There is too much fuss over our AAA rating
It suits politicians and the media to exaggerate the importance of our top-notch credit rating.
Stock Ticker
- AGL AGL ENERGY LIMITED. 0.28%
- AIO ASCIANO LIMITED 0.34%
- AMC AMCOR LIMITED 0.53%
- AMP AMP LIMITED -0.51%
- ANZ AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED -1.53%
- APA APA GROUP 0.12%
- ASX ASX LIMITED 0.09%
- AZJ AURIZON HOLDINGS LIMITED -0.93%
- BHP BHP BILLITON LIMITED -0.56%
- BXB BRAMBLES LIMITED -0.96%
- CBA COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA. -2.46%
- CCL COCA-COLA AMATIL LIMITED -0.58%
- CPU COMPUTERSHARE LIMITED. -0.30%
- CSL CSL LIMITED -0.31%
- CTX CALTEX AUSTRALIA LIMITED -1.17%
- DXS DEXUS PROPERTY GROUP -0.36%
- GMG GOODMAN GROUP -0.30%
- GPT GPT GROUP 0.00%
- IAG INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LIMITED 0.17%
- IPL INCITEC PIVOT LIMITED -0.96%
- JHX JAMES HARDIE INDUSTRIES PLC -0.11%
- LLC LENDLEASE GROUP -0.40%
- MGR MIRVAC GROUP -0.79%
- MPL MEDIBANK PRIVATE LIMITED 2.93%
- MQG MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED -1.13%
- NAB NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED -2.18%
- NCM NEWCREST MINING LIMITED 2.71%
- ORG ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED 2.12%
- ORI ORICA LIMITED 0.87%
- OSH OIL SEARCH LIMITED 0.14%
- QAN QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED 4.05%
- QBE QBE INSURANCE GROUP LIMITED 0.27%
- RHC RAMSAY HEALTH CARE LIMITED 0.98%
- RIO RIO TINTO LIMITED -2.06%
- S32 SOUTH32 LIMITED 0.93%
- SCG SCENTRE GROUP 1.08%
- SEK SEEK LIMITED -1.18%
- SGP STOCKLAND 1.17%
- SHL SONIC HEALTHCARE LIMITED -0.67%
- STO SANTOS LIMITED 2.02%
- SUN SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED 0.24%
- SYD SYDNEY AIRPORT 0.61%
- TCL TRANSURBAN GROUP 0.35%
- TLS TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED. -0.74%
- VCX VICINITY CENTRES 0.92%
- WBC WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION -2.03%
- WES WESFARMERS LIMITED 0.14%
- WFD WESTFIELD CORPORATION 0.70%
- WOW WOOLWORTHS LIMITED -1.12%
- WPL WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED -2.83%
Key Stories
Phoenix chief allegedly forged documents
The man who ran one of Australia's fastest growing vocational colleges is being investigated for allegedly forging documents to reap more than $100 million in taxpayer funds.
Coca-Cola Amatil forecasts under pressure
Analysts are reviewing profit forecasts for Coca-Cola Amatil amid aggressive discounting of carbonated soft drinks and bottled water.
Tabcorp accused of 61 new breaches
Gaming giant Tabcorp has been accused of a further 61 reporting breaches as part of a landmark Federal Court action taken by anti-money laundering watchdog.
Slater & Gordon 'got a bargain'
Quindell former boss Rob Terry says he made $56 million on the deal with legal giant Slater & Gordon.
Harried UniSuper chief to gag himself
Kevin O'Sullivan and his chairman, Chris Cuffe, have promised to keep quiet about their views against a royal commission into the banks.
Solomon Lew tempts strike
Solomon Lew is at pains to explain to shareholders on Thursday what a bargain they are getting with their retail boss.
- Media & Marketing The big decision: is streaming the same as broadcasting?
- Banking and Finance Cash Converters faces $17m lawsuit
- Business Cyber 'health checks' for big business
- Markets Banking gloom pulls ASX down
- The Economy Deflation strikes for first time in years
Market Indices
Last updated: April 28, 2016 - 1:09AM
Last updated: April 28, 2016 - 1:09AM
Last updated: April 28, 2016 - 1:09AM
Last updated: April 28, 2016 - 1:09AM
Australia's human guinea pigs in demand from Asia
Adelaide residents can earn up to $4000 for a two-week stay in a new 50-bed clinical trial facility.
In Depth
Interest rates could drop
VIDEO: There's speculation, with a slowing economy, the Reserve Bank could lower interest rates on budget day.
Tax bracket creep winners and losers
VIDEO: How tax brackets punish pay rises, and how to fix it - though not for everyone.
