Banks in favour as ASX revives its rally
The local sharemarket shrugged off a weak lead from Wall Street and indifferent jobs data to finish strongly higher on Thursday, with bargain hunters moving in and the cheap Australian dollar encouraging overseas buyers. The All Ordinaries index lifted 0.9 per cent to 5816 and the S&P/ASX 200 index rose 1 per cent to 5850.2.
Lower $A won't stop rate cuts
The Australian dollar is at most a couple of cents away from what most economists deem fair value, but that doesn't mean the RBA won't cut rates further.
ASIC halts HFT pingers and share trading hackers
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has shut down high-frequency trading activity that breached rules in both the ASX and Chi-X dark pools.
Investing in IPOs: Is the bonanza over?
The initial public offering bonanza that saw average year-end returns of 17 per cent may be over, despite some encouraging signs at the beginning of this year, Deloitte says.
The five highest-yielding stocks on the ASX - and their risks
The chase for yield has driven the latest rally in the sharemarket but a myopic focus on stocks with high dividend payouts is risky, a fund manager has warned.
Jobless rate eases back to 6.3% as employers add 15,600 jobs
The jobless rate fell last month, the ABS said on Thursday, in a tentative sign that record-low interest rates and falling Australian dollar are prompting companies to spur hiring.
AirAsia X looks for comeback in Australian market
AirAsia X founder Tony Fernandes expects the low-cost carrier's troubled Australian operations will be in a "better position" financially within six months, but stopped short of saying it will be profitable.
Domain soars in 'scorching' Sydney market
Domain is "now within striking distance" of its bigger rival REA Group in the Sydney property market, according to the latest Roy Morgan figures for real estate advertising.
Whitehaven Coal secures $1.4b refinancing deal
Whitehaven Coal has bought itself some headroom amid heavily depressed coal prices, confirming a deal with a syndicate of Australian and international banks to refinance $1.4 billion in debt.
What you need to become a great leader
Two Harvard professors say the key to leading in turbulent times is knowing where to start.
Panasonic’s new tiny travel partner
John Davidson | The DMC-GF7 strikes the ideal balance between picture quality and size.
Is CBA's golden era over for investors?
The Commonwealth Bank is considered a safe bet, but its prospects aren’t what they were.
Macquarie could launch more deals
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Deutsche Bank says more acquisitions could be on the agenda for Macquarie Group after the silver doughnut announced the purchase of an aircraft leasing portfolio.
Why one-on-one meetings matter
Removing meetings from your calendar isn’t always the best way to take back your time.
Complacency danger as banks keep CEOs too long
Three mega-banks have pre-2008 bosses. But the GFC showed the risks of long-term CEOs.
Six types of apps handy for retirees
Many smartphone applications can be particularly useful to retirees with time to manage their lives and pursuits.
Why anxiety has become so alarming
Mark Latham | Amid last week's intergenerational report, a vital statistic was missing: the cost to the taxpayer of a burgeoning anxiety industry.
Where should you stop over?
Dubai might be super-convenient, but other ports have more linger appeal.
CBA shares tipped to hit $101
Commonwealth Bank shares are tipped to hit $101, according to Macquarie, as CBA feasts on the growing pie in small business banking at the expense of NAB and ANZ
Netflix teams up with Optus
US streaming juggernaut Netflix has sealed a deal with the country's second biggest telecommunications company, Optus.
Firm sacks HR – and makes the workplace happier
How accountancy firm PKF fired its human resources team and improved retention.
Shorten, Fox, Kelty and Evans talk bonds
Rear Window | Melbourne banker David Evans met Bill Shorten last week to lobby the Labor leader on a new infrastructure bond market.
Aussie men more likely to die from prostate cancer
In a surprise finding, a study shows prostate cancer puts Australian men at greater risk of dying of the disease than their American peers.
National
Jobless rate eases back to 6.3% as employers add 15,600 jobs
The jobless rate fell last month, the ABS said on Thursday, in a tentative sign that record-low interest rates and falling Australian dollar are prompting companies to spur hiring.
- Turnbull talks up his record of winning public over to tough changes
- Businesses trading offshore stay afloat amid plunging dollar
- Victorian planning minister Richard Wynne approves Hiap Hoe project
- Status quo is not an option: Scott Morrison
- Tony Abbott pleads with Daniel Andrews not to legislate over East West Link
- ACC checking property's role in hiding illegal foreign funds
- Private health insurers urged to ditch homeopathy cover
- Workplace changes vital for Australia's competitiveness, KPMG says
- 'Treasurer for Sale' headline fair and accurate, political editor Sean Nicholls tells court
Five Australian unis make world top 100 by reputation
Five Australian universities have been named in the world's top 100 by academic reputation, one more than last year as Monash University enters this exclusive group.
Opinion
The road back to monetary normal
Reversing an interest rate cycle is tough at the best of times, even more so with historic levels of monetary easing.
Car backflip signals weak government
Keeping $500 million worth of welfare for the automotive industry is the price to be paid for a politically weakened government.
China's corruption crackdown a drag on growth
Angus Grigg | China’s state media has been furiously denying the Communist Party's corruption crackdown is linked to slowing growth - which suggests it is.
