No zealot about cutting company tax, Ken Henry despairs about Australia's politicians

• ANALYSIS

Former Treasury chief and National Australia Bank chairman Ken Henry is far from a zealot on cutting company tax rates.

Nine writes down value of TV network by $260 million

Nine Entertainment Company has reported a $237 million loss in the six months to December after reducing the Nine Network's goodwill from $422 million to $162 million. 

ACCC flags concerns on South32 coal deal

Shares in diversified miner South32 have tumbled to their lowest level in more than three months after Australia's competition watchdog expressed concern over its proposed deal to take over a coking coal mine in NSW.

Casual workers threaten to walk out over penalty rate cuts

As a casual waitress, Erin Gibbons doesn't always know when she will be working each week, or how much she will earn.

MYOB buys Paycorp for $48m, revenue up 13pc

MYOB has acquired payments processing solutions business Paycorp for $48 million and posted a 13 per cent revenue jump.

Telstra offloads final stake in Autohome for $282m

Telstra has offloaded its 6.5 per cent stake in Autohome for $US217 million ($282 million), ending its association with the Chinese car classifieds business.

Ahmed Fahour's shock Australia Post resignation

Mr Fahour surprisingly announced on Wednesday that he would resign just weeks after the revelation of his $5.6 million salary caused a national furore and drew the ire of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Fahour's bizarre final press conference

In a large room in Australia Post's newish headquarters in Melbourne, outgoing chief executive Ahmed Fahour held a bizarre press conference.

Qantas profit slides after 'unprecedented airfare' discounts

An influx of international competitors and softness in the domestic market has sent Qantas' profit down 7.5 per cent in the first half of the financial year.

Penalty rate cuts: Who gains, and who will be hit hardest

Who will gain the most from the changes, and who will be the hardest hit? The penalty rates decision in a nutshell.

McGrath shares hit as it warns 'challenging' conditions to continue

Shares in listed real estate group McGrath took another hit on Thursday as it warned "challenging" market conditions were likely to continue after reporting a dive in half-year pro-forma profit.

'I'm not going anywhere': Ardent boss vows to rebuild after tragedy

• UPDATED

Ardent chief executive Deborah Thomas says she is "not going anywhere" and will work to restore the theme park operator to its former glory after the company sank to a $49.4 million loss for the December half following the fatal accident at its Dreamworld theme park in October.

Penalty rate cut: how did it happen?

Workplace reporter Nick Toscano contextualises the Fair Work Commission's announcement on Thursday that Sunday penalty rates paid in retail, fast food, hospitality and pharmacy industries will be reduced from the existing levels.

Crown hits 'pause' on China after arrests

• UPDATED

Crown Resorts' half-year result slumps on collapse in VIP revenue.

ASX struggles as heavyweights trade ex-dividend

The local sharemarket ended another big day of reporting season in the red, as a slide in miners led by Rio Tinto offset a number of positive earnings surprises.

'How are these decisions made?' Victorian fury over plan to prioritise NSW

The Victorian government is demanding the operator of Australia's main electricity grid explain how the state came close to losing electricity during the recent extreme heatwave to ensure NSW avoided power outages, adding to calls for a wider inquiry.

Investa signals stronger office rents

Investa Office Fund has issued an earnings upgrade for the full-year of 3 per cent, based on improving fundamentals for the national office market.

'Not balanced or fair': restaurant owners miss out on penalty rate cut

"If the business doesn't grow, how are we going to employ more people?" asks restaurateur Mohammad Bhuiya after the Fair Work Commission excluded restaurants and cafes from its Sunday penalty rate cut.

Hedging against a Le Pen French victory

The euro has plunged against the Aussie as traders position themselves around the "redenomination risk" circling the French election.

Cambodian land grab victims confront ANZ

Four farmers forcibly evicted from their land in rural Cambodia by a land grab financed by ANZ have travelled to Melbourne on behalf of almost 700 Cambodian families seeking compensation from the bank.

They're coming for your frequent flyer points

Just when you think the risk of identity theft and cyber fraud means you’ll have to leave your credit cards in a safe, here's another one. The scumbags are stealing your frequent flyer points.

Markets Live: Crown and Qantas support ASX

• Live

Shares claw back some early losses as investors take profits in the big miners, while the dollar takes a whack from soft business investment numbers.

Animal spirits or fundamentals? US market defies gravity

Is Wall Street's spectacular record run supported by economic fundamentals, or an outbreak of exuberance? Barclays reckons it is the former, while fundies aren't so sure.

They're coming after your frequent flyer points

• COMMENT

Here's something else to worry about: the legion of cyber fraudsters and identity thieves are trying to steal your frequent flyer points – and they're succeeding.

Australia Post CEO Ahmed Fahour quits

Mr Fahour came under fire recently after it was revealed that he earned $5.6 million last year. (Video courtesy: ABC News 24)

'Bad day for working Australians': Sunday penalty rates slashed

Hundreds of thousands of Australians who work on Sundays will have their take-home pay reduced after a landmark ruling by the national workplace umpire.

Cut the company tax rate and push up the GST, says Henry

Former treasury boss Ken Henry has backed the government's 10-year plan to cut the company tax rate, saying it should be done even sooner.

'Going gangbusters': the new way to beat power costs

A new wave of solar energy is about to crest and it won't just be households benefiting.

Maybe Clive Palmer's 'depressed' nephew should come home: judge

Clive Mensink, the sole registered director of Queensland Nickel before it collapsed with debts of $300 million, has been overseas and is said to have 'clinical depression and anxiety', his barrister told court.