China's confounding economic riddle
In Hong Kong, China's relationship with the West, the state of its economy and progress of reforms present a puzzle with many possible solutions.
Turnbull lashes One Nation's attempted deal with NRA
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has decried One Nation's attempt to extract funds from the US gun lobby as reprehensible.
- Opinion
- Brexit chaos
The great 'Brexican' standoff, UK can't move forward, or back
None of the many Brexit factions are yet desperate enough, or confident enough, to embrace the art of compromise.
How big four partners minimise their tax
For the first time, the ATO has revealed the big four consulting firms' income-splitting techniques used by their partners to minimise their tax.
- Live
- Markets Live
ASX ends on firm note, Pilbara surges
After a small dip in the morning, the ASX was up 40 points by the afternoon.
- Opinion
Simplistic view of Hayne reforms ignores reality
Suggestions that some of the Hayne commission recommendations could be implemented by relatively simple changes to the law ignores the more complex reality.
Chemist Warehouse agrees to wage hikes
Wages for the pharmacy giant's distribution centres will rise by as much as 22 per cent as part of a deal with the union following a two-week strike.
Business
'Astonished': Girls' club unleash on Graeme Samuel
Graeme Samuel's spray against the impenetrable "girls' club" in Australian boardrooms belongs to the last century and doesn't stack up to scrutiny, top female directors say.
- Opinion
- M&A
Playing truth or dare in takeovers
It is time for a rethink of how the 'truth in takeovers' regime applies to shareholders, who can get caught up in the chaos of a bid without the right advice.
Why over-hyped 5G technology is worrying Telstra
Many of the applications that will work best on 5G are still in prototype stages so it will be a story that will play out over the next five to seven years.
Rich Lister hires BlueScope executive to rebuild Pact
Raphael Geminder says Sanjay Dayal has the skills and experience to revive Pact's manufacturing and supply chain.
'Obey the law': ASIC rebukes banks
ASIC chairman James Shipton has called out the banks for resisting obeying the law and for spreading the "myth" of a credit squeeze triggered by a regulatory crackdown.
- Exclusive
- Trade
Call to boost scheme that helps companies sell overseas
The Coalition has frozen funding for a grant scheme that helps Australian businesses market internationally.
Banks are too addicted to property
Most business bankers no longer have the skills to understand small business, a former NAB banker says.
Markets
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
What German bonds are telling us
If the world economy topples over into a deflationary vortex, central bankers have very little firepower left to fight back.
Palladium hits five-week low
The metal, used extensively in the car making, was a "bubble" and manufacturers could replace it with cheaper platinum, warned one mining boss.
China's steel growth slows
Fortescue executives are in China this week talking up the country's iron ore demand as Beijing ramps up infrastructure spending and steel mills cut costs.
Lyft, Pinterest won't give investors much say
The IPOs give investors a chance to buy into a fast-growing company, but some shares will be more equal than others.
Jobs vacancies rise, but at slower pace
The already strong job market continues to power ahead, but there are indications it may be topping out.
Opinion
Why mining stocks can keep climbing
Credit Suisse believes a rebound in Chinese and global industrial production can push our miners higher.
Columnist
Why over-hyped 5G is worrying Telstra
Many of the applications that will work best on 5G are still in prototype stages so it will be a story that will play out over the next few years.
Columnist
Peabody rewrites the rulebook after wildfire at North Goonyella
How America's old king of coal set fire to its best Aussie mine.
Columnist
ASIC to banks: We don't want to be your friend
“Why not litigate?” is proving a confronting combination for banks. That is just as ASIC chairman James Shipton wants and needs it to be.
Columnist
Politics
Scott Morrison puts One Nation almost last
Scott Morrison will put One Nation behind Labor on how to vote cards but he won't put them behind the Greens.
Unions rebuffed against building watchdog
The UN labour body has refused to strongly criticise the government's building watchdog despite ACTU claims it breaches treaty obligations.
