Today's Business News & Views

Bean counters are worried about losing business as more Aussies self-lodge tax returns.

Bye bye bean counters, hello business consultant

2 mins ago

Small shopfront accountants nationwide are worried about the end of the traditional tax return.

Site of the Dipidio mine north of Manila

'Why is mining more important than people's lives?'

1 hr ago

Shares in OceanaGold slumped in late trading on a statement by the Philippine government it may force the closure of its Dipidio mine, which has been the subject of recent wrangling between the company and the government.

Downer EDI workers work on building new rail carriages.

Downer shares soar on higher full-year forecast

1 hr ago

Shares in Downer EDI soared to a seven-year high on Thursday morning after the contractor lifted its full-year profit forecast following a lack of any bad news in its December-half earnings.

David Lawrence and Marcs are the latest retail chains to fall victim to rising costs and falling sales.

Retail rot spreads to big-name fashion chains

The collapse of national fashion brands Marcs and David Lawrence has added another 1130 workers to the retail rout that claimed close to 2000 jobs in the sector before Christmas.

Sheila McGregor has resigned from the Seven West board.

Female director resigns from Seven West

One of two females sitting on the board of Seven West Media has resigned after just 19 months in the role.

Urth Energy, a specialty solar energy retailer, has collapsed.

'Boutique' energy retailer calls in administrator

Urth Energy, which billed itself as a "boutique" energy retailer focusing on solar energy systems, has appointed an external administrator.

Gold prices recently fell and bond yields rose, meaning bondholders took a hammering.

Safe havens feeling less safe

Conventional wisdom says that in times of turbulence gold and the yen are places to hide, but some investors are cautious.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index and the broader All Ordinaries Index each slid 0.1 per cent to 5645 and 5696 points ...

ASX slips, $A soars on trade data

Positive trade numbers failed to boost investors' appetites for shares, while the Aussie dollar shot over US76¢.

Markets Live: $A soars on huge trade surplus

The Aussie dollar has convincingly cleared the US76c hurdle after the trade surplus shot up to its highest on record, but local stocks sag.

Office vacancy rates in Brisbane's CBD have improved, despite 1 William Street (dominating the skyline to the right) ...

Brisbane office vacancy rates improve, despite addition of 1 William Street

Brisbane's record office vacancy rates have improved, despite the introduction of major new commercial buildings in the CBD, a new Property Council of Australia report has found.

Investors have been generally supportive of the Tabcorp merger with Tatts.

Why the Tabcorp takeover of Tatts should get the green light

COMMENT

The results presented by gaming and wagering giant Tabcorp on Thursday underline why the competition regulator should reverse its 10-year-old decision to block a merger with Tatts.

Mining companies are resisting laws that would give the ATO more power to go after profit shifting.

Export boom remarkable in 'weak trade growth' era

December's record trade surplus is good news for corporate profits and the government's triple A rating. But economists expect the impact on the real economy to be muted

A woman is likely to head ACTU for the first time

A woman is likely to head the peak national unions' organisation for the first time in its history.

The two brands would continue to trade while his team reviews their operations ahead of a planned sale of the businesses.

1130 jobs in danger at Marcs, David Lawrence

An administrator has been appointed to fashion brands David Lawrence and Marcs amid deteriorating sales.

The legislation, which will give Prime Minister Theresa May the right to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, ...

May moves closer to Brexit trigger

British lawmakers approved legislation seeking parliament's approval for the start of formal divorce talks with the EU.

Edgar "Injap" Sia was studying architecture when he dropped out at 19 to start a business venture with classmates. Now ...

Barbecue chicken seller turns property tycoon with 2500% stock surge

Edgar Sia was studying architecture when he dropped out at 19 to start a business venture with classmates. Now 40, he ranks among the youngest tycoons in the Philippines.

Tabcorp wants to buy Tatts in part to fend off a growing challenge from overseas online rivals like William Hill and ...

UK start-up, acquisition costs mar Tabcorp result

Tabcorp's bottomline performance was down 28.1 per cent - marred by a series of one-off losses associated with its UK start-up business Sun Bet, litigation with regulator Austrac and costs associated with acquisitions.

NAB overcharged 220,000 corporate superannuation accounts a combined $34.7 million, ASIC said.

Banks forced to repay customers $41m

National Australia Bank's wealth arm has been forced to compensate customers $36.5 million, after wrongly charging fees to superannuation customers and incorrectly assessing insurance claims.

Bicycle-riding food couriers have revolutionised the delivery industry.

The students bypassing the tuckshop for delivery apps

Mobile food delivery apps are making their way into Sydney schools, extending lunch menus beyond salad sandwiches and pizza pockets.

Marcs, David Lawrence in voluntary administration

The companies behind fashion brands David Lawrence and Marcs have been placed in voluntary administration. Vision courtesy ABC News 24.

Train trips fell by 19 per cent during the morning peak last Friday, compared with the same period a week earlier.

Opal data reveals just how many people took a sickie

If a sharp fall in the use of trains, buses and ferries last Friday is any guide, Sydneysiders scored a four-day weekend en masse last week through fair or foul means.

Years ago, I began to navigate the gap between the smell of bacon and the lives of piglets.

Bacon shortage? Hogwash, it's fake news

Bacon lovers have nothing to fear. The truth is this: there will be no rationing at breakfast.

Apple sold 78.29 million iPhones in its fiscal first quarter ended December 31, up from 74.78 million a year earlier.

Apple market value surges

Shares in Apple leapt more than 6 per cent on its latest results, with at least 12 brokerages lifting their price targets.

After a brief lull, Trumponomics is back.

8@eight: Waiting for inspiration

Sponsored

Apple has supported equity markets, with yesterday's post-market release of Q1 sales of $US78.5 billion ($103.52 billion) and EPS of $US3.36 and seemingly, more importantly, its guide for Q2, that was better than what the market had feared. The daily chart has well and truly broken out to the topside and this is attracting the momentum focused clients and I wouldn't be surprised to see this above $US150 in the coming months here.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, trimmed about 0.3 per cent of ...