Rude awakening for voters
For an unhappy Abbott cabinet, boasts of superior economic management and a rapid return to surplus have become a nightmare. The prospect of new taxes has been a rude awakening for the voters who had largely put the pause button on politics for the past six months .
Macquarie recovery not finished yet
Ask a Macquarie Group true believer like fund manager Karl Siegling if the banking analysts have got it right on Australia’s most successful global financial services group and you will get a resounding “NO”.
Jobs growth hints at US economy on the rebound
Job growth in the United States increased at its fastest pace in more than two years in April, suggesting a sharp rebound in economic activity early in the second quarter.
The suburb developers can’t get enough of
Residents in the Sydney suburb of Epping are getting used to the sound of developers knocking at their doors, with home owners thinking they can get prices triple what they were offered two years ago.
Good times for banks may be over, but investors hang in
Financials and stocks known for their defensive attributes have been the star performers so far this year, while the resources sector remains out of favour.
Time to wake up to impact of super fees
Hefty fees charged by the superannuation industry are in the headlights, with an in-depth study by the Grattan Institute revealing that Australians waste at least $10 billion a year on bloated fees and expenses.
$110,000 fine threat for ride-share drivers
Technology companies are battling state regulators over low-cost ride sharing services that compete with the taxi industry, as friction increases between regulators and those hoping to cash in on the sharing economy.
Chinese billionaire who’s giving it away
Alibaba founder Jack Ma is boldly going where few of China’s wealthy dare to go by setting up a philanthropic trust that could be worth as much as $US3 billion.
Telstra’s $US2.4bn CSL sale approved
Telstra has received the vital regulatory approval needed for the $US2.4 billion sale of its Hong Kong mobile service provider, CSL. The deal is expected to be finalised in May 2014..
One.Tel row ends after 13 sour years
After 13 years of caustic feuding that sent two of Australia’s best-known business families through court and media showdowns, the final chapter of One.Tel’s collapse was locked down after just 14 days.
Should investors be wary of the market’s new comeback kings?
Listed companies are back in favour, with many trading at a premium. Is this a permanent rerating or a danger signal for investors?
Tony Abbott and lobbying – choc horror!
Mark Latham | The outstanding question of politics is: how embedded is Tony Abbott in the NSW disease of lobbyist-induced scandal?
The legacy of Paul Ramsay
After 50 years in the hospital business, billionaire Paul Ramsay was flown from Ibiza in Spain to Bowral for a final homecoming.
Yellow Brick Road in Vow deal
It is six weeks since Mark Bouris-led Yellow Brick Road told investors it had entered into three exclusivity agreements on potential acquisitions.
Brett Whiteley – the wild one
The brilliant but tortured genius of Brett Whiteley had its evolution in a thrill-seeking boyhood on Sydney’s north shore.
Recipe for disaster
It couldn’t be too hard helping little old ladies get their ingredients and instructions straight. Or could it ...
Film: Young & Beautiful and Transcendence
A schoolgirl turns to prostitution in Young & Beautiful; while Johnny Depp turns into a superbrain in Transcendence.
Use LinkedIn to your advantage
If you're looking for a social network to build professional connections, LinkedIn is far and away the best.
How to get a Qantas upgrade
Even if your budget only stretches to a seat in cattle class, your Qantas Points can make up the difference.
Living like Warren Buffett
29-year-old Ryan Morris manages about $US15 million a year; he travels to Omaha, Nebraska, each year to learn at the foot of his hero, Warren Buffett.
Hipsters take over Aboriginal Redfern
The Aboriginal community is being pushed out of Sydney’s Redfern district as young urbanites move in.
AFR reporters win Citi Journalism awards
Three reporters for The Australian Financial Review, Tony Boyd, John Stensholt and Andrew Cornell, have won Citi’s business excellence awards.
LinkedIn loss disappoints investors
LinkedIn has suffered a first-quarter loss as the online professional networking service ramped up its investments.
Too much on our plates
For many of us, life unspools as a never-ending to-do list, leaving its victims wrung out, joyless, too tired to stop to smell the roses.
National
Tourism Australia cuts ‘short-sighted’
Former tourism minister Fran Bailey says the commission of audit’s recommendation to halve funding to Tourism Australia was ill-informed and short-sighted.
- Universities willing to work on new funding system
- A long, hard road to reforming the federation
- $110,000 fine threat for ride-share drivers
- States won’t be allowed to tax income, Abbott says
- Stevedore may have paid $1bn for Melbourne Port debut
- Police minister joins Liberal ICAC fallout
- Central Coast federal MP in the ICAC firing line
ICAC takes another scalp
Some very big names – in politics and business – are linked to the latest Liberal Party player to resign: Australia’s most connected political lobbyist, Paul Nicolaou.
Opinion
Healthy tactics for DIY super funds
Commercial property consistently attracts greater investment among do-it-yourself super funds than residential real estate.
