Behind the CBA market paradox
The release of consensus-beating quarterly earnings by Commonwealth Bank of Australia puts the spotlight on one of the great paradoxes of the local sharemarket.
Loy Yang paid $1b dividend ahead of carbon tax
Engie took a $1 billion dividend from its Loy Yang power station while it complained that a $500 million handout wasn't enough compensation for the carbon tax.
Fast 100 2017: Tripadeal on top for second year
Australians' love of a bargain and an appreciating currency has seen discount online travel agencies top AFR's 2017 Fast 100 and Fast Starters lists of fast-growing companies.
ASX to lift, US tax still a concern
Shares expected to stay above 6,000 points. Wall Street buoyed by tech, but investors concerned over tax. Iron ore down, $A up.
Murdoch's Saudi prince sold Fox stake
The exit of the Saudi Prince leaves the Murdoch family's 21st Century Fox vulnerable to a protest vote next week.
Development site values start to crack
The value of development sites, which have surged in recent years on a wave of Asian money, could soon come crashing down.
The outlook for returns isn't pretty
What investors really want to know is what sort of return they are going to get when they start investing. These days it's 6.5 per cent.
Analysts tip CBA earnings upgrade
CBA said its cash earnings rose 6 per cent in the first quarter with a lower bad debt charge and improved margins boosting the result.
FMG says China is distorting iron ore markets
Fortescue chairman Andrew Forrest has linked the price chasm between high and low grade iron ore to the power of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Domino's Pizza sticks to guidance even as growth slows
Domino's Pizza expects to lift net profit 20 per cent this year even though sales growth in Australia has slowed sharply.
WestConnex motorway sale heats up
Authorities are still evaluating the final stage of WestConnex as plans to sell of the motorway go ahead.
NAB veteran to cash in as banks bow out
NAB's outgoing head of institutional property sees big opportunities in development finance.
ASX seven years behind the rest of the world
Unlike many advisers, who are recommending clients move to smaller, high-growth companies, a Morgan Stanley trio is comfortable in large caps.
Bitcoin surges to record after developer dispute avoided
Failure to achieve mass consensus on a technological upgrade saw the Bitcoin price soar as "fork risk" was taken off the table.
Commonwealth Bank helps ASX hold above 6000
Shares on Wednesday managed to cling to sharp gains made in the previous session where the benchmark managed to cross the key 6000 level.
Can the resources rally continue?
Investors would be justified in wondering whether the resources rally that has helped push the ASX to near 10-year highs can continue.
BTIM performance fees halve
BT Investment Management posted an increase in profits but appears to be caught up in a British regulatory probe tied to commission payments.
Opinion
A Powerless life is Forrest's next challenge
Deciding who should follow in Nev Power's boot-steps looms as a key challenge for Fortescue's chairman and senior owner Andrew Forrest
HSBC boss sees blue skies for China growth
Helen Wong, head of HSBC's China operations, believes Australia has only just begun to tap into China's growing middle class.
Trump's big week out in Asia
Despite Trump's warning that North Korea should not underestimate the resolve and the power of the US military, Kim Jing-un will continue to rely on his nuclear program to keep his regime safe.
Bitcoin or all the listed property in Australia?
At last week's peak, bitcoin was worth 1.4 times the total value of Australia's listed property market. Which would you rather own?
Citizenship crisis worsens as leaders bicker
The citizenship saga has worsened with Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten failing to agree on a solution and Labor under pressure over two of its own MPs.
Company tax cuts still don't have Senate support
Treasurer Scott Morrison's attempt to re-release Treasury modelling to boost Senate support for the government's corporate tax cuts is set to fail.
Labor-aligned mayor backs One Nation on Adani
Labor's Townsville mayor has dealt another blow to her premier by backing One Nation's plan to use taxpayer money to build a rail line for Adani.
'Foreigners' could save dual citizen MPs in byelections
The large numbers of foreign-born voters in key Liberal seats could have sympathy for MPs facing dual citizenship questions.
Adani loan decision not this year
The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility isn't expected to make a decision on the $900 million loan to Adani's $16.5 billion Carmichael mine until 2018.
'China is hitting peak construction'
Frederic Neumann, co-head of Asian economic research at HSBC, is bullish on the Chinese economy, but there are warning signs for the miners.
Deutsche Bank warns of thousands of job losses
Deutsche Bank has warned it may cut thousands of jobs to stay competitive with its much-leaner competition in neighbouring Switzerland.
Carl Icahn subpoenaed over bid to change biofuel policy
Federal investigators have issued subpoenas for information on Carl Icahn's efforts to change biofuel policy while serving as an informal adviser to Donald Trump.
Why the Paradise Papers matter
Most of what is contained in the Paradise Papers may be legal. But there is no doubt some of it serves to reduce the tax that would otherwise be due.
Virginia victory soothes fretful Democrats
A centrist Democrat's comfortable victory in the Virginia election means a lot to a party struggling to regain national power after a disastrous 2016.
Personal Finance
Superannuation and property: what not to do
SMSF trustees need to be aware of regulatory changes before they go about purchasing a property.
Costello super plan hits all the wrong targets
Default super savers need help to retire better, not just rack up returns while they are working.
The oldest billionaire in Australia is still killing it
Billionaire Stan Perron is showing no signs of slowing down at the age of 95. His company, Perron Investments, topped profits of $250 million in 2017.
Only small chinks in the glass ceiling
Despite progress at some major companies, the focus on gender diversity in leadership isn't yielding significant results yet.
Fast 100 2017: the full list
Explore the 2017 edition of the Financial Review Fast 100 list, featuring the fastest growing companies in Australia.
High Court rules 'worst' prenups invalid
The High Court has ruled that prenuptial agreements between an Australian and his Eastern European bride should be set aside.
Fast Starters 2017: the full list
Explore the 2017 edition of out Fast Starters list, featuring the fastest growing startups in Australia.
Full bench to rule on workplace swearing
A Fair Work full bench could determine whether "f----g c---t" is a common expression in the workplace.
Lifestyle
When it comes to cider, eating apples won't do
Counter-culture farmer Drew Henry was right: it takes mouth-puckering varieties to make award-winning ciders of golden colour, complex flavour and chewy richness.
