Royal commission strangled before it begins

• COMMENT

Farcical, damp squib, paper tiger, stillborn. They are just a few of the words being used to describe the long awaited and much needed Royal Commission into financial services.

Fluffy Ducks get Sydney Uni staff into hot water

• EXCLUSIVE

More than 20 staff are under investigation for alleged inappropriate spending on their corporate credit cards.

Finally, an Indigenous middle class emerges

• COMMENT

It's easy for prime ministers to make big promises at some emotion-charge moment of national attention, but a lot harder to keep those promises when the media spotlight (and that prime minister) are long gone.

Lead by keeping up with the world

Failing to challenge assumptions leads to loss of competitive edge, writes Jim Bright

Finding the heart of the community

Schools in remote locations take on a central role.

Scientist inspires cancer optimism

Public health is improving through behavioural study.

Brutalist buildings are the new black

• ANALYSIS

Suddenly in Sydney Brutalist buildings have become the new black as the trendiest buildings to preserve

Using power of passion to make a living

What happens when you turn a hobby into a full-time job?

Solar industry brightening up

Fancy a career in the world of solar? The industry is about to get its time in the sun.

Former Myer exec to make Rivers, Millers, Katies 'great again'

Struggling fashion brands Rivers, Millers, and Katies can be made great again according to their new boss, ex-Myer deputy Daniel Bracken. 

Real estate giant McGrath faces ASX review

The ASX is reviewing claims made by real estate giant McGrath about its celebrity founder John McGrath's margin-lending facility.

Nowhere to hide as sharemarket shake-out rolls on

What a week in sharemarkets. Just how fast contagious fear can spread around the globe was demonstrated again when markets from London to Hong Kong fell in response to the sharp pull-back on Wall Street.

Volatility is back with vengeance, but for how long?

Extreme volatility is back in the equity markets, and these macro themes should dominate the ASX 200 earnings. We will look out for the drivers that could trigger a reduction in volatility. (This video was produced in commercial partnership between Fairfax Media and IG Markets.)

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.

Housing investor loans slumped by 10 per cent in 2017

New lending to property investors slumped by a tenth last year, but the prudential regulator is "not declaring victory just yet."

ASX winners and losers - a snapshot

The stand out listings traded on the ASX captured at key moments through the day, as indicated by the time stamp in the video.

Markets Live: US stocks correction

• Live

The Australian sharemarket had its worst week in two years after equities in Japan, the US and China entered correction territory.

It may not feel like it, but markets have had a great escape

• COMMENT

Financial markets and the economic fundamentals that underpin them have been liberated.

EPA and Buxton company condemned for "overfilled" tip

Environmental watchdog and prominent Buxton family company under fire over “grossly overfilled” tip in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Australia's only bank-owned telco comes to an end

Australia’s only telecommunications company operated by a bank has shut down, with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank citing a changing industry as the cause.

Asian markets in turmoil as Wall Street slides

Asian stocks tumbled to two-month lows on Friday after Wall Street shares suffered yet another big slide in the face of rapidly-rising bond yields.

Next bear market will be 'the worst in our lifetime'

Veteran investor Jim Rogers, 75, says the next bear market in stocks will be more catastrophic than any other market downturn that he's lived through.

Treasurer urges calm during market volatility

Treasurer Scott Morrison says there is a "big difference" between what is happening in the Australian economy compared to what is happening in the US after the Dow Jones plunged over 1000 points.

Why we need a banking royal commission

Shani Goldsbro, who has been waiting for an answer to a TPD insurance claim for six years, is hoping the royal commission into the banking and financial services sector will "shine a light" on situations like hers.

Everything's a sell in China after $848 billion wipeout

Investors got a stark reminder of how fast their bets can turn in China, where the most bullish trades are falling apart.

Myer stocktake sales flop

Myer has revealed it's annual stocktake sales flopped last month. The share price received an all time low in trading today.

REA Group chief calls growth 'exceptional' as property markets slow

Slowing property markets in Sydney and Melbourne did not stop online real estate portal REA Group posting a strong increase in profit.

'Some time' before inflation, jobs reach their targets: RBA

The RBA said the economy was some way off full employment and inflation returning to the midpoint of its target, signalling policy will stay on hold

Jeff Bezos is $6.7 billion poorer than yesterday

Swooning markets over the past 24 hours have cost the world's 500 richest people $US93 billion ($117 billion) in net worth, and 20 of them lost at least $US1 billion each.