World
China property prices dive as year starts
China’s government may be forced to relax property regulations and support the country’s weak real estate sector after sales dived 16.3 per cent in January and February, stoking concerns of a sharper-than-expected downturn.
- China helps movie ticket sales rise 1% worldwide
- Citigroup gets top marks in annual stress test
- Wall St bonus pool rises to $US28.5b; jobs up
- IMF approves $US17.5b loan program for Ukraine
- Global art market reached 51 billion euros in 2014
- Email controversy may overshadow Clinton presidential launch
- US services data suggest upward revision to Q4 growth
- Tony Abbott holds fire on Indonesia despite provocation
US banks pass stress test, Deutsche, Santander fail
All the large US banks passed regulatory tests aimed at gauging whether they can make it through a financial and economic calamity, though the US units of Deutsche Bank and Santander both failed.
Business
Prydes buys collapsed Betta Foods, 174 face redundancy
More than 170 people will lose their jobs and taxpayers are set to foot the bill for the collapse of sweets manufacturer Betta Foods.
- ASIC wants new power to curtail bad banks
- Whitehaven Coal secures $1.4b refinancing deal
- AirAsia X looks for comeback in Australian market
- Glencore quits Mauritania iron ore project after $US1bn investment
- Queensland, WA oil contractors face 15% pay cut
- Grocery code won't save suppliers, says former Kellogg boss
- Ardent Leisure shares rebound
- AMEC Foster Wheeler eyes Australian acquisitions to become ‘big time player’
- Gina Rinehart blames high mining costs on government
Deborah Thomas on rollercoaster with Ardent
Former editor of The Australian Women's Weekly Deborah Thomas is disappointed investors dumped Ardent Leisure stock on Wednesday in response to her being appointed CEO.
Technology
Facebook to face class action over kids’ online purchases
A US federal judge said Facebook must face a nationwide class-action lawsuit to force the social media company to provide refunds when children spend their parents’ money on its website without permission.
- CBA questions staying power of disruptive peer-to-peer lenders if interest rates increase
- iTunes and App Store returns after rare 12-hour outage
- Six types of apps handy for retirees
- Uber and Lyft fail in bids to class drivers as independent contractors
- CBA offers contactless payments on all Android mobiles
- Netflix adds Optus to coterie of streaming deals
- ACCC rejects Telstra's copper network pricing
- Hillary Clinton defends use of private e-mail account
- Will the Apple Watch make you remove your Rolex?
Wikipedia founder says Facebook puts profits first
Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales has accused Facebook of putting advertisers ahead of its 890 million users and selling out on its mission of making the world more open.
Markets
Banks back in favour as yield hunters revive ASX rally
The local sharemarket shrugged off a weak lead from Wall St and indifferent jobs data to finish strongly higher on Thursday, with bargain hunters moving in and the cheap Australian dollar encouraging overseas buyers.
- Lower $A won't stop rate cuts, says economists
- Jobless rate eases back to 6.3% as employers add 15,600 jobs
- Whitehaven Coal secures $1.4b refinancing deal
- Inflation key to China easing monetary policy
- RBNZ signals rate pause on positive price data
- Wall St lower, led by consumer, tech stocks
- Citigroup gets top marks in annual stress test
- Copper falls on greenback's rally, China data
South Korea joins countries cutting interest rates
South Korea is the latest of a growing list of countries to cut interest rates because of sluggish growth, declining currency competitiveness and disinflationary pressures.
Personal finance
Part age pension still has place in $1m funds
There's no arguing that you're better off putting more into super (if you can) than relying on government support. But for those who need to rely on the extra help, it's worth planning ahead.
- Foreign exchange deals to make your holiday last longer
- How to handle capital gains tax when you sell shares
- Small business strategies for the falling Australian dollar
- Don't get burnt selling houses in red hot market
- How compression can help you reach your fitness peak
- Vanguard Investments takes top gong in Morningstar awards
- SMSF family business traps for the unwary
- QBE's wild share-price ride a sign of the times
How to capitalise on the housing boom
Christopher Joye | Strength in Australia's residential property market is not only keeping a lid on rates but also offering savvy investors a clue as to where better returns lie.
Lifestyle
Rolls-Royce balances growth with exclusivity
Tony Davis meets the man setting records at the world's most prestigious car maker.
Guillaume’s Chris Morrison on how to start your cellar
When Guillaume restaurant relocated, sommelier Chris Morrison restructured the wine cellar; he has rules for one at home.
Emirates designs wine list for mile-high palates
As we fly higher, our tastebuds get duller. So Emirates had its work cut out when selecting its wines for premium passengers.
Palm Springs gets its groove back
As mid-century modern comes back into vogue, Palm Springs' glory days return.
Latest TV
Residents take rezoning initiative
Neighbours are joining forces to get a better deal from developers in recently rezoned areas.
Tim Cook unveils Apple Watch
Apple Watch set to ship next month - find out how much it will set you back.
Why working parents shouldn’t feel guilty
Working parents shouldn't fear guilt, and there are steps to minimise the impact a job has on your children.
Sydney Airport boss Kerrie Mather eyes Badgerys Creek
Sydney Airport CEO Kerrie Mather is contemplating investing in Sydney’s controversial second airport.
