GDP growth 1.8pc, lowest since 2009
Australia's economy grew 0.4 per cent in the March quarter, pulling down the annual growth rate to 1.8 per cent, the slowest annual pace since 2009.
Savers 'are getting zero': ANZ defends rate decision
ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott said it was unfair to keep cutting depositor rates and penalising people who rely on interest income. "People who are receiving franking credits as a general rule are the same people who have money on deposit."
- Opinion
- Trade wars
Prepare for the 100-year war between the US and China
Today’s attack on China is the wrong war, fought in the wrong way, on the wrong terrain, writes Martin Wolf.
Vocus plunges, but CEO pleased bidder walked fast
Vocus shares have plunged after Swedish private equity firm EQT abandoned its bid, but CEO Kevin Russell is staying focused.
- Live
- Markets Live
Telstra hits 22-month high of $3.68
S&P/ASX 200 is 47 points higher, a gain of 0.7 per cent. Vocus has dropped near 20 per cent after EQT walked away from a buyout.
Resources boom set to continue, says RBA
The fast-growing Indian middle class will help ensure Australia's resource industry continues to grow for decades to come, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia.
'Laws of physics' makes Pell's offence impossible
It was impossible for George Pell to have committed the offences, says his counsel. He might as well have been in New Zealand.
Business
RBA governor sees rates at 1pc
Philip Lowe has set up financial markets to expect a further easing bias to 1 per cent suggesting the only way the bank can achieve employment growth and inflation targets is through cutting rates.
Anglo considers bigger coking coal boost
London-listed Anglo American may boost the coking coal output from its best two Queensland mines by 40 per cent.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Cannon-Brookes slices rates hype
While the RBA board was enjoying lunch after deciding on a rate cut, Atlassian's Mike Cannon-Brookes was excoriating government policy.
Wesfarmers boosts resources firepower with new board appointment
Fortescue Metals Group director Sharon Warburton brings mining experience to the Perth-based conglomerate.
Judge dumps pirate fund's bid to squash rebel vote
A battle for shareholder democracy or a waste of investor funds? A judge has quashed a fund's attempt to stop a rebel investor meeting taking place.
- Opinion
- Rear Window
Mystery trust overshadows Packer's Crown deal
Almost half of Lawrence Ho's shareholding that controls his casino empire is still held in a discretionary trust set up by his father, a man regulators around the world have linked to organised crime.
CEOs hope rate cut spurs drinking, driving and buying
The CEOs of carsales.com, Deliveroo and MYOB all said that while they didn't expect the cut to provide a major consumer boost, they hoped it might help.
Markets
July rate cut hopes pared back but one more cut ahead
The Reserve Bank's first interest rate cut for almost three years has yielded a retreat in near-term interest rate cut expectations.
Powell tips rate cuts if tariff wars crunch US economy
Jerome Powell pledged to do what it takes if trade disputes slam US growth in a new Fed "put" for stocks.
- Opinion
- Trade wars
Political instability is coming to a market near you
Advanced countries and China are becoming more exposed to a phenomenon that has traditionally been the domain of the less stable emerging economies, writes Mohamed El-Erian.
What happened in markets before the bell
Australian shares are poised to open higher as global central banks turn, somewhat in sync, towards lower rates. Wall St surges.
RBA governor doesn't see 'zombie' firms in Australia
Philip Lowe isn't concerned ultra cheap money will distort capital flows or increase asset prices and doesn't believe there are any examples of zombie firms in Australia.
Opinion
Lowe ushers in a new era of easy money
RBA governor Philip Lowe will reduce the official cash rate to 1 per cent in the next couple of months and possibly lower by the end of 2019 before extreme monetary stimulus measures are considered.
Senior Writer
RBA sends unsubtle message to Frydenberg
RBA governor Philip Lowe sent the government a fairly unsubtle message - it really needs to be doing more in terms of macro-economic reform.
Political Editor
ANZ, Westpac out on a political limb
Shayne Elliott and Brian Hartzer better hope it’s worth defying the government and the Reserve Bank.
Columnist
A sophisticated nation at foot of Asia shouldn't rely on cheap money
Australia’s credible central bank, has plunged Australia into a new era, pushing the limits of what it can reasonably be expected to achieve.
Editorial
Politics
Morrison takes veiled aim at Trump over trade wars
PM warns against countries' relationships being 'nothing more than the sum of our deals'.
Morrison faces media barrage on national security
The PM in London fends off questions about the investigation of a journalist and Britain's reticence on banning Huawei.
Four men killed in Darwin shooting
Police say the 45-year-old suspected gunman had links to bikie gangs and was on parole when he opened fire at five locations in Darwin, killing four men.