Social media platforms can't self-regulate
Ex-Facebook Australia boss Stephen Scheeler has thrown his support behind potential legislation that would jail social media executives for not removing extremist material quickly enough.
APRA to turn the screws on superannuation
A review of the sole purpose test - the centrepiece of superannuation law – is set to examine inducements, political advertising and financial activism.
NDIS shortfall could boost bottom line
Bill Shorten leaves the door open to adopting the income tax cuts in next week's budget.
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World
‘Personality cult’ around Ghosn condemned
The report contains a searing, detailed attack on Mr Ghosn and the misconduct it said arose from a “personality cult” and the concentration of authority in his office.
Brexit crisis reaches new depths
Britain sank even deeper into the Brexit mire on Thursday as Theresa May looked set to fail in a third attempt to pass her beleaguered exit deal.
- Opinion
- EU
Xi Jinping and Huawei are a serious threat to EU unity
In an ideal world, Europe would have something similarly ambitious to the Belt and Road scheme to offer its members.
- Opinion
- Company mergers
Auto mergers usually fail, but alternatives are few
The car industry cannot afford to duplicate costs. Its value-destroying addiction to capital is unsustainable.
Half of older Americans have nothing in retirement savings
The good news is the new estimate, from the US Government Accountability Office is slightly better than a few years earlier.
Real Estate
Is a studio apartment a good investment?
Although studio apartments may be affordable, their suitability as an investment depends on many factors.
- Exclusive
- Commercial real estate
Residential work falls in Sydney, but Melbourne booms
"The good times are starting to come to an end," says Multiplex, the country's biggest user of cranes.
Dexus snares Collins St project in record deal
The listed fund manager has taken over QIC's landmark development in a deal worth more than $1.3 billion.
Lifestyle Communities secures $225m funding
Developer of affordable accommodation for downsizing baby boomers looks to boost acquisition sites.
Greenfield housing lot supplies fall off cliff
UDIA's latest report shows that even in the more "stable" house and land sector, lot production and sales are slowing.
Personal Finance
- Opinion
- Pension
Get retirement red tape right or you'll pay the price
Got a family business and thinking of retiring early? Be very careful about pension payments if you're still connected to the business.
- Opinion
Sony's back on track and worth a play for investors
The Japanese conglomerate is fighting off Google, focusing on higher margins and recurring sources of revenue.
Government targets confusing life insurance policies
Treasury will also examine lifting the required level of life, disability insurance coverage for MySuper products.
Technology
When did Huawei get so good at phones?
If the camera is the No. 1 reason you buy a phone, there's no doubt the P30 Pro is for you.
Facebook bans white nationalism
"It's clear that these concepts are deeply linked to organised hate groups," it said.
Amazon, eBay, Catch, Kogan vie for sellers
It's a sellers' market as eBay battles competition from new players for vendors.
Leadership
- Exclusive
- Energy
Peter Bond faces more charges over environmental damage
Linc's former underground coal gasification facility in Chinchilla has contaminated soil and groundwater, which could take decades to fix.
'Why not litigate' to send ASIC's cases surging
The volume of civil and criminal cases was about to ramp up as ASIC looked to implement its new strategy.
Lifestyle
Travelling art show launches at The Peninsula Hong Kong
The Peninsula group has commissioned mid-career artists to create installations that will migrate between its hotels.
The best luxury treats to spend your money on this week
Experiment with short shorts and OTT earrings. Because, well, why ever not?
The $71m boat for all the toys you can't fit on your yacht
To fully enjoy your luxury vessel, you need diversions. Maybe a sailboat or diving gear. Possibly a submarine. But where does one stash all that gear?
- Opinion
- Review
New documentary on Elizabeth Holmes serves as a warning
Instead of acting as if the Theranos CEO were some freak of nature, we should be looking at the system that produced her.
Going large at Art Basel Hong Kong
Australian curator Alexie Glass-Kantor has selected 12 monumental works that reflect on the uncertainty of our times.