Inflation becoming deflation
VIDEO: Prices on petrol, food and plenty more have fallen for the first time in seven years, but will the Reserve Bank pull the trigger on an April rate cut?
Workplace
Three reasons a good handshake works
Politicians do it. Businessmen do it. Secret societies do it. Even a well-trained dog does it.
How to stay employed in a robot world
Most of us apparently don't believe we're replaceable on the job.
Markets
Computershare faces questions over future
Computershare's assurances that it has a plan to deal with lingering unfavourable global markets, growth challenges and long term disruption has yet to convince analysts.
Odds shorten for RBA rate cut
Lower than expected inflation figures have sent the Aussie dollar plunging more than a cent as traders revisit RBA interest rate bets.
Markets Live: AUD dives as prices fall
Live
The dollar plunges after quarterly inflation turns negative, but stocks can't hold onto gains.
- Iron ore spike driven by Chinese cabbies
- Game changer: 3 reasons for the RBA to cut in May
- More life seen in resources rally
- Old school gold to $US1500? Saxo thinks so
- Murray Goulburn chief resigns, shares plunge 34pc
- RBNZ's Wheeler leaves economists guessing
- iPhone sales fall for the first time
- US Steel seeks to halt imports from China
Twitter sales forecast misses estimates
Search Quotes & Charts
The Economy
Little to fear, and perhaps something to gain, from 'deflation shock'
Bang, pop, deflation shock! But you shouldn't worry about today's prices report.
Australia vs New Zealand: taking a dive on the fiver
We flogged New Zealand in the cricket test last November, remember?
Retail
Box of 'original' Shapes selling online for $50 after new formula fails to impress
Boxes of "original formula" Arnott's Shapes are now selling online for as high as $50 amid a customer outcry about the taste of the "new and improved" biscuits.
Gorman lashed over Instagram post of factory worker
Known for its quirky prints and "organic" approach to fashion, Australian label Gorman is under fire over a public relations exercise about its supply chain.
Banking & Finance
Banks expected to maintain margins, dividends
The banks' provisions for bad debts will be in the spotlight during interim results next week after the series of high profile collapses.
Computershare faces questions over future
Computershare's assurances that it has a plan to deal with lingering unfavourable global markets, growth challenges and long term disruption has yet to convince analysts.
Mining & Resources
Atlas Iron lives to fight another day
Atlas Iron's shareholders have given the troubled iron ore miner the chance to fight on by overwhelmingly backing a critical debt restructure proposal.
Scare campaign over climate policy kicks off
Bill Shorten is sending a clear signal he's willing to make climate a centrepiece of the 2016 election campaign.
World Business
What big sugar can learn from big tobacco
Pariah status and a punitive tax might be just what big sugar needs.
Saudi Arabia announces plan to end its 'addiction' to oil
Saudi Arabia is a country near-synonymous with the oil industry, but now the kingdom is moving to end what it calls its "addiction to oil" with a new plan.
Consumer Affairs
You can lead a punter to water but you can't make them drink
Victorians have been subjected to a campaign of clandestine "nudges" to encourage us to consume healthier alternatives to the alcohol and sugar we seem to crave.
What women really spend the money on
They control 75 per cent of retail spending. But where does it go?
Featured advertisers
Property Focus
Westpac stops lending to foreign buyers
The banking giant has stopped lending to foreign buyers in a move that is likely to spark concerns about a slowdown in construction.
Flip properties for development, councils told
Local governments are sitting on billions of dollars worth of land and property that could be redeveloped for much-needed housing, a new survey suggests.
Trusts and funds drive down yields
Institutions are expected to continue their dominance of Melbourne's industrial market, the biggest in Australia, compressing yields as they chase assets.
Historic Terminus Hotel sells for $5m
John McGrath: the man, the legend
Depending on whom you ask, John McGrath is either naive, calculated, unlucky, a victim of circumstances or a deft manipulator of them.
Executive Style
New taste for the old-fashioned
We're falling in love all over again with spirits hailing from a bygone era.
Money
The allure of the tiny house
Tiny house fever is taking hold as people look for innovative ways to bypass having a massive mortgage debt.
How your income affects fidelity
In 2015, research at the University of Connecticut found a link between extramarital affairs and income.
Small Business
Tax reform could help small business
Some of the biggest barriers to the growth of small business in Australia are high taxes.
How not to be a personal trainer
Is it really OK for personal trainers to compromise the safety of their clients?
Business Video
Interest rates could drop
There's speculation, with a slowing economy, the Reserve Bank could lower interest rates on budget day.
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Comment & Analysis
Solomon Lew tempts strike
Contains:
Too much fuss over our AAA rating
Contains:
This article contains a video.
Goodbye to Helou as Murray Goulburn overmilks it
Contains:
total comments1
This article contains a video.