Report blows up default super system
Employer and unions would have no influence over the $600 billion default superannuation system under a Productivity Commission proposal that would cleave super from the workplace relations system entirely.
Super trustees must heed wake-up call
The Productivity Commission's groundbreaking report into Australia's $2.6 trillion superannuation should send shockwaves through the trustees who govern it.
Wesfarmers urged to clip its wings after UK debacle
Wesfarmers is under pressure to return capital and take a more disciplined approach to acquisitions after the BUKI debacle.
Got less than $1m? Forget self-managed super
Self-managed superannuation funds with $1 million or more in assets are "broadly competitive" with institutional funds but smaller ones aren't worth the cost, new report finds.
ASX poised to extend losses
Australian shares will test the 6000 mark at the open, amid continuing weakness in oil and a quiet overnight session.
Bankwest case shows CBA in a good light
If Michael Kelly's treatment is representative of other Bankwest borrowers, CBA won't have much to worry about.
A more mature Fortescue in expansion
A $US1.3 billion expansion of the Eliwana iron ore mine says a lot about how Fortescue has grown up.
Bankwest's secret targets to reduce commercial property
CBA subsidiary needed to reduce its exposure to commercial property by $1.3 billion in 12 months during the GFC.
ASIC urged to investigate failed super mergers
Some mergers of super funds have failed because board directors wanted to look after their own seats, rather than acting in their members' best interests, the Productivity Commission has found.
Blue Sky back in business
Blue Sky is raising money to invest in an Indonesian payments company as the listed fund manager looks to put the Glaucus debacle behind it.
Duplicate insurance policies eat up super
The government must act faster to stem the nearly $2 billion being spent annually on duplicate life insurance policies warns a draft Productivity Commission report.
Westpac learns from ANZ's mistakes in China
China's financial services sector is being opened up, but Westpac's new Asian management team is avoiding the country's competitive retail banks.
Turkey untangles rate regime
Turkey's central bank announced long-awaited changes to simplify its complicated policy-rates system.
Goldman still bullish on oil
The outlook for oil is still bullish, according to Goldman Sachs.
India closes Vedanta smelter permanently
Vedanta's copper smelter in India was ordered permanently closed days after 13 protesters were killed by police.
State-run super fund not the answer
The Productivity Commission has slapped down calls for a government-owned super fund saying it creates dangerous political and budget risks.
Opinion
PC's call to action on super
At last! The Productivity Commission draft report released today rightly focuses on how the wrong choices in superannuation come at too high a cost to far too many Australians.
A more mature Fortescue in expansion
A $US1.3 billion expansion of the Eliwana iron ore mine says a lot about how Fortescue has grown up.
Former Bankwest executive recounts his GFC banking nightmare
There are few fates worse than taking out a commercial property loan with Perth-based lender Bankwest in the halcyon days that preceded the global financial crisis.
Why Australia and Bishop are in Beijing's cross-hairs
If anything, China's aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea has been hardening bipartisan resolve in Canberra.
Cormann plays tough as Hanson wavers on company tax
The government has ruled out any more compromises on company tax and will push for a Senate vote on the remainder of its package in June.
ACCC crackdown on 'fake' electricity discounts
ACCC head Rod Sims has flagged stronger penalties against electricity retailers who trick consumers into thinking they are receiving big discounts.
ALP Left demands right to debate thorny issues
Labor's Left faction warns it will not tolerate the gagging of debate on sensitive issues like asylum seekers at the ALP National Conference, should it ever be held.
Justice for MH17 victims 'nigh on impossible'
The Turnbull government wants to hold Moscow to account for downing MH17 but Europe's reliance on Russian gas may make some allies reluctant to act.
Big appetite for renewable energy projects
Renewable power developer CWP will partner with investment firm Partners Group to build more than 1.3 gigawatts of solar, wind and battery projects in Australia over the next four years.
Ivanka get trademarks, ZTE gets Donald's help
The timing raises, anew, questions about the Trump family's businesses and its patriarch's status as commander in chief.
Trump's craziest claim about Russia
​For a man with a lot of serious issues, President Trump spends a lot of time thinking about the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Italy heads toward a new vote
The choice of Carlo Cottarelli, known for his strict approach to state finances, is set to further inflame Italy's bitter political divisions.
Europe's new data privacy laws could kill innovation
Restricting the use of data could see technology-driven innovation silenced in a way legislators never saw coming
Chinese companies 'care about profits, not politics'
Zhang Qishan, the head of a business delegation from Zhejiang province, doesn't think "political issues" will have an impact on trade and investment ties.
Personal Finance
A 'best in show' shortlist to guide choice
A "best in show" shortlist of the 10 best performing default superannuation funds would be selected by an expert panel and reviewed every four years under the Productivity Commission's proposal.
Trusts under spotlight for tax strategies
Two new anti-avoidance rules announced in the federal budget put the kybosh on some aggressive tax-planning techniques.
Higher fees, lower returns in retail super funds
The Productivity Commission has delivered a withering assessment of the retail funds sector, where members are suffering much lower returns and much higher fees than in industry funds.
How the bank can beat fintechs
Seventy-one per cent of young people would prefer go to the dentist than listen to their bank. But there is a way forward for the banks.
Too many conflicts on super fund boards
Superannuation funds are not doing enough to manage conflicts of interest, especially those that may arise around the boardroom table.
Audit reports 'diluted, suppressed, ignored'
Internal auditors are having their reports "diluted or suppressed" or even seeing their careers derailed when they raise red flags within large corporations.
How to tell if you're founder material
If you are in a company and entertaining the idea of doing your own thing, make sure you are moving for the right reasons.
Lifestyle
Can't sleep on a plane? Try these apps and gadgets
Some of us have trouble sleeping in our beds at home, let alone while travelling or changing time zones.
