Kashkari pins dissent on data

Little-changed economic data and his belief that job market slack remains pushed him to cast the lone dissent vote.

BofA's Banks sees S&P; 500 at 2600

The S&P; 500 Index could reach 2600 as the global economy improves and corporate earnings climb, according to Bank of America.

ANZ quits base metals, coal, iron ore trading

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group is quitting trading activity in base metals, coal and iron ore and electricity.

Game of phones: Telstra's regional roaming rage

Culla doesn't have a post office or any shops. It doesn't even have a pub. But on Thursday morning the regional Victorian township did get a Telstra phone tower.

Boom time for the box out the back of Bourke

A curious trend emerged in the half-year reporting season among Australia's television companies. Something worthy of investigation by Detective Humphrey Goodman. 

Lift GST, says OECD in dismal report card

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has castigated Australia for inadequate progress on tax, Indigenous affairs and support for business in a report card to be presented to finance ministers from the group of 20 leading industrial nations in Germany on Saturday.

Slater and Gordon expected to avoid collapse

Financially distressed listed law firm Slater and Gordon is expected to avoid collapse after confirming that its new senior lenders are supportive of a restructure of the company.

A lawyer's love for all creatures great and small

If David Herman needs a reminder of the importance of his role as chief at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital, he can find two by casting an eye around his office.

'Manifestly untrue' - Grocon blasts ACTU boss

Building company Grocon has demanded ACTU secretary Sally McManus correct her "manifestly untrue" statement that it was fined $300,000 for killing five workers.

Energetic political row - but will there be light as well as heat?

What if the biggest government announcement in electricity generation in years was both a great breakthrough and a distraction?

Bulls rejoice as miners drive ASX higher

The sharemarket nudged close to 2017 highs in a week marked by a rebound in mining stocks and an equities-friendly Fed decision.

Would you wear this jumper for 30 years? Rag trader says yes

Call it the anti fast-fashion label. Twenty-six-year-old Tom Cridland has gained an outsized profile for his fashion label thanks to actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Craig, and savvy self-promotion.

Fed rate rise boosts Australian property interest

Australian property is expected to be a beneficiary of the lower for longer global interest rate environment as investor seek out stable, safe haven that bricks and mortar offe

How the two-speed economy worm has turned

• COMMENT

If you learn nothing else about the economy, remember that it moves not in straight lines but in cycles of good times followed by bad times, and bad times followed by good.

Westpac follows NAB in raising home loan rates

• UPDATED

Westpac has followed National Australia Bank's lead and hiked home loan interest rates for both owner occupiers and property investors.

Sydney company THC prepares to join pot stock boom

• EXCLUSIVE

Alan Beasley began researching the medicinal benefits of cannabis after his wife had a brain seizure.

Why your mortgage broker may not get you the best deal

Many of us trust mortgage brokers to get us the best home loan deals. But the banks are giving them incentives to make sure its interest are placed first.

The AAA problem for investors

• COMMENT

Sometimes, you're your own worst enemy. Here's why.

A few bad apples? It's a dodgy adviser orchard

• COMMENT

A report into the financial planning arms of the big four banks and AMP found 185 planners were "dishonest, illegal, deceptive and/or fraudulent" in their dealings with customers.

Markets Live: ASX tops 5800 in big week for miners

The ASX 200 briefly edged above 5800 points on Friday before paring some of the session's gains, as powerful gains in the miners led the sharemarket higher over the week.

Seesaw mining stocks see the light

Australia's miners have reversed a period of dramatic sharemarket underperformance, pulling strongly ahead.

'Wake up call' - report rips into banks on planners

Australia biggest banks are taking up to six months to notify the corporate watchdog when they find misbehaving advisers and frequently fail to properly check the background of the financial planners they employ.

Households abandoning the grid have 'lost faith'

Energy group warns rise in solar systems clear evidence consumers 'have lost faith' in their energy supplier.

Fears for the data of 53,000 more public servants

Defence, Human Services won't come clean on employee data supplied to polling firm.

NAB sells rare $500m gender equality bond

National Australia Bank has sold $500 million of "gender equality" social bonds amid burgeoning demand for ethical investments.

Westpac raises interest rates

Westpac is raising home loan rates for both owner occupiers and property investors. (Courtesy ABC News 24)

Banks are itching to increase your mortgage interest rate

• COMMENT

It was a gutsy call by NAB to raise mortgage interest rates on owner occupier loans. But make no mistake this move has opened the floodgates.

The investment climate is shifting

It isn't just the Federal Reserve, but many other central banks are talking about normalising policy, while financial institutions make the cost to borrow more expensive. (Video produced in commercial partnership between Fairfax Media and IG Markets).

Lort Smith Animal Hospital

CEO David Herman talks about his plans for Lort Smith, the only animal hospital in Australia, and how he has brought his experience from the private sector to a charity he is passionate about.