Childcare support for wealthy targeted
Childcare rebates for wealthy families should be capped at 30 per cent as a trade off for ushering 16,400 mothers from low and middle-income households into the workforce, the Productivity Commission says. Its long-awaited final report recommends a radical reduction in non-means tested payments for childcare despite an extension of the available subsidies to nannies.
‘Greek issue’ unsettles markets as oil slips
Before the Bell | Europe’s stock rally lost steam after Germany rejected a new proposal from Athens for an extension of its bailout program ■ Dow down 0.2% ■ SPI up 10 points ■ $A at US77.87¢
Frydenberg mulls ban on borrowing by SMSFs
Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is considering a ban on borrowing by SMSFs in an effort to ensure that the $660 billion sector is able to provide a reliable retirement income for savers.
Blackstone links with formidable property partner
Blackstone, one of the biggest players in Australian property, has teamed up with Canada's second-largest money manager to buy a quarter-stake in the nearly $1 billion Liberty Place skyscraper in Sydney.
MYOB, FleetPartners, Touchcorp first off the rank
With the end of reporting season in sight, equity capital markets bankers are getting their plans in place to unleash a bulging pipeline of initial public offerings.
Ad campaign to highlight budget challenges
The federal government will launch an advertising campaign to highlight the long-term challenges facing the budget as it attempts once more to reboot its strategy.
Rail strike on hold as cyclone hits Queensland coast
Rail unions have postponed most strikes planned for Friday at Aurizon's coal depots so that employees can shut down operations ahead of tropical Cyclone Marcia's arrival early on Friday morning.
Pepper says low doc loan share should be bigger
Pepper Home Loans's head of sales and distribution, Mario Rehayem believes the market share of so called non-conforming home loans could be five times what it is now if they can overcome stigma.
'Dallas Buyers Club' win could trigger goldrush for data
The court battle being waged by owners of film Dallas Buyers Club is an example of the kind of goldrush for information that government's data retention plan would trigger, legal experts warn.
Fundies need to look offshore
Chanticleer | Talk to Hamish Douglass before getting too excited that Australia’s superannuation assets now total $1.9 trillion.
Turnbull does Queensland with Brough
Rear Window | Malcolm Turnbull's planned trip north is causing heartburn for the PM.
Law students stressed about jobs
Almost half of all law students surveyed had considered dropping out of law due to stress.
Oroton keeps schtum on Rodd & Gunn
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LVMH's private equity arm, L Capital Asia, is still on the hunt for premium Australian brands it can take to the rest of the world.
Why your brain is going to mush
Have you traded in daydreaming for swiping, texting and connecting on your smartphone?
‘A profound impact on my mind’
John Davidson | Samsung’s virtual reality headset transports you to a new world.
Where global fund managers are investing
Follow the money trail: 10 charts that show how global fund managers are positioning themselves.
Apple Watch drives smartwatch appetite
The Australian smartwatch industry is expected to double this year and hit $400 million by 2018.
Anonymous analysts wreak havoc
Is it too easy for anonymous analysts to place bets that will benefit from their reports?
Digital disrupters get hearing in innovation fight
The Productivity Commission will seek to hammer out a solution for regulating start-ups and disruptive businesses, including Uber and Airbnb.
Quentin's property empire extends to Apple Isle
Rear Window | Quentin Dempster could teach other journalists a thing or two about managing their money.
Burnt-out Aussies taking shorter luxury breaks
Cash-rich but time-poor Australians are increasingly favouring luxurious long weekends away closer to home, rather than long-haul overseas trips.
‘Mentally ill’ to avoid download fines
Hollywood executives will exempt most people from piracy fines in a bid to avoid bad publicity.
National
PC recommends maximum rebate of 30pc of childcare fees for high-income earning families
Childcare rebates for wealthy families should be capped at 30 per cent as a trade off for ushering 16,400 mothers from low and middle-income households into the workforce, the Productivity Commission says.
- Advertising campaign to highlight the long-term challenges facing the budget
- West Australian government in $21m land grab
- Rail strike on hold as cyclone hits Queensland coast
- Truckie who swore at boss unfairly fired: Fair Work Commission
- Leadership rumblings resurface in NSW
- Rethink super tax breaks, APRA urges
- Australian Bureau of Statistics wants to scrap costly Census
- Business to pay for NSW Labor's 'modest' infrastructure plan
Conceptual artist Marina Abramovic coming to Sydney
Audiences have stuck thorns into her stomach, cut her clothes and aimed guns at her head. And now the international queen of conceptual art, Marina Abramovic, is coming to Australia.
Opinion
Jugglers and clowns walk a policy tightrope
There’ll be more backflips, somersaults, sword swallowing and clowns with exploding trousers than a three-ring circus in the next few weeks.
Fair tax system can be improved
Australia's tax and welfare system scores pretty highly on "fairness".
The jobs promise that pollies cannot make
John Roskam | An interesting pastime is pondering what politicians would ask for if they were granted one wish.
