House prices enter danger zone
House price growth picked up again this month with expected further increases risk pushing prices into the danger zone that previously has led to a market correction. And there’s widespread caution for borrowers to not over-extend themselves.
Australia’s global wealth management failure
If you want a great example of Australia’s lack of entrepreneurship , deep seated conservatism and pathetic parochialism you only need look at the wealth management industry.
Play money: the secret $170m childcare network
The boss of Australia’s largest for-profit childcare company looks to be at the centre of a network of investments worth almost $170 million, making him the biggest childcare entrepreneur since Eddie Groves.
Profits spark succession talk at Macquarie
Macquarie Group’s return to billion dollar-plus profits this year has reignited talk of succession planning at the company, while chairman Kevin McCann is preparing to step down.
Corporate travellers win in Qantas frequent flyer rejig
Business travellers stand to be the winners from a major overhaul of Qantas’s Frequent Flyer program which has left budget-conscious flyers fuming over points and prized status credits.
Smear battle at the top of the media union
At the heart of a controversy roiling the top of the MEAA is financial support that federal secretary Chris Warren has overseen for another organisation run by his partner.
Why home loans aren’t all the same
Lenders are cutting fees but shrewd borrowers need to check that this carrot is not towered over by the stick, usually in the form of allowing the variable rate to quickly drift above more competitive offerings
Catherine Livingstone’s wish list
Business Council of Australia president Catherine Livingstone has no plans to step down as Telstra chairman and says companies need to collaborate more to become serious players in the world economy.
Rule change to avoid sky-slums
Fears that Melbourne’s skyline will be scarred by high-rise hovels is forcing the state government to overhaul building controls to boost the design quality of apartments flooding into the central business district.
Plan young, retire rich
What started as a small incentive to save has become a life lesson for three sisters.
The real housewives of Melbourne
A brazen new reality television show is irritating the hell out of Melbourne’s elite.
Canberra’s new giant-killer
Cathy McGowan ousted Liberal Sophie Mirabella from the seat of Indi and now she’s in Canberra loving every minute of it.
Eight ways to decode Gen Y
What the Millennials mean can be a mystery. This is what’s really going on.
Dancing for the ladies
Evolutionary biologists says quick legs and bobbing heads will catch a woman’s eye.
Peter Cosgrove sworn in as 26th GG
A 21-gun salute outside Parliament House has heralded the swearing-in of Peter Cosgrove as Australia's 26th governor-general.
Rare colonial gift could fetch $500,000
The re-emergence of a highly significant and presumed lost colonial artefact is causing excitement among collectors.
Buffett pockets $US123m on banks bet
Warren Buffett’s bet on US banks will generate $US123 million more a year after companies including Wells Fargo and American Express passed the Fed’s stress tests.
Just don’t call me ‘Madam Speaker’
Bronwyn Bishop chose the last day of Parliament before the May budget to deliver a “shock and awe” lesson.
Engineered adrenaline
On the right day the Lotus Elise is the most enjoyable four-wheeler on the road. This just wasn’t the right day.
Christophe Lemaire’s subtle Hermès touch
The creative director of Hermès fits this most Parisian of companies like one of its hand-stitched, lambskin leather gloves.
Things you can't say by text
As the Malaysia Airlines debacle demonstrated, the personal touch still has a place in our lives.
National
Rule change to avoid sky-slums
Fears that Melbourne’s skyline will be scarred by high-rise hovels is forcing the state government to overhaul building controls to boost the design quality of apartments flooding into the central business district.
- House prices enter danger zone
- Asylum seeker could be detained indefinitely
- Flight Centre fined $11m for attempted price fixing
- Insider trading jail terms too low, says ASIC head
- Government freeze means ASIC takes no action on FOFA
- Canberra to pay sweeteners to states for selling off assets
- Federal govt strikes infrastructure deal with states
- Estimated $1bn in federal grants frozen ahead of budget
Liberals score an own goal as revenge runs deep
Revenge, ego and the reverberations of deep-seated factional warfare that started two generations ago helped thwart the South Australian Liberal Party from gaining power in 2014.
Opinion
Leaders must beware the Ides of May
The politicians can play with budget projections, but what matters is policy substance.
ICAC not out to smear Sinodinos
ICAC isn’t smearing Arthur Sinodinos, despite suggestions to the contrary.
Retirement worries feed investor appetite for risk
Are Australian savers and investors ramping up their buying of riskier equity investments? There are some indications of this, including claims that around one third of the population fear they won’t have enough money when they retire.
World
US consumer spending points to growth
US consumers stepped up spending a bit in February as incomes increased for a second straight month, offering hope the economy was regaining its footing after being slammed by an unusually cold winter.
