Crisis in the banks: when the rot set in
The big four banks, operating at a complete remove from the hoi polloi with a desire to 'put a bucket under every drop of money', have once again come a cropper.
Banks: value, or value traps?
A lengthy period of underperformance, a daily drubbing in the press, and a yield many times that of cash. Is it time for value investors to get back into the banks?
David Murray must shake up AMP
Eminent former banker David Murray is the right person to lead the turnaround of embattled wealth manager AMP, but it is a mammoth task that could take several years.
AMP tried to stymie investigation: ASIC
A furious ASIC accused financial service giant AMP of frustrating and delaying the corporate regulator's investigation into its fee-for-no-service scandal.
Tax cuts to compensate for flat wages: Morrison
Budget tax cuts will generate economic growth, help compensate for flat wages and reduce the "great risk" to the economy posed by a high tax burden, Treasurer Scott Morrison says.
AMP blames the lawyer, again
In an effort to avoid criminal consequences, AMP appears to put the blame squarely on the feet of its former group general counsel, Brian Salter.
We have lost everything: franchisees
Franchisees say the $170 billion sector is "sick" and have accused brands such as Domino's and Retail Food Group of unconscionable conduct.
Macquarie CEO says industry must learn governance lessons
Macquarie Group's CEO Nicholas Moore says the financial services industry must learn from a string of governance and cultural failings and "take instruction," as regulation and technological change threaten to upend the industry.
OZ bid for Avanco 'too low'
OZ Mineral's path to acquiring control of Avanco may not be as simple as first thought.
Murray drafted as AMP attacks inquiry
Beleaguered financial services giant AMP has appointed David Murray as chairman in an attempt to defuse an investor revolt that could see directors voted off the board.
Macquarie CEO's salary swells to $20m
The annual salary of Macquarie Group's Nicholas Moore has ballooned to almost $20 million, which looks set to top the ASX pay leagues again this year.
Why fundies flock to company founders
In a market where the average ASX 200 CEO lasts four to five years – and will have their incentives cut to suit – investors are justifiably looking to managers who will put short-term considerations to one side.
Apple shares hit record on Buffett stake
Apple shares hit a record after Warren Buffett told CNBC he bought an additional 75 million shares of the iPhone maker in the first quarter.
Argentina lifts key interest rate to 40pc
Argentina stepped up the fight against the collapse of its currency with a third interest rate increase in one week.
RBA casts doubt over unemployment rate
The Reserve Bank has made almost no changes to its forecasts as it made the case for an eventual increase in interest rates, should its predicted scenario eventuate.
ASX enjoys best week in over a year
The ASX snapped a five-session winning streak on Friday but managed to post its best weekly advance since March 2017.
Opinion
Cheers to a simple budget
When a government literally starts spruiking cheap beer, you sort of know it's going to be a pretty friendly budget.
They don't make pre-election budgets like they used to
The era of big spending has long gone -- but the conversation around budgets is remarkably little changed.
Decade after we gave a Gonski, there is zero to report
How Australia avoided the fate of Kazakhstan, whose regressive education system put their children's performance miles in front of ours.
Embrace house price falls as a good thing
The property market is on track for a soft landing although it will be a lot worse if the RBA normalises its cash rate back to its "neutral" 3.5 per cent level.
High price for a political career
Federal Parliament will always be a career choice that involves time away from home; the trick is to make sure enough 'normal' people can put up with the demands.
Court ruling could trigger four byelections
A High Court ruling on Wednesday could set in train a fresh series of dual citizenship byelections and blow out total costs to more than $10 million.
Gonski's idealism hard to implement
Gonski 2.0 has helpfully identified that 30 per cent of schools are cruising, not improving but offers little in the way of practical solutions, writes Robert Bolton.
WA wants money to implement Gonski
The comment came as ministers left a COAG education meeting on Friday, which accepted the broad scope of the report.
Security seals Parliament's 30th birthday
Construction of a 2.6-metre security fence at the front of federal Parliament has finished in time for the building's 30th birthday on Wednesday.
US jobless rate falls to 3.9pc
US hiring rebounded in April and the unemployment rate dropped below 4 per cent for the first time since 2000, while wage gains cooled.
Trump's unique strength in Kim talks
The US president is stubborn and unpredictable. Just like the North Koreans he must persuade.
China doves and hawks go to war
Former diplomats and prominent academics are among those taking sides, writes Andrew Clark
France not done yet in the Pacific
While France wants to stay a Pacific power, New Caledonians could decide otherwise when they vote in an independence referendum later this year.
Friends without benefits
China's tougher line on what it regards as a renegade state includes picking off Taiwan's friends one by one, writes Lisa Murray.
Personal Finance
Ignoring super 'may cost me $400,000'
Like many others, retirement savings have not been on the radar of former AFR China correspondent Angus Grigg. Now he's realising it's time to take action.
Why industry super funds are hard to beat
If you're thinking about switching your super, it's hard to go past the not-for-profit funds. Nine of them were among the top 10 performers to end-March.
Jack Ma's spending spooks investors
Alibaba is projected to post its first profit decline in a year and a half as it spends money to fend off competitors.
Who really murdered Daphne?
The murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia is a story of brutal incompetence that begins with three men and exposes a deadly web of shady businesses and offshore banks.
'The stupidest energy project in the world'
Author and Rolling Stone contributing editor Jeff Goodell says the world is finally waking up to rising sea levels but as he explains over Lunch with the AFR, Australia has some catching up to do.
How fashion psychology became a thing
Businesses are tapping into the expertise of fashion psychologist Dawnn Karen.
Nobel Literature prize cancelled after sex scandal
There will be two Nobel Prizes for Literature awarded in 2019 after this year's gong was cancelled because of a sex scandal.
Lifestyle
ABBA's return brings out rock snobs
Stand up to 'rockism' and stop feeling guilty about knowing the words to Dancing Queen.
