AMP was the last of the major providers to withdraw from the controversial sector amid falling property values and ...

AMP axes SMSF lending

AMP was the last of the major providers to withdraw from the controversial sector amid falling property values and rising regulatory concerns.

Magellan's Hamish Douglass: it's said John Donne followed him into sonnet writing.

Corporate titans back new listed fund

Australian corporate heavyweights including Magellan Financial Group's Hamish Douglass and Premier Investments' Solomon Lew are set to throw their support behind a new $500m listed investment company.

ASX steady as oil breaks $US80

Australian shares have rallied from a midday loss to close flat as crude oil rose over $US80 a barrel to a fresh four-year high.

CBA shares face Hayne fallout

Morgan Stanley and Citi are flagging the potential for double-digit falls for Commonwealth Bank shares if the Hayne inquiry proves to be harsher than expected.

Smaller lenders cut interest rates

Smaller lenders including AMP are jockeying for market share and increased profits by cutting variable rates for new borrowers and offering discounts to entice existing property buyers.

Brett Blundy and Ray Itaoui from BB Retail Capital (old images)

Aventus approves Blundy's $96m payday

Retail billionaire Brett Blundy will be $96 million richer after 72 per cent of Aventus securityholders voted in favour of acquiring the homemaker centre's manager for $143 million.

John Thornton, a tough ex-Goldmanite, will focus on "strategy".

UK funds may not see gold in mining tie-up

Mark Bristow, boss of Randgold, has promised disgruntled UK investors he will "pop by every three months [for] a cuddle". It will take more than that to neutralise vitriol over the miner's plan to quit the London market.

Opinion

Prime Minister Scott Morrison visits the Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants a conversation on creating a separate ...

Abbott dismisses call for Indigenous day

Tony Abbott, who was picked by Scott Morrison to be the government's special envoy on Indigenous affairs, has rebuffed the Prime Minister's call for a new national day to honour Indigenous Australians.

'Today's outcome is the result of a strong economy,' says Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, adding 'we cannot be complacent. ...

Federal deficit slashed to $10.1b

The Coalition government says the 2018 financial year budget deficit shrank to $10.1 billion, almost half the $18.2 billion forecast in the May budget, and one third the original forecast.

ABC's acting MD: 'I'm inclusive'

The ABC's acting managing director David Anderson says senior staff were shocked by the decision to sack Michelle Guthrie but the board should not have to explain its deliberations.

The nurses union is campaigning to legislate staffing ratios for aged care that favour registered nurses.

Aged care staffing ratios $5b hit

A union proposal to legislate staffing ratios in aged care to combat neglect could hit the industry with almost $5 billion in extra costs, a new analysis shows.

Kavanaugh says he's not going anywhere

A defiant and sometimes emotional Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh said he "never sexually assaulted anyone", defending himself in a televised interview against allegations that threaten to unravel his confirmation.

Hard Brexit would disrupt skies and ports

Aviation services and road freight between Britain and the Continent could face major disruption if the UK crashes out of the European Union without a deal, Prime Minister Theresa May's government has warned.

Personal Finance

ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie says she was terminated without justification and may sue the national broadcaster.

ABC boss fired for her 'style'

The ABC board was concerned that managing director Michelle Guthrie wasn't committed to an ambitious plan for the nation's television and radio heritage.

Five-year rotation would open up opportunities for second-tier firms, says Deutsche Bank analyst Luke Templeman.

Have the corporate regulator appoint auditors: Deutsche Bank

Corporate regulators should appoint and monitor the work of auditors, the details of auditor work hours should be disclosed and audit tenures should be restricted to five years, according to a list of "radical ideas to improve audits" by a Deutsche Bank analyst.

Internal auditors demand more power

Internal auditors want the same power to obtain information as external auditors, and a guaranteed reporting line to the head of audit committees.