Style curator takes the country to the world
You can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the girl!
Auditors strike a blow for tax reform
The Commission of Audit report was nearly all about reforming the expenditure side of the budget, but it will also advance the case for tax reform.
World
Jobs growth hints at US economy on the rebound
Job growth in the United States increased at its fastest pace in more than two years in April, suggesting a sharp rebound in economic activity early in the second quarter.
- Two Ukrainian helicopters shot down by rebels
- JPMorgan sees 20pc drop in quarterly trading revenue
- Berkshire profit hit by underwriting weakness
- UBS hires Stephenson ahead of Barclays revamp
- North Korea’s Kim continues to consolidate power
- Greece's National Bank poised to start bookbuild
- Lotte shelves plan for up to $US1bn REIT listing
- China’s Alibaba readies for US initial public offering
Babes under arms in Syria’s civil war
For the children growing up amid Syria’s three-year civil war, their very innocence has been stolen.
Business
Telstra’s $US2.4bn CSL sale approved
Telstra has received the vital regulatory approval needed for the $US2.4 billion sale of its Hong Kong mobile service provider, CSL. The deal is expected to be finalised in May 2014..
- News Corp to buy Harlequin romance novel publisher
- Cost-cutting put Macquarie back on track
- Propect of tough budget fails to faze food chains
- One.Tel row ends after 13 sour years
- Macquarie profit beats expectations, outlook disappoints
- Hochtief’s Leighton takeover bid nears deadline
- Paul Ramsay leaves $3.3bn to charity
- Twiggy takes over Harvey Beef in WA
Wake up Australia, invest in food
John Foss knew he was on to something big when sales of his chia-based foods began taking off in the US. Problem was, his Australian bank didn’t.
Technology
Sony slashes profit forecast again
Sony cut its earnings guidance for the third time in a year on Thursday to barely 10 per cent of its initial outlook as further losses from its PC exit cast a pall over its struggling electronics division.
- Defence targets Lockheed Martin for $700m data deal
- LinkedIn posts Q1 loss as expenses rise
- White House report calls for transparency in online data collection
- eBay settles with US over non-poaching agreement
- IBM Australia tumbles by $118m
- Facebook to let users anonymously log in to apps
- Google Australia pays $7.1m tax on profit of $46.5m
- AT&T;, DirecTV consider possible $US40bn deal: report
- Which apps are draining your phone?
Leveraging LinkedIn: Using the social network’s new features to your advantage
LinkedIn may not make headlines as frequently as Twitter and Facebook, but if you're looking for a social network to build professional connections, it's far and away the best.
Markets
Why investors just love LICs
Listed companies are back in favour, with many trading at a premium. Is this a permanent rerating or a danger signal for investors?
- JPMorgan sees 20pc drop in quarterly trading revenue
- Wall St dips on Ukraine, healthcare stocks
- Will rate rises spoil the sharemarket party?
- Copper closes higher, aluminium holds near low
- Precious metals rally as violence flares in Ukraine
- European stocks dip as investors book recent gains
- Time to wake up to impact of super fees
- Shares post weekly loss as bank earnings season starts
- Cost-cutting put Macquarie back on track
Chinese stocks set for rebound?
Richard Lie | There’s a dislocation between the bearish news about China and price action in equities. While it looks like China is slowing, in fact green shoots are starting to appear.
Personal finance
Junk bonds queues indicate risk is back
It doesn’t seem that long ago that investors were just focused on simply riding out the financial storm, preserving cash and keeping a lid on any damage.
Healthy tactics for DIY super funds
Commercial property consistently attracts greater investment among do-it-yourself super funds than residential real estate.
Lifestyle
Scotland going for culinary gold
Forget the deep-fried Mars Bar: in Scotland, they’re talking seasonable and sustainable.
Magnussen’s quest for greatness
The Olympic medalist is learning that winning is as much about mental strength and discipline as it is about physical prowess.
Vogue Italia: high fashion with an edge
For more than 25 years, Franca Sozzani has been one of Conde Nast’s most robust and most rebellious editors.
Dine and stay in the Grampians
A little fun-filled flair is the ingredient that will turn the beautiful Grampians into an unmissable fine dining destination.
Latest TV
Commission targets Medicare, pension age
The Liberal government's commission of audit is taking on the pension age and Medicare, although it's stopped short of a US style approach to health care.
ANZ results surprise as Asia rises
ANZ proves the doubters wrong with a better than expected half year result and a huge dividend increase, thanks to a strong Asia strategy.
Abernethy blasts speculators, pricey debt
Government should target market speculators like hedge funds, says Clime Investment's John Abernethy, who also questions Australia's pricey debt markets.
No time to waste for Wallabies: McKenzie
The Wallabies need to start winning again – fast. Coach Ewen McKenzie is using change management skills learnt in the corporate world to reinvigorate his charges and fans.
