Help the kids but don't give it all away
Want to help your offspring without bleeding yourself dry? Here's how.
Wealth industry scene in for a shake-up
The tectonic plates in Australia's wealth sector didn't just slide in 2017, they crashed into each other, potentially leaving the industry in a permanently changed state.
Savers retreat from self managed funds
Increased scrutiny of self-managed super funds, an ageing population and the slowdown in house price growth are combining to stem the billions of dollars that large super funds have been losing to the DIY sector.
Retailers in epic fight against landlords
Shopping centre landlords are starting to feel the disruptive power of online shopping as an increasing number of troubled retailers rebel against exorbitant rents.
Axing negative gearing would lift home ownership
New report claims poorer households would find it easier to enter the property market but younger, rich landlords would be worse off.
How Officeworks got ready to fight Amazon
Officeworks CEO Mark Ward hasn't got time to worry about Amazon's arrival in Australia.
Ongoing barbs put Australia's reputation at risk in China
On a Qantas flight from Sydney to Shanghai last week the Chinese passengers returning home from watching Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks only had praise for their time in Australia.
Bezos donates $33 million for 'dreamer' immigrants
Amazon founder Jeffrey Bezos says he is donating $US33 million to a scholarship fund for young "dreamers," immigrants in the US.
Yeager tips supply constraints from US shale as oil surges
Mike Yeager's new shale play is riding high on a resurgent oil price, and the former BHP oil boss says several factors will limit the US shale sector's ability to respond with higher production.
Retail veteran warns 'there is not room for everybody'
Retailing industry veteran Philip Corne has warned many retailers are still doing it tough.
Power price drop forecast called into doubt
Signs in the market that power prices are still rising have increased scepticism about the modelling of the Energy Security Board that electricity tariffs will fall over the next few years.
What investors can learn from instant noodles
China has paved the way for investors to reshape their capital markets but have the interests of its policymakers and Western capital finally aligned?
Wall St hits new highs on earnings optimism
​Wall Street continued its rally with record closing highs as the fourth-quarter earnings season kicked off with solid results.
US 2-year yield tops 2%
The two-year Treasury yield jumped above 2 per cent, marking a rebound to a key psychological level last seen almost a decade ago.
Muted end to week for ASX
Australian shares ended with slight gains on Friday but lost ground over the week, with an advance in the mining sector not enough to offset weakness elsewhere.
$A creeps back up towards US80c
The Australian dollar is headed back toward a near four-month high after signs consumers may not be as downbeat as thought.
Opinion
Retailers in epic fight against landlords
Shopping centre landlords are starting to feel the disruptive power of online shopping as an increasing number of troubled retailers rebel against exorbitant rents.
Contagion risk in big bond bubble
Is the fixed-rate government bond market – to be distinguished from floating-rate securities – in the mother-of-all bubbles? Very likely.
Why CEOs have no choice but to speak up
CEOs are taking a risky new path speaking out on social issues – but they may have no choice.
A new horror rock show - Let's do the Time's Up again!
Time for a 2018 makeover for a 1970s classic.
Push for secret search warrants panned
Federal investigators want powers to secretly search homes and businesses, warning new technology it making it tougher to root out corruption and serious crime.
Unions gather submissions for banking royal commission
The ACTU has begun collecting information from customers of banks and financial institutions to pass to the royal commission.
Murdoch Uni takes student union to court for coercion
Murdoch University has launched legal action against the NTEU, claiming its Facebook posts, tweets and protests are unlawful coercion.
Paid parental leave proves popular
More than 1.2 million Australians have taken up paid parental leave benefits since 2011.
Defence deal focus of PM's Japan visit
Malcolm Turnbull's visit to Japan for security and trade talks comes amid regional tension with China and North Korea.
Porn star paid to keep quiet about Trump encounter
An adult-film star was paid $US130,000 by a lawyer for Donald Trump in the weeks before the 2016 election, according to reports.
Misunderestimating Trump is our biggest mistake
Donald Trump is ignorant, vain, and morally unfit. But Michael Wolff's tell-all book misses the President's sheer cunning.
The US doesn't want another celebrity president
President Oprah would seal the US' fate as the country that no longer takes politics seriously.
Swiss mountain town Davos relishing in Trump spotlight
Davos is relishing new attention being heaped on it with US President Donald Trump's decision to attend the World Economic Forum this month.
Why do folks from 's---hole countries' come to US?
The US President says the US needs more immigrants from countries like Norway, and fewer from Africa.
Personal Finance
Wealth industry scene in for a shake-up
The tectonic plates in Australia's wealth sector didn't just slide in 2017, they crashed into each other, potentially leaving the industry in a permanently changed state.
Shadow banks cut lending costs in grab for market share
Shadow banks are slashing typical investment loans making the most of lighter regulation in the lead up to next month's return to work for most real estate agents.
Legal challenge eyes 'vast' SMSF opportunities
ASX-listed Domacom is challenging some of the most fundamental aspects of superannuation law through a test case that may clear the way for people to live in a rental property owned by their super fund.
Why Andrew Peacock bet on Trump
The former Liberal leader and ambassador to the US Andrew Peacock talks US politics from his home in Texas, over lunch with the AFR.
Long, hard road of hairdressing apprenticeship
"We have members who won't employ apprentices," says Sandy Chong.
$473m payday doesn't mean retirement for this 94yr-old
The Rich Lister will invest some of the proceeds and pour a lot of money into his charitable foundation.
The short seller and the addiction clinic
A college student recognised his own big short opportunity when he read about an addict's death.
Lifestyle
Australian films caught in Weinstein scandal
Two major Australian films with international aspirations have been unwittingly delayed by the controversy surrounding Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
