AMP fee revenue soars in face of FOFA
Financial planning fees at AMP more than doubled after laws were introduced to ban unreasonable fees charged by financial planners and protect the interests of investors.
Morrison pleads ignorance as banks go on trial
The Turnbull government and the banks find themselves beginning week two of the second round of hearings at the royal commission in more trouble than even a week ago.
Metals, Hayne fallout could stress ASX
Australian shares appear poised to start the week lower after metals eased from multi-year highs and amid expected further fallout from the Hayne royal commission.
Investors fret as US bond yields rise
Bond yields are worrying markets again after last week's spike in US Treasury yields to multi-year highs.
Home sellers two steps behind
Home sellers are still two steps behind the housing markets as auction clearance rates continue to crunch down into the low 60 per cent range.
'Peace dividend' for the world if Korean deal struck
Praise for Donald Trump's "creative, bold" diplomacy from South Korea's new ambassador to Australia.
Hold the applause for NEG breakthrough
We're on the way to building the machinery to deliver on our Paris emissions reduction and energy reliability goals - but are still shy of a Paris-compliant emissions policy.
The big question for AMP investors
AMP's reputation was shredded this week at the banking royal commission, but it's not the brand's first brush with controversy.
AMP rallies behind chairman Brenner
AMP is moving to protect its chairman Catherine Brenner from calls for her resignation in a submission to the Hayne royal commission.
ANZ ramped-up hunt for fees as FOFA deadline loomed
The bank aggressively bought financial planning businesses in a bid to bolster revenues it could receive under grandfathering and other arrangements.
Wilkins to navigate AMP 'oil tanker' in disarray
Interim AMP chief executive Mike Wilkins may have never shied away from a challenge in corporate life, but investors and analysts are aware of the mammoth task he confronts.
John Holland on diversity drive to stop 'clone' hires
John Holland is hiring "marginalised" engineers who have struggled to get jobs elsewhere, despite a booming market.
Investors fret as US bond yields rise
Bond yields are worrying markets again after last week's spike in US Treasury yields to multi-year highs.
Go long commodities ahead of global economic peak
Investors can still profit from some well-timed commodity bets, strategists say, even though some prices have overshot near term.
US stocks fall on tech sell-off
US stocks stumbled into the weekend, as renewed selling in tech shares overshadowed what has so far been a solid earnings season.
ASX gains for a third straight week
The ASX has recorded its third week of gains despite the royal commission pushing the shares of banks lower.
Opinion
Morrison pleads ignorance as banks go on trial
The Turnbull government and the banks find themselves beginning week two of the second round of hearings at the royal commission in more trouble than even a week ago.
Strip AMP apart, unwind byzantine banks
AMP's business model looks fundamentally broken and should be stripped apart and sold off in pieces. The CEO's sudden resignation is the first domino to fall.
AMP needs board accountability
Friday's sudden departure of AMP chief executive Craig Meller provides a less than fitting end to the scandalous revelations this week at the Hayne royal commission.
China ramps up anti-Australia rhetoric as new tensions surface
America's "incoherent" leadership has provided an opening for Chinese President Xi Jinping on the world stage.
Banks ruled in for company tax cuts as BCA fronts inquiry
Companies pushing for tax cuts have told a parliamentary inquiry they are unable to reveal details of their future investment plans, citing commercial sensitivity and potential breaches of ASX rules.
NEG deal sparks crisis talks for renewable sector
Consideration of the Coalition's signature energy policy will continue ahead of an August meeting, with minister Frydenberg saying remaining issues can be resolved.
Julie Bishop calls for 'verifiable actions' from North Korea
Australia will watch closely what Kim Jong-un does after a pledge by North Korea to suspend nuclear and missile tests.
'Peace dividend' for the world if Korean deal struck
Praise for Donald Trump's "creative, bold" diplomacy from South Korea's new ambassador to Australia.
'Surprised' Morrison turns attention to ASIC
Scott Morrison says he didn't know much about scandals revealed this week - but the regulator did. And that's how it should be.
Kim's abrupt shift leaves sceptics even more unsettled
Officials in the US, Japan and China worry Kim's gestures could put Trump on the defensive in the difficult negotiations to come.
G20 presses US on China trade war risk
Finance ministers from the world's leading economies have challenged Donald Trump's Treasury secretary over international trade tensions with China, and urged the US not to resort to protectionism.
China relaxes capital controls as outflow fears ease
China is relaxing limits on outbound investments by wealthy individuals and institutions for the first time in two years.
Central bankers worry about slowdown
Global central bankers sounded the alert that a trade war would leave them worrying more about the economic fallout than any boost tariffs would give to inflation.
US hints at China truce to head off trade war
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is considering a trip to China amid a trade dispute with Beijing that finance chiefs warn could derail the global economic upswing.
Personal Finance
Four in 10 property borrowers hit with 'discreet' hikes
More than four in 10 property borrowers are being hit with a range of discreet rate and fee increases as lenders attempt to preserve profits in response to rising funding and compliance costs, analysis reveals.
ANZ advice puts client 14 years behind
ANZ financial planner Christopher Harris advised one of his clients that rolling over her superannuation into a new account could save $238 a year. But he charged $7,000 for the advice.
Self-funded retirees lash out at Labor tax grab
Those who just missed out on the age pension because they scrimped and saved say Bill Shorten's proposal to stop the refund of excess franking credits will be 'brutal'.
STEM skills sliding: chief scientist, tech billionaire
The chief scientist has warned universities must reinstate prerequisite scores for science, technology, engineering and maths.
Sexism and Elizabeth Taylor: Lunch with Anne Sebba
When she was told journalism and pregnancy were incompatible, author Anne Sebba - whose husband is the former CEO of Net-A-Porter - became a biographer, she tells Lunch with AFR.
Princely dispute over star's estate
Two years after his death, Prince's failure to leave a will has led to a battle over his legacy and seismic body of work.
Westpac kept mum on problem financial planner
Bank chooses not to inform rival planning firm that adviser was ripping off clients.
Lifestyle
Does art make us feel a special pleasure?
Neuroscientists are divided about whether humans assess all nice experiences in the same way.
