'A conspiracy of higher stock prices'
One of Australia's top investors, Shane Finemore, says it is wrong to confuse optimism and virtue as he defended the role of short sellers.
Auction clearances slow as Sydney cools
Auction clearances have eased as investors pull out of the market, creating a build-up of stock, especially in Sydney.
Tabcorp's rivals may have hope yet
The reasons for greenlighting the Tabcorp and Tatts merger will be handed down on Wednesday, as corporate bookmakers look at how to cope with a changing industry.
Subdued start for Australian shares
It has been 261 trading days since we've had a 3 per cent or more pullback in the markets, the longest such streak in history, according to Tematica Research.
The Republicans' great big tax con
The actual bill that the House passed last week - and the modestly different plan the Senate is considering - is a dreadful piece of policy.
Yale's Roach hits out at Fed, Trump tax cuts
US politicians and central bankers have failed to heed the lessons of the global financial crisis, according to Yale University's Stephen Roach.
AGL invites LNG suppliers for Vic plant
AGL Energy has shrugged off scepticism about its $250 million plan to import gas into Victoria, kicking off an official process to invite LNG players to supply the project.
Amazon polarises Australian retailers
You don't have to look hard to find an example of how Amazon is polarising Australian retail. Just take the US e-commerce giant's launch date.
APRA to target banks trying to duck BEAR pay reforms
A senior APRA executive said boosting bankers' fixed pay may not align with the interests of shareholders.
Chinese giants a big part of Santos puzzle
Chinese billionaire Wang Yusuo is the kingmaker in any change of control at Santos but is also free to make a buyout bid if he chooses.
Will conservatives develop an local 'southern strategy'?
Economic trumps politics in Australian elections. But the location, demographic and size of the No vote suggests that could change.
Inside the three-way tussle in farm services
Experts tip the big players in Australia's farm services sector to keep merging but are less certain about how much room there is in the top paddock.
Euphoria short-lived, warns Keating
"You can't quite understand the fact that markets are so relaxed and comfortable about the conditions we're in," Mr Keating said.
Goldman Sachs upgrades US growth
Jan Hatzius raised his growth outlook for 2018 to 2.5 percent and lowered his forecast for unemployment to 3.7 per cent.
Wall St slips on tax reform doubts
The US dollar was lower along with Wall St stocks amid scepticism Republicans would succeed in overhauling US tax laws.
China to retain 'neutral' monetary policy
China's central bank will keep its "prudent and neutral" monetary policy, it said in its latest quarterly report.
The Trump, Wall Street love affair is over
Wall Street is on the cusp of falling out of love with President Donald Trump. It's time to sell stocks.
Opinion
Fundies pick top stocks for charity
If you had invested $10,000 in Sohn's portfolio of best stock picks from the Sohn conference in 2016 this would have grown in value by 45 per cent to $14,500. But this is not just a money-grubbing exercise for the elite.
Politics is chaotic, but Turnbull's found his zen
The Yes vote has acted as a badly-needed political circuit breaker to Malcolm Turnbull's run of misfortune.
Chinese 'Spyneware' clearly to blame for 2am gay porn
Satire | The only possible explanation for an early-morning liking of gay porn by the defence minister is international espionage!
RBA way wrong on unemployment
The real unemployment rate is a critical variable for the Reserve Bank to get right - but it's not achieving this.
How same-sex marriage laws will unfold
Parental protections appear likely to be the most contentious issue to be dealt with as parliament considers same-sex marriage legislation.
Greens boosted by Vic byelection win
The Greens' Lidia Thorpe has become the first Aboriginal woman elected to Victorian parliament.
Labor offers to work with Nats to set up bank probe
Nationals fury over same-sex marriage "ambush" could see banks back in the firing line.
Australia's new faultlines: What we now know
The growing social and cultural cleavage in modern Australia is that which separates inner city and outer suburbs, not the old, battlers-versus-bosses divide.
Short-sighted to keep Canada out of East Asia Summit
Canada's bid to join the East Asia Summit is hanging by a thread after it scuppered efforts to revive the TPP free trade pact.
Zimbabwe's ruling party set to 'sack Mugabe'
The leaders of Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF party will meet on Sunday to approve the dismissal of President Robert Mugabe, the only leader the nation has known since independence 37 years ago.
Hariri visits France after mysterious Saudi stay
Lebanon's absent prime minister arrived in France after two weeks in Saudi Arabia, a mysterious stay that touched off intense speculation he was held against his will.
Republicans anxious Trump could pull pin on NAFTA
Pro-trade Republicans in the US Congress are growing worried that Donald Trump may try to quit the NAFTA free trade deal entirely.
Trump tax cuts still face tricky path
Donald Trump's Republicans and investors cheered a tax bill passing the House, but tax reform faces a tricky path.
Fate of Mugabe hangs in the balance amid coup confusion
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's fate hung in the balance as he apparently resisted efforts to make him step down.
Personal Finance
Future Fund warns rapid tech change will hit returns
Some of the market's top thinkers claim that the accelerated pace of technological disruption is being underestimated by investors
The plan B we all need
An enduring power of attorney is the "insurance policy" most people get wrong. It's not just the elderly who need to think about this, it's all of us.
Retirees count downsize cost
More retirees are rejecting traditional retirement digs for smaller versions of their family homes.
Uni dropout wins patent to 'make skiing easier'
A Vermont ski hound has turned a discovery he made in engineering school into a successful business that's shaking up the industry.
Grant Thornton expands far beyond accounting
Grant Thornton sees a future beyond traditional accounting work with the firm adding 10 services in the past three years.
The misunderstood scientist Alan Finkel
Australia doesn't seem to get it, from climate change to seeing tech as the sector where it should be kicking economic goals, says the country's Chief Scientist while at lunch with the AFR.
Male, pale leaders don't have to be stale
'I'm a 59-year old, anglo-celtic male, should I just check out' from this new purpose-driven, inclusive leadership work world?
Accounting firm ordered to pay $50,000 fine
An accounting firm was ordered to pay over $50,000 in fines after a court found the company ignored its client's workplace breaches.
Lifestyle
Our pick of the best luxury goods money can buy
Let your imagination run a little wild with tickets to a kooky ballet, a spotty bag and slippers as daywear.
Daily Rowe Cartoon