Rate cuts a 'diabolical' dilemma for savers
Falling saver and mortgage rates pose a dilemma for millions of pensioners and home buyers like Max Steed, a Melbourne lawyer trying to build a deposit in a volatile residential property market.
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Look beyond monetary policy for a stronger Australia
The best option for lower unemployment and a stronger economy is structural policies that support firms expanding, investing, innovating and employing people, says Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe.
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World
Japanese women want a law against heels at work
Nearly 20,000 women have signed an online petition, dubbed #KuToo, demanding the government ban companies from requiring female employees wear high heels.
Trump offers UK a trade deal, wants access to NHS
President Trump met PM Theresa May and said he's keen for a 'phenomenal' trade deal after Brexit, but with US drugmakers' access to the UK health system.
Renault demands ex-chairman return $18m in suspect expenses
Carlos Ghosn, who chaired the Renault-Nissan alliance, faces financial misconduct charges. He's on bail in Japan awaiting trial.
Republicans defy Trump on his trade tariff war
It appears that some Republican senators are standing up to Donald Trump, saying his tariffs will hurt the US and global economy.
- Exclusive
- Tourism
Adina, XXXX are now top Aussie brands for Chinese consumers
Crown Group and Mirvac as well as Weet-Bix, Coles and Chemist Warehouse have fallen out of favour.
Real Estate
Non-bank lenders say rate cut will hasten fund flows
Cheaper capital could also boost asset values, despite yields already being at record lows.
Mortgage rates hit 60-year lows
Mortgage rates are at their lowest since the 1960s, when a house in Sydney cost $4500 and Robert Menzies was PM.
Rate cut the third boost for property market
Tuesday's rate cut continued the recent run of good news for a property industry already boosted by the Coalition's return to power and a loosening by the banking regulator of mortgage serviceability requirements.
Jeff Bezos may pick New York City after all (at least for a new condo)
The Amazon CEO is buying three NYC condominiums worth a combined $US80 million in Manhattan's 212 Fifth Avenue.
- Exclusive
- Retail
Vicinity's Grant Kelley rides the delta as rates fall
Vicinity Centre's Grant Kelley is steering the shopping centre giant through a wave of change in retail property.
Personal Finance
Rate cuts a 'diabolical' dilemma for savers
Falling saver and mortgage rates pose a dilemma for millions of pensioners and home buyers like Max Steed, a Melbourne lawyer trying to build a deposit in a volatile residential property market.
Dividend 'bonanza' could ease the pain of lower rates
Top income funds are yielding double-digit returns but the trick for investors is to identify companies and unit trusts with sustainable performance.
Banks, super funds face another $236m 'Hayne levy'
Banks, insurers and super funds are set to fork out 10 per cent more to fund the work of the prudential regulator, thanks partly to the fallout from the Hayne banking inquiry.
Technology
Why Philips got out of TVs and into health
Frans van Houten's decision to move the lighting and consumer electronics giant into healthcare technology has proved a lifesaver.
Afterpay, Zip propping up sluggish retail sales
UBS estimates buy-now, pay-later providers account for 16 per cent of growth in discretionary retail spending in the six months to December 2018.
China blamed after ANU data hack
A 'sophisticated operator' may have stolen almost 20 years of personal data such as names and addresses, birth dates, bank details and passport numbers.
Leadership
- Exclusive
- Workplace disputes
Folau challenge imminent as law firm engaged
The former rugby player has confirmed he has assembled his legal team, with legal action over his controversial sacking expected within days.
10 essential nonfiction books JPMorgan says everyone should be reading
Although some of the books are business focused, like Clayton Christensen’s The Prosperity Paradox, others are about as far from banking as you can get.
Lifestyle
Carnival fined $28m after tipping rubbish in the ocean, again
In fining the world's largest cruise line company, the senior US district judge said: "If you all did not have the environment, you would have nothing to sell."
- Exclusive
- Tourism
Adina, XXXX are now top Aussie brands for Chinese consumers
Crown Group and Mirvac as well as Weet-Bix, Coles and Chemist Warehouse have fallen out of favour.
Luxury fashion: maximalism goes big this winter
Say yes to excess - clashing prints, touchable textures, mirrored metals and more, more, more.
All those vegan burgers, rated from best to worst
My quick take after a week of eating faux burgers: Some are getting better. Some are still meh. And some, are just dreadful.
Topshop pulls out of the US, last Australian store in doubt
The future of Topshop's last Australian store is up in the air as its British parent, Sir Philip Green's Arcadia Group, pulls out of the US and restructures in the UK.
