Today's Business News & Views

European officials have reiterated that they won't engage with British Prime Minister Theresa May's government before it ...

London risks losing status as the 'euro-area's financial capital'

European Union officials lined up on Monday to underscore the warning of the Dutch finance minister that Brexit will prove a 'tough ride' for the British.

Cleaner Victor Barrientos was warned not to get sick, because if his employer lost the contract he "lost his pay".

Victorian schools clean up on workers

EXCLUSIVE

In the cutthroat world of contract cleaning in government schools a vulnerable workforce is paying the price.

The insurance industry is being squeezed as claims outpace wage growth by 2 per cent a year.

Medibank revenues 'below expectations'

Medibank CEO Craig Drummond has warned revenues are below expectations and members and market share have declined. "This is not sustainable."

Defence Department Secretary Dennis Richardson has urged his department to vote yes.

Defence chief: I couldn't make a reasonable offer under Abbott

Defence Department boss could not make reasonable pay offer under Tony Abbott.

ANZ chief Shayne Elliott at ANZ's Apple Pay launch in April, with products and marketing director Matt Boss.

Apple Pay helps banks sell mortgages, deposits: ANZ

ANZ Bank chief Shayne Elliott insists the bank's strategy of breaking ranks with rivals and doing a deal with Apple Pay is helping the lender's business.

Domain sets record, brands reached total audience of 4.69m

Property listings and content business Domain Group has set a number of new records for audience reach, according to the most recent figures.

OPEC deadlocked as Iran, Saudis harden positions on oil deal

An OPEC deal to curtail oil production and prop up global prices appeared in jeopardy as Iran said it won't make cuts while Saudi Arabia insisted Tehran must be willing to play a meaningful role in any agreement.

Cutting penalty rates would boost profits: new report

Cuts to penalty rates would increase shareholder profits or result in negligible savings for customers who shop at major retailers including Myer and JB Hi-Fi, new analysis shows.

Level One Bar at the Marlborough Hotel, Newtown.

Singo and Geoff Dixon launch sale of prized Sydney pubs

Long time mates and businessmen, John Singleton and Geoff Dixon, are selling off two prized assets.

Economists from Macquarie Bank and Capital Economics anticipate interest rates will fall to 1.0 per cent in 2017.

Rate hike? A cut is far more likely, economists say

Lacklustre economic growth and stubbornly low inflation mean any talk of the Reserve Bank lifting interest rates next year is premature, economists say.

Miranda Kerr on the cover of <i>Dolly</i> magazine.

Dolly magazine axes its print edition after 48 years

Teen magazine Dolly has axed its print edition after 48 years of publishing.

JB Hi-Fi hits pause on HOME ambitions

Richard Murray said JB Hi-Fi underestimated how hard it was to shift customer perceptions about its brand.

ASX enjoys best November in 11 years

A savage sell-off in miners on the last day of the month couldn't prevent the ASX from enjoying its best November in 11 years.

Banks are already reporting a growing number of buyers are struggling to settle on time.

ANZ warns on overbuilding in apartment market

The high-rise construction boom that is transforming the skylines of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will probably leave parts of these cities with too many apartments, ANZ Bank chief executive Shayne Elliott predicts.

Chinese retail investors are rushing back out of commodity futures.

Chinese iron ore futures smashed

A spike in short-term Chinese interest rates as well as regulatory measures to reduce speculation on futures markets have sparked another savage sell-off in iron ore and other metals futures.

Some of the post US election has leeched out of markets as OPEC and Italy's referendum loom.

Markets Live: Miners flatten ASX

Miners suffered a nasty reversal of fortunes, consigning shares to their third day of losses, while energy stocks fell ahead of a key OPEC meeting tonight.

Windfall for miners could hit $20b

Macquarie says markets are underestimating the full force of earnings upgrades in the mining sector and are too negative on the banks.

There are areas in the US where the cost to produce shale oil has dropped to as low as $US15 a barrel.

Leaner and meaner: US shale's threat to OPEC

Rather than killing the US shale industry, a two-year price war has made shale a stronger rival, even in the current low-price environment.

The apartment settlement bulge needs to be closely watched, BoQ chair Roger Davis says.

Apartment 'settlement bulge' a key risk for property

Bank of Queensland chairman Roger Davis has highlighted the risks from a looming surge in apartment settlements Brisbane and Melbourne, amid signs more buyers are facing difficulties completing off-the-plan purchases.

The end of the Christmas period often brings the end of relationships.

Divorce tips for the festive season

The festive season is near and while we all like to be cheerful, the reality of added pressure and expectation means that it can also put strain on personal relationships.