- Pimco’s key fund lags 87pc of its peers: Morningstar
- BMW’s South Carolina plant to get $US1bn boost
- BlackBerry buys itself time by cutting losses
- Ukraine’s former PM to run for presidency
- Asylum seeker could be detained indefinitely
- Turkey blocks YouTube after Syria leak
- Middle East deal left Leighton vulnerable
- US economy ticks up
Ukraine’s spy dolphins switch allegiance to Russia
Russian forces completed their takeover of the Ukrainian navy’s assets in Crimea: of all the military assets seized, none is quite as unusual as the combat dolphin program.
Business
Corporate travellers win in Qantas frequent flyer rejig
Business travellers stand to be the winners from a major overhaul of Qantas’s Frequent Flyer program which has left budget-conscious flyers fuming over points and prized status credits.
- Flight Centre fined $11m for attempted price fixing
- Chris Scott and his secret $170m G8 network
- McAleese CEO, CFO step down
- New BCA boss says time for global focus
- Profits spark succession talk at Macquarie
- Woodside’s Israeli gas deal delayed
- Patties names Steven Chaur as managing director
- Flight Centre hit with $11m fine
- Atlas Iron chief says rail deal still long way down line
George Brandis’s new culture war
Attorney-General George Brandis may not have intended a “culture wars” backlash, as Prime Minister Tony Abbott may not have anticipated ridicule from his knights and dames decision.
Technology
Microsoft unveils Office for iPad
Any gadget, any time. That was the mantra from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella as the software behemoth lifted the lid on a long-awaited version of its Office suite for iPad.
- Submissions split over e-safety commissioner
- Facebook to spread web with solar-powered drones, lasers
- All Android phones to become Visa cards with new payments app
- US music charts to include tweets
- Amazon expected to debut video device
- Coalition, Labor feud over NBN reports
- Optus CEO search heads overseas
- Sour Candy: King Digital dethroned as investors crush IPO
- Optus gets ACMA warning after overcharging customers
The wolves of the web
The Silicon Valley crowd may be cool but, locals argue, in their politically correct way, they are every bit as ruthless as any Wall Street banker. For months now, protesters have been blockading the fleets of private buses tech giants use to commute.
Markets
Stepping stones to financial security
What started out as a small incentive to save has become a winning life lesson for the Minehan sisters. Still in their twenties, each has a double-digit superannuation balance.
- Aluminium up on Alcoa cuts, copper up on China hopes
- Wall St advance checked by fall in biotechs
- US consumer spending points to growth
- $US slides on heightened focus on China move
- Fed's George reluctant to set rate hike timetable
- Pimco’s key fund lags 87pc of its peers: Morningstar
- European stocks extend rally on ECB easing bets
- Big banks lead bourse to weekly gain
- Insider trading jail terms too low, says ASIC head
RBA finds no need to follow RBNZ
Philip Baker | Broader economic drivers are taking over from resources-led growth so the Reserve Bank is charting its own course.
Personal finance
Protecting your family’s money
Sharing the family assets by giving adult offspring an early inheritance may seem like a good idea. But what happens if they split from their partner, and those hard-won assets walk out the door?
- Equity crowd-funding for start-ups just a tweak away
- Why Trevor Loewensohn plans to keep his ‘post-GFC’ mezzanine fund small
- The murky waters of MySuper lifecycle funds
- Why you can’t do without equities
- Wake up to super fees
- How to get reimbursed for repairs to your SMSF property
- Falling commodity prices rattle investors
Property prices headed for record high
Christopher Joye | Australia’ $4 trillion housing market is months away from being the most expensive residential property market in history.
Lifestyle
Executive property
Some stunning options for house hunters around Australia this week. How about this waterfront in Mosman, Sydney?
The top shelf
The ways people display their libraries are as diverse as what’s in them. Bookcase design is limited only by your imagination.
Culinary career changes
The allure of the kitchen can lead to life-altering and ultimately rewarding decisions.
Engineered adrenaline
On the right day the Lotus Elise is the most enjoyable four-wheeler on the road. This just wasn’t the right day.
Latest TV
IPOs alive despite Mantra, Sterling flops
The IPOs for Mantra and Sterling Education have spooked investors, but Burson's success shows floats can still succeed - if done right.
Which way for the Aussie dollar?
The Reserve Bank's stance, a cold US winter and resilience to bad Chinese data have helped push the Aussie dollar into less bearish territory - for now.
RBA stops 'jawboning' campaign
The RBA’s fear of inflation has stopped its jawboning of the dollar, which has also been suppressed by the improving US economy.
Murdoch brothers bring baggage as Rupert heirs
New News Corp co-chair Lachlan Murdoch may soon be managing his brother James, and both bring baggage as heirs to Rupert.
