Bankers under the blowtorch
The country couldn't look away this week as some of our top bankers were grilled on private conversations and boardroom machinations.
Solar, wind and lots of red ink
There is a direct link between Australia's energy policy vacuum and the collapse of an engineering company working on about $1.1 billion in solar farms in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.
Investing tools in an uncertain market
How absolute return investing, unlisted infrastructure and active ETFs can help ride out volatile markets.
Defeat could stir Coalition wars
A decisive Labor win in the Victorian election will revive the Liberal-National coalition's internal war over social issues and policy, political scientists say.
RCR Tomlinson's 'greedy' solar splurge
The spectacular collapse of engineering group RCR Tomlinson, which crashed into administration months after a $100m raising, is the story of a company that flew too close to the sun – literally.
US urges allies to avoid Huawei
The US is contacting key allies to get them to persuade telecom companies in their countries to avoid China's Huawei, the Wall Street Journal reported.
ASIC faces independent oversight
Corporate Australia faces years of litigation after the Hayne royal commission exposed ASIC for being a soft-touch regulator that was too close to the banks.
RCR solar business faces shutdown if no buyers
RCR's rivals say they are not interested in buying its solar business because its contracts are too risky.
BWX has long road to regain investor trust
The new BWX boss Myles Anceschi has a steep road back to winning investor trust after a failed management buyout and tumbling share price.
Hayne inquiry is the best blood sport in town
It's become the best corporate blood-sport in town: the no-holds-barred examination of banking and finance executives that is the Hayne royal commission.
ASIC supervisors to be 'raw, frank, blunt'
ASIC's new supervisory officers "will give raw, frank, blunt - but very real - feedback to the people who need to hear it", ASIC's chairman told the Hayne inquiry.
ASIC weighs action against CBA, ClearView
The corporate regulator is investigating Commonwealth Bank's mis-selling of consumer credit insurance, which its chairman James Shipton said has been a systemic issue involving 11 institutions.
S&P; 500 confirms correction
US stocks closed lower in a shortened post-holiday trading session on Friday as the energy sector tumbled on continued weakness in oil prices.
Fed unlikely to bow to markets
The nasty sell-off in equities has raised doubts about the Fed's willingness to boost rates again in December. It shouldn't.
Right is wrong to lose faith in growth
The idea that public policy should place a large amount of emphasis on the economy's rate of growth is under assault by the political right as well as the left.
ASX's 'Santa rally' under threat
Investors may find their Christmas stockings rather empty if the traditional year-end market rally fails to materialise due to weak consumer spending.
How to capitalise on market chaos
Recent market volatility highlights how cheap financial credit is relative to almost all other asset classes, despite a big deleveraging of banks, writes Christopher Joye.
Opinion
Two very different visions of Europe
Britain's Theresa May came to get out of the European Union. France's Emmanuel Macron was in town looking for ways to further integrate the remaining 27 economies in the union.
Victorian campaign bodes ill for Morrison
The Liberals and the Nationals are failing to connect with the electorate in the second largest – and fastest growing – state in the nation.
Dumb and dumber energy plans won’t cut power bills
The stunning collapse of engineering group RCR Tomlinson, months after pocketing another $100 million from investors, is the first big corporate casualty of Australia's solar energy boom.
ASIC's breathtaking Hayne admission
All year ASIC chairman James Shipton and his team have been talking tough and yet it's taken him all year to finally make a sweeping show of strength.
How to manage a bigger Australia
Anxiety about population and immigration pressure is running high as outer suburbs bear the brunt of a fast-growing population.
Labor's climate handouts may 'spook' investors
Labor's proposed $15 billion taxpayer-backed interventions in energy markets risk crowding out private investment in low-emissions technology.
Greens face backlash after rape allegation
The Greens are facing brand damage from allegations of sexual assault in the two largest states which could spark a backlash in elections in Victoria, NSW and federally by May.
Andrews and Pallas at odds on new taxes
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has ruled out any new taxes to pay for their $80 billion-plus infrastructure agenda but Treasurer Tim Pallas has refused to do the same.
Victorian Liberals longing for days of old
On Saturday Victorians will decide whether their state – for decades the Liberal Party's "Jewel in the Crown" – has morphed into the Liberals' Crown of Thorns.
Moving beyond curry and cricket
Modern India has some sound opportunities for patient capital but if we are to forge stronger investment and trade ties, we have to stop talking about sport and food.
Climate damages 'intensifying' across US
The impacts of climate change, from deadly wildfires to increasingly debilitating hurricanes, are battering the US, and the danger of more such catastrophes is worsening.
Trump doing China a favour
China may want to rethink its 'Made in China 2025' program before it becomes a problem for its own domestic economy.
WTO sounds alarm as G20 trade restrictions soar
G20 countries applied 40 new trade restrictive measures between mid-May and mid-October, covering around $663 billion of trade, the World Trade Organisation said.
Trump speaks to the world from Mar-a-Lago
President Donald Trump's Thanksgiving began with an all-caps tweet: "HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!" Minutes later, he tweeted of potential "bedlam, chaos, injury and death".
Personal Finance
Mortgage brokers hit back at critics
Brokers say asking banks to redesign the mortgage broking system is "like asking the fox to design the hen house".
How to be a better Airbnb host
With the holiday season around the corner, here's what you can do to keep your guests and fellow owners happy.
Comparison of aged care costs at home a step closer
Home care providers have until the end of the month to publish pricing information but it will be a further six months before you can compare costs online.
Rich Lister Stan Perron dies at 96
The Perth billionaire started work at the age of 14 and built a $4 billion fortune from humble beginnings as a milk bar owner.
The barrister who takes no prisoners
Youth detention conditions in the Northern Territory are little changed, even after the royal commission, barrister John Lawrence tells Lunch with the AFR.
Plutus-linked accountant jailed for money laundering
An accountant whose offices were raided over the Plutus tax fraud has been sentenced to jail for knowingly laundering drug money.
Life in the age of Trump
Professor Aaron Chatterji forces his students to take and defend controversial positions that real CEOs confront while under attack from President Donald Trump.
Lifestyle
Daniel Barenboim and the sound of silence
The maestro measures the success of a performance by the absence of noise at the end.
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