Business in 2017: the good, bad and ugly
The ASX might be up, but the nation's chief executives have spent the year under siege.
The best stock-pickers among the rich list
Some of the biggest names on the Financial Review Rich List picked the biggest investment trends in 2017 early on, and have reaped the rewards.
Buying into the future: the AI megatrend
The big data and AI revolution is underway and could propel a fifth wave of IT-driven productivity growth. How can investors play the theme?
Steve Bannon turns fire on 'Javanka'
Steve Bannon has launched a twin attack on Donald Trump's family by dubbing his daughter Ivanka the "queen of leaks" and calling her husband, Jared Kushner, "immature".
Are wowser Christians ruining Christmas?
Gift giving should be celebrated by Christians, not chastised, as churches try to start winning back some moral authority.
If you like Bruce Springsteen, you'll love...
This year's best albums were a mix of white-hot debuts and new directions from some of the world's top artists.
Bitcoin rebounds after worst sell-off since 2015
Bitcoin has rebounded along with most of the major cryptocurrencies, halting a four-day tumble.
US tax cuts cause one-off billion-dollar writedowns
Donald Trump has signed a tax overhaul and companies are rejoicing. But the immediate effect could be a one-time accounting headache.
Bitcoin: 'a straightforward grassroots bubble'
Andreas M. Antonopoulos describes the lofty philosophical changes that have driven bitcoin's development, before elaborating on the sticking points.
Inside the capital markets story of the year
Downer Group's $1.3 billion bid for Spotless and associated raising was the capital markets story of the year. And it ain't over yet.
SA Water targets zero power bill by 2020
SA Water aims to use solar PV, hydropower and a range of emerging new storage technologies to eliminate its power bill.
'Tis the season for desktop shopping
A shift to online shopping has seen Australia Post process a record volume of parcel deliveries this week.
Bitcoin plummets 30pc, briefly
The value of bitcoin tumbled nearly 30 per cent early Friday (Saturday AEST) before recovering most of its ground in the afternoon.
Cryptocurrency hedge fund plans shelved
One of the biggest champions of bitcoin has shelved plans to start a cryptocurrency hedge fund and predicted the digital money may extend its fall to $US8,000.
ASX rallies into Christmas break
The ASX ended the last session before the Christmas break on an upbeat note, with traders choosing to pick up energy companies and miners ahead of the holiday.
This was the best-performing Australian stock this year
Listed electronics retailer Kogan.com was the best performing stock on the ASX All Ordinaries index in 2017, with an annual gain of more than 300 per cent.
Opinion
Will markets remain buoyant in 2018?
"You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out", Warren Buffett once famously quipped. Some analysts believe the saying will be particularly relevant in 2018.
PM in a better position than you think
As the year ends, even the citizenship debacle seemed to be rebounding more on Bill Shorten than Malcolm Turnbull.
Big money demands climate action
While Australian politicians have been running around in circles and failing to agree a policy for decarbonisation, the world's largest institutional investors have been marshalling their forces to make boards of directors accountable.
Shysters are still here 30 years on
After more than 30 years of writing and dealing in financial markets, the major lesson I have learnt is that nothing really changes.
Supermaxi quartet vie for Hobart glory
​InfoTrack skipper Tom Slingsby will be given licence to take risks, as the defending Sydney-Hobart line honours champion tries to fend off his three biggest rivals.
PM serves food, dances at Christmas event
The Prime Minister began his Christmas day making prawn cocktails, posing for selfies and dancing to the Kinks at Sydney's Wayside Chapel.
Can PM turn a sunny economy into votes?
Economic confidence is returning. Labor's internal discipline is cracking. And soon Malcolm Turnbull will be thinking election dates.
Turnbull defends Snowy Hydro's high price
Malcolm Turnbull has defended the ballooning cost of upgrading the Snowy Hydro scheme, arguing the project is financially viable.
Jim Molan declared to be NSW senator
The High Court has cleared the way for Jim Molan to take his seat in the Senate to replace former Nationals senator Fiona Nash.
Queen reflects on turbulent 2017
The Queen's message to the nation and the Commonwealth will look back over the previous 12 months and take "home" as its theme.
Search for Philippine survivors as hundreds killed
Thousands of villagers in the southern Philippines spent their Christmas morning in emergency shelters as the region dealt with the aftermath of one of the deadliest storms this year.
How I almost became a Chinese spy
Outwardly triumphant, the CCP is increasingly nervous about what lies ahead, so it seeks to control everything – including foreign journalists.
Catalan separatists win regional election
Catalan separatists retained their majority in the regional parliament, dealing a blow to the Spanish government's effort to contain the push for independence.
French PM defends $542,000 flight home
Edouard Philippe and his entourage took private plane back from Tokyo.
Personal Finance
When to sell bitcoin
The sheer speed of bitcoin appreciation and the scale of the windfall have paralysed some investors.
No-fee reward cards for big spenders
Like your card's rewards but question the annual fee? There are ways to get the goodies without paying for the privilege.
What your SMSF should have done in 2017
You may breathe a sigh of relief as 2017 ends but have you really got your super ducks in a row for the financial year?
The rules of engagement after Weinstein
There was a time when it was not unusual for men to ask female colleagues out five, six times until she finally said yes.
Meet the godfather of gay marriage
Senator Dean Smith is the unlikely architect of our same-sex marriage laws. It should make us expect more from our politicians, he says over lunch with the AFR.
Adir Shiffman's $10m 'Aconex factory'
Enterprise software-as-a-service start-ups have a new home, entrepreneur Adir Shifman claims.
Andrew Liveris eyes Australia comeback
Darwin-born Andrew Liveris is preparing to return home and has plenty of advice on how Australia can find its place in the Asian century.
Lifestyle
Lamborghini in the family way with SUV
The latest model from the supercar maker has a distinctly new market in its sights.
