Banks should bankroll ASIC, say super funds
The $400 billion industry superannuation sector is pushing for the big banks to bear the "lion's share" of funding the corporate watchdog.
Latest Business News
Thousands of injured workers to lose compensation benefits
Christine Guzara is among thousands of injured workers who will be cut off the NSW workers compensation scheme this year despite it posting a record $1.4 billion surplus.
Rising populism won't trump trade deals
The pursuit of free trade agreements remains a strong priority of the federal government in the face of a rising populist protectionism, particularly from US President-elect Donald Trump.
Bakers Delight's zombie deal 'exploits' workers
Bakers Delight workers in Victoria, some on $8 an hour, are being kept on an outdated contract from the unpopular WorkChoices era that drastically reduces weekend penalty rates.
Hedge funds bet on lasting commodity bounce
Gains in commodities will continue next year - at least that's what hedge funds are signaling.
Protests as McDonald's opens in Vatican
A branch of the fast-food chain McDonald's has opened in Vatican City, the seat of the Catholic Church, despite protests from residents and cardinals.
China's bubble squeezing taking its toll
China's manufacturing sector expanded for a fifth month in December, but growth slowed a touch more than expected in a sign that government measures to rein in soaring asset prices are starting to have a knock-on effect on the broader economy.
Call to ban 'hidden exemptions' in life insurance
Life insurers would be banned from relying on broad exclusions to knock back otherwise legitimate claims under proposals from consumer groups, which also received tentative support from the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Shopper docket the sleeper issue behind the Woolworths sale to BP
It has been the single most fraught issue in retailing over the past two decades – shopper docket fuel discounts, which helped underwrite the emergence of the two dominant retailers, Coles and Woolworths, jointly controlling close to half of the national retail sales of petrol.
Face time with strangers can boost economy
Human contact is an important part of health and our prosperity.
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Local engineers struggling to find work
When Kenan Tokar began studying electrical engineering with a hope of working in the power industry there was a skill shortage, now thousands apply for limited jobs.
Airline executives quit after video emerges of allegedly drunk pilot
An Indonesian budget airline has fired a pilot suspected of trying to fly a plane while he was drunk, and two of its executives have resigned.
Ironing out the productivity wrinkles
Multiply the number of shirts worn in Australia by the time it takes to remove their natural wrinkles, and you pretty much have the national productivity crisis laid out on your ironing board.
Two centuries of economic development courtesy of the Industrial Revolution
One of the small pleasures of my year was watching the deft political manoeuvrings of Thomas Cromwell in the TV miniseries of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall.
S&P; 500 slips into end of year
US stocks completed the fourth annual gain since 2011 on the longest losing streak since the November 8 election.
Engineers imported from overseas when locals struggle to find jobs
When Kenan Tokar enrolled to study electrical engineering he thought it was a growth industry with plenty of job opportunities. He was badly disappointed.
China-watcher's guide to risk
Each December, China's leaders meet to lay out their economic agenda for the next year. China-watchers pore over every word.
Gold rises near 8.5pc on year
Gold prices eased on Friday, ending a year in which bullion gained more than 8 per cent, snapping three years of declines.
Brent oil advances 52pc on year
Brent oil, the global benchmark, is headed for its first annual advance in four years on hopes for more
China's money market pain to worsen
China's money-market liquidity squeeze is about to get worse.
Iron ore snaps years-long losing streak
Chinese steel and iron ore prices finished the final session of the year under pressure amid concerns about slowing demand.
ASX slips in final session as gold miners shine
Gold miners look set to end the year on a bright note, while selling in blue-chip names pushes the sharemarket lower in early trade on the final, shortened session of 2016.
Will the Aussie tank when US rates beat ours in 2017?
Last time that rates were higher in the US than in Australia, the Aussie dollar plunged as low as 48 US cents. Could it fall again this low?
Swimland joins the cavalcade of companies underpaying staff
Paul Sadler Swimland is the latest franchise network to become embroiled in underpayment of wages and have the spotlight put on its enterprise agreement.
Myer hit with another class action
Department store owner Myer Holdings has been hit with another class action from an aggrieved shareholder just weeks after a court found a separate class action against it was an abuse of the legal process.
Peter Hall sells shares in his firm at a third of their market value
At the start of the week, fund manager Peter Hall's stake in the investment company bearing his name was worth $39 million. By the end of the week, he reckoned it wasn't even worth a third of that as he rushed to seal a deal with Washington H. Soul Pattinson.
ASX in 2016: shocks, turnarounds, and golden miners
Many Australian shareholders will remember 2016 as the year miners roared back to life after a painfully long period in the doldrums, helping the ASX 200 to an impressive annual gain of 7 per cent.
The lawless world of streaming, internet radio and social media
How many Australians realise that using radio smartphone apps or streaming online suddenly puts them in a world where no one will investigate complaints about fake news, cash for comment or low standards?
Don't fear the robots; they won't kill jobs
Robot K-2SO is the undisputed star in Star War's latest installment , outacting the actors - a sign of things to come in our automated economy?
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Peter Hall resigns from Hunter Hall role
Fund manager Peter Hall confirms his resignation as chief investment officer of Hunter Hall stating personal reasons. Vision courtesy ABC News 24.
Small Business
What's the most profitable industry?
It's not tech and it's not mining. It's something you'd never dream of.
'My biggest mistake': Entrepreneurs reveal where they went wrong
Five successful entrepreneurs reveal their biggest mistakes, and what they learnt from the experience.