling frog’ strategy
Retiring Admiral John Aquilino has accused Beijing of gradually raising pressure in the South China Sea.
- Opinion
- East Asia Forum
South Korea’s president faces revolt over US security ties
After his party’s loss in parliamentary elections, Yoon Suk-yeol is under pressure over his pivot to a stronger US alliance and perceived anti-China policies.
Russian missiles pound Ukraine’s battered power plants
Russian missiles again targeted the nation’s strained energy grid in a broad and complex attack, as Defence Minister Richard Marles pledged $100 million in aid.
‘Built and destroyed’: Wall Street reels from ban on non-compete pacts
Financial companies are scrambling to rework contracts and tie down personnel after the US Federal Trade Commission’s decision last week.
King Charles goes back to work after cancer treatment
Buckingham Palace announced that the monarch has recovered from cancer and will resume public-facing duties.
Property
High costs to delay housing supply until end of decade: AFR survey
It’s a case of simple economics choking off the desperately needed supply of new housing as building costs rise faster than house price growth.
The conundrum behind Perth’s housing price surge
There’s plenty of demand and many projects approved, but sky-high construction costs have left developers asking for more government money.
Why this apartment owner ditched real estate agents
Morgyn Bostock chose not to use an agent when she sold her home - and would happily do so again.
Over-50s lifestyle boss asking $30m for Byron retreat
GemLife CEO Adrian Puljich and wife Jessica list Byron estate for $30m, while mental health advocate Hugh van Cuylenburg and Penny Moody buy in Bangalow.
‘Get out now’: empty stores haunt iconic Sydney shopping streets
Retailers on Paddington’s Oxford Street and Newtown’s King Street are feeling the pinch of high operating costs and declining consumer confidence.
Wealth
Why more Australians are choosing semi-retirement
Fusing the parts of work you still enjoy with hobbies, travel and passion projects is the dream for many. Here’s how to make a go of it
Why you’ll live longer than you think (and what it means for your wealth)
Very few people die at their age of life expectancy, giving rise to financial planning’s biggest conundrum: longevity risk.
A child won a share of her dad’s estate – despite planning to kill him
A 75 per cent success rate in contesting wills is encouraging more family members to sue for a bigger share. Here’s how to protect your final wishes.
Technology
Alphabet surges past $3 trillion, announces first-ever dividend
Google’s parent company rose nearly 16 per cent after first-quarter earnings beat expectations and a $US70 billion stock buyback was approved.
- Exclusive
- Social media
TikTok Australia makes its first stand after US ban laws pass
The US congress passed a bill on Wednesday requiring TikTok to be sold within a year or be banned in the country.
‘Safe room for terrorists’: ASIO warns big tech on encryption
Federal spy and crime chiefs will demand access to social messaging systems that allow terrorists, violent extremists and child abusers to operate with impunity.
Work & Careers
- Exclusive
- NAPLAN
NAPLAN reports arrive eight weeks early, giving more time to intervene
Detailed reports on how schools, classes and individual students performed in this year’s NAPLAN tests will start landing on Monday.
Mass lay-offs at regional uni as international enrolments slump 90pc
Federation University in Victoria could be the canary in the coal mine as its international student enrolments dive.
Life & Luxury
Streeton stuns at $10m art auction
Arthur Streeton’s historic scene took top honours, but works by Bronwyn Oliver and Nicholas Harding were the big surprises.
Tesla Cybertruck spotted in Sydney
The electric ute has been cruising tourist sites before going on display amid Elon Musk’s ‘censorship’ battle with Australia.
How to train for a marathon no matter how fit you are
It might take you a year to prepare for, but even the complete novice can work their way up to do it. Here are some tips for where to start.
This new play shows how oligarchs helped Putin – but ended up losing
Peter Morgan’s new work follows Vladimir Putin’s rise to the presidency and the Russian high-fliers who mistakenly thought he’d be their puppet.
A simple recipe for baba ghanoush with a twist
A desire to dig deeper into Lebanese cuisine is redefining Gerard’s Bistro in Brisbane.
