Little sign of end to global turmoil
Investors went into the weekend with few signs of an end to the volatility which has convulsed global markets in recent days as Australian shares suffered their worst weekly fall in two years.
Cloud over Joyce as MPs question leadership
Nationals MPs are beginning to question whether Barnaby Joyce can survive as leader, claiming their conservative voters are angry at revelations of his extramarital affair.
Jan Hatzius tips four Fed rate hikes this year
One of Wall street's leading economists says the US equity market would have to fall by around 20 per cent from its peak before the Federal Reserve's planned interest rate hikes are thrown into doubt.
Recession fears over property slump
Falling property prices in Sydney and Melbourne could cause the nation's wealthiest to cut back sharply on consumer spending and drive the economy into recession, according to leading economists.
Wake up call for investors to get real on returns
Equities are still the best place to be but shareholders need to beware of becoming too complacent.
Worst week in two years for ASX
The Australian sharemarket had its worst week since January 2016 as the global equities rout resumed on Friday.
The Coalition digs in for tax election fight
The government wants a tax package with something for both companies and workers. The challenge will be in the timing.
Solly Lew says Myer in 'peril'
Myer says it still has the support of its banks after warning profits will fall as much as 41 per cent, but Solomon Lew says the retailer is in 'peril.'
Big Un shares dive 30pc after financing admission
Big Un shares have taken a hit after revelations its sales have been boosted by a third party financier that has been issued shares in the company.
Royal Commission zeroes in on big four's profits
Royal commissioner Kenneth Hayne has zeroed in on the elevated returns on equity from the big four banks.
Blundy offloads Bras-N-Things for $500m
Brett Blundy has finally offloaded his Bras-N-Things lingerie retail chain to US giant Hanes Brands.
Sacking for 'defecating in shower' unjustified
Bluescope Steel did not have a valid reason to fire a senior employee for allegedly defecating in the work showers, Fair Work has found.
China market rout spoils Lunar New Year party
"It was an accident waiting to happen: 70 per cent of the market is in a very concentrated position and sentiment had been very high."
Markets: ASX sharply lower
The Australian sharemarket is lower after the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 1,032 points overnight to complete a full correction.
RBA trims jobless forecast, rates on hold
The Reserve Bank of Australia says unemployment will fall faster than it forecast three months ago but doesn't expect core inflation will climb into its 2-3 per cent target range before the middle of next year.
ASX sees red after Wall St nightmare
The Australian sharemarket is down 1.5 per cent and Asian equity markets have fallen even further after a fresh bout of heavy selling on Wall Street sealed a correction for the Dow Jones and S&P; 500.
Opinion
Are markets headed for an even nastier correction?
Did something fundamental change in the markets this week? Famed bear and former Morgan Stanley head of strategy Gerard Minack thinks so.
Myer needs more radical surgery
All of the dire predictions Solomon Lew made about Myer appear to be coming true.
Why Westpac’s hybrid is cheap and dear
The regrettable claim in the Productivity Commission's draft report and how to price a new hybrid issue.
In the name of democracy
Expect some fireworks on Saturday when the NSW Liberal Party debates planned changes to preselection processes that crystallise factional differences.
Election shaper: The mine at the centre of politics
The battle over Adani's controversial $16.5 billion Carmichael mine has been a decade in the making.
Coallition refuses changes to foreign worker levy
The Turnbull government has refused changes to its foreign worker levy, dismissing business concerns its projected revenue is unsustainable.
Government confident as states splinter over health
The federal government is confident of landing a new hospital funding deal after WA and NSW broke ranks and others indicated they would follow.
Shorten promises Qld voters plan B as Adani mine teeters
Labor leader heads to central Queensland to reassure voters he is not anti-jobs amid growing criticism of Adani mine.
No regrets on euthanasia criticism: AMA president
The head of the Australian Medical Association has defended criticism which prompted an official apology.
US tax cuts: Can a trickle become a flood?
Recent wage hikes in the US probably have as much to do with public relations as the drop in the corporate tax rate but in the medium term the correlation still holds.
North Korea: Why negotiations can't wait for denuclearisation
Few people know the true story of the Korean War.
US government shuts down
The US federal government has shut down after a quarrelling Senate blew a midnight deadline to pass a temporary funding bill.
Duterte to be investigated over drugs war deaths
International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors have opened a preliminary examination into Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs", which has led to the death of thousands since it began in July 2016.
George Bush says 'clear evidence' of Russian meddling
Former President George W. Bush said he believes Russia meddled in the 2016 US presidential election, departing from President Donald Trump who has been skeptical of intelligence agencies' findings that the Kremlin had interfered to help him win.
Personal Finance
Why Westpac’s hybrid is cheap and dear
The regrettable claim in the Productivity Commission's draft report and how to price a new hybrid issue.
The most tipped big cap stocks
Centennial Funds' Matthew Kidman talks with Wilson Asset's John Ayoub and Morphic's Chad Slater about the most tipped big caps.
Property sweeteners that could turn sour
Look beyond the blandishments and glossy brochures and focus on tenants and the long-term prospects for capital growth.
STEM turns into STEAM
Arts is being added to the core science, technology, engineering and mathematics units.
Lunch with the AMA boss who's not afraid of controversy
Australian Medical Association president Michael Gannon talks policy, politics and contentious tweets over lunch with the AFR.
Can Rob Scott find another Bunnings?
Wesfarmers' CEO Rob Scott is an Olympic rower who says leaders don't need to be charismatic or have all the answers. As his ex-boss Michael Chaney says, huge egos just get in the way of good judgment.
Specialty Fashion confirms new CEO
Troubled retailer Specialty Fashion has confirmed that former Myer executive Daniel Bracken has been appointed to the top job.
Lifestyle
The not-so-tasty side of smashed avo
Soaring demand and prices have spurned a darker side of the avocado trade, as cartels have ditched trafficking heroin and cocaine to cash in on the green fruit's riches.
David Rowe cartoon