World
Germany holds up Greek bid for EU loan extension
Germany rejected a Greek proposal for a six-month extension to its euro zone loan agreement on Thursday, saying it was "not a substantial solution" because it did not commit Athens to stick to the conditions of its international bailout.
- US jobless claims fall as labour market gains momentum
- French government survives no-confidence vote
- Wal-Mart to raise wages in US stores this year
- German army used broomsticks during NATO exercise
- Nikkei strong as Japan Post bid for Toll signals an expansionary economy
- Dovish Federal Reserve minutes omit important developments
- Fed concerned rate rise signal will rattle markets
- Software is steering the car industry
- Republican hopeful Jeb Bush says he is his 'own man' on foreign policy
Couch potatoes growth food for GrubHub, Yelp
Let's call it the couch potato investment theory: over time, more and more people will choose not to leave the comfort of their houses to eat a meal, buy clothes or stock up on groceries.
Business
Virgin Australia narrows bottom-line loss to $48m
Updated | Virgin Australia narrowed its first-half statutory net loss to $48 million as it benefits from cost cutting and a truce in its battle with Qantas in the domestic market.
- Toll Holdings' rivals could win from Japan Post sale
- AMP cautions against Series 7-style test for financial advisers
- Magellan profit doubles on rising funds and markets
- Clayton Utz retakes old Allen & Overy partners
- Crown Resorts’ profit slumps on Macau woes
- Mineral Resources reveals monorail ambitions
- Fairfax announces share buyback as profit beats forecasts
Pepper says low doc loan share should be five times bigger
Pepper Home Loans's head of sales and distribution, Mario Rehayem believes the market share of so called non-conforming home loans could be five times what it is now if they can overcome the stigma still attached to them.
Technology
YouTube to introduce paid subscriptions
Google is set to launch a paid subscription model for YouTube in a few months, which will be ad-free.
- Freelancer, MoneyPlace to debate regulation
- Samsung heads off Apple Pay with LoopPay acquisition
- Aconex first-half revenue rises on stronger sales, recovering US market
- Most downloaders will avoid fines for movie piracy
- Netflix, Presto, Stan have killed the video store ... and maybe TV
- iiNet closes gap with Optus, profit edges higher
- Vodafone revenue falls 1.6pc as 46,000 customers leave
- Tinder, Amazon, IBM dominate US tech giant spinoff rumours
- Bank of England chief economist sees inequality cutting growth
Uber adds $US1b more to raising before market push
Investors’ appetite for a piece of Uber has proved to be greater than it imagined: a $US600 million planned raising was quickly oversubscribed, and Uber has decided to raise the amount.
Markets
‘Greek issue’ unsettles markets
Before the Bell | Europe’s stock rally lost steam after Germany rejected a new proposal from Athens for an extension of its bailout program ■ Dow down 0.17% ■ SPI up 10 points ■ $A at 77.87¢
- $A jumps as US Fed cools rate speculation
- Is the oil market returning to normal?
- US Federal Reserve gives shares a free ride
- Technical signs tip ASX to hit 6400 this year
- Dovish Federal Reserve minutes omit important developments
- Stephen Koukoulas calls bottom on Australian dollar
- Currency wars: China calls the shots
- Greenback lower amid rethink of rate rise timing
- Swiss open inquiry into HSBC over alleged money laundering
Where global fund managers are investing
Follow the money trail: 10 charts that show how global fund managers are positioning themselves.
Personal finance
SMSF property crackdown spooks business
Tax and property consultants claim business property sales have jumped, as small and medium businesses rush to lock in generous tax concessions.
- Baby Boomers plan next move to suit themselves
- Eight smaller stocks with good dividends
- Invest in your mortgage to keep ahead
- Is now the time to sell Telstra and CBA?
- Traps to watch when investing in property trusts
- Is the time to buy into oil companies?
- Which Australian shares benefit from low rates and falling A$?
RBA and Canberra have dropped ball on interest rates
Chris Joye | With the cash rate set at depressionary levels, retirees are being forced to take complex risks.
Lifestyle
Michael Beckman's restaurant: Palm Springs cool
Put New American cuisine with desert hip architecture and you have an out-of-this-world experience.
Fifty and fabulous: Carla Zampatti, the label
As she prepares to celebrate five decades in business, Carla Zampatti flicks through her photographic archives.
Time assets – watches to covet now
There were some impressive new timepieces at the Geneva watch fair, but will they meet the new challenges on the horizon?
The designer hired by James Packer and Kerry Stokes
Blainey North has become the interior designer of choice for many of Australia’s wealthiest and most famous.
Latest TV
How to balance work and family life
No nonsense parent educator Danielle Mantakoul shares her top tips for creating balance with your work and family.
Toll recommends Japan Post bid
Toll founder Paul Little to make $400 million if Japan Post's takeover of the company succeeds.
Wesfarmers, AMP & Virgin lead earnings parade
Wesfarmers reports mixed earnings while AMP, Virgin and Crown beat expectations.
Sports pros head overseas for big bucks
Basketballer Bogut tops list of Australia's highest-paid athletes followed by golfers Scott and Day.
