- Opinion
- Trade deals
Trade war truce is a symbol of US unhinged
This deal kicks the hard stuff down the road. But the 'phase one' trade deal is as good as it gets under Donald Trump. And Australia may be collateral damage, writes Kevin Rudd.
- Opinion
- Quantitative easing
The crisis of 2020 – where we should look
The overextended state of central-bank balance sheets leaves us vulnerable to a major shock, writes Stephen Roach.
- Opinion
- Trade wars
Spotting the substance in Trump's trade deal
Despite the hype, this is not peace in our time, but rather detente. Make no mistake, Thursday's deal is inherently fragile.
- Live
- Markets Live
ASX soars past 7000; Credit Suisse sees CSL at $320
The Australian sharemarket are trading above 7000 points; CSL shares have hit $300 for the first time; the US and China have signed a 'phase one' trade deal.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Asset bubbles – the world risk being ignored
The World Economic Forum in Davos has been told the world cannot wait for the fog of geopolitical uncertainty to lift, and must act on key issues such as the economy, the environment, technology and public health.
Owner-occupier home loans surge
The 10 per cent jump in November from a year earlier was attributed to better access to credit and rising house prices across the eastern seaboard.
- Analysis
- World politics
What Putin’s revamp means for Russia
Vladimir Putin has announced the most sweeping political changes in Russia in almost three decades. What's he up to?
Companies
Australian power prices highest 'on the planet': Alcoa
US company Alcoa says finding a solution to some of the world's most expensive energy prices will be the key to saving Victoria's Portland aluminium smelter.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Why Gary Weiss is battling on three fronts
The legendary corporate raider is in the midst of three difficult corporate situations but he shows no sign of flagging in his determination to create value.
Caltex signs confidentiality deal ahead of briefing
The agreement comes ahead of presentations by Caltex senior management to its Canadian suitor Alimentation Couche-Tard that get under way in Sydney on Thursday.
- Exclusive
- Fashion retail
South Africa's Woolworths to keep David Jones
A day after confirming a new group CEO will take the helm, speculation mounted that the retailing giant would move to sell the Aussie department store.
Woodside waits on Browse gas deal after 'solid' quarter
An outstanding deal on gas processing is holding up engineering and design work on Woodside's $30 billion Browse LNG project.
Tesla in talks to buy Glencore cobalt for Shanghai car plant
A deal would help Tesla avoid a supply squeeze on the key battery metal as it pushes into the world's largest car market, and mark a win for Glencore too.
Super funds, advisers, brokers hit with surprise levy blowout
Response to the regulator's decision from the affected sectors has been mixed, with the superannuation industry's peak body saying super fund members would likely pay the price.
Markets
ASX soars as trade deal unleashes rally
The ASX sailed through 7000 points and CSL $300 a share on Thursday, riding the euphoria of a trade deal that sent the Dow through 29,000 points.
- Opinion
- Cryptocurrencies
The RBA's daring crypto experiment
The RBA has revealed that it has simulated using central bank-backed digital tokens in the wholesale payments system as Facebook's cryptocurrency plans flounder.
Short sellers poised to swoop as earnings disappointments loom
Lachlan Davis of IFM Investors believes companies will be severely punished if investors are disappointed in reporting season, as he expects they will be.
California city bans coal, blocking key export route to Asia
"I've got bigger ambitions than just Richmond," Mayor Tom Butt said in an interview. "I'd like to get rid of coal worldwide."
Coal miners optimistic despite BlackRock exit
BlackRock's new coal policy will reverse its aggressive buying of Australian coal stocks like Whitehaven and New Hope over the past year.
Opinion
Let's auction the right to supply reliable power
A competitive tender system to generate dispatchable electricity would drive the investment needed to stabilise the grid, cut emissions, and drive down prices.
The crisis of 2020 – where we should look
The overextended state of central-bank balance sheets leaves us vulnerable to a major shock, writes Stephen Roach.
Contributor
The RBA's daring crypto experiment
The RBA has revealed that it has simulated using central bank-backed digital tokens in the wholesale payments system as Facebook's cryptocurrency plans flounder.
Columnist
Regulatory risk threatens financial stability
Growing regulatory risks and record low interest rates could destabilise Australia’s financial system.
Editorial
The carbon tax that would work for Australia
A carbon border tax would force China and other nations to consider emissions trading schemes more seriously and is a perfectly reasonable response to the existential threat of climate change, writes Adrian Blundell-Wignall.
Columnist
Iran's empire-building ambitions held at bay for now
Mass protests and an unpredictable US president have shaken the foundations of Iran's whole strategy.
Contributor
Politics
'No rules were broken': McKenzie defends sports bias
A federal government minister sees no reason to apologise despite the auditor- general finding she awarded grants from a $100 million fund based on electorates the coalition wanted to win, rather than merit.
CSIRO says laws should be published in code
A "rules as code" vision would reduce compliance costs and improve the take up of new technology, the government's science agency says.
'Shameless': Audit damns Coalition sports cash
Senior minister Bridget McKenzie approved 420 grants to sporting groups because they were in marginal seats, a damning auditor-general's report of a $100m fund has found.
WA Water Corp ordered to pay bills in 30 days
WA's Premier said he was disappointed to learn the water agency was charging suppliers to receive timely bill payments and has intervened.
NSW says it will follow fire experts, not Morrison
NSW Premier Gladys Gladys Berejiklian says she will be guided by experts, "not politicians" on hazard reduction burns.
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World
Trump signs 'landmark' trade deal in packed White House ceremony
Donald Trump has revelled in the signing of a historic trade deal with China's Liu He before a packed White House audience of business chiefs.
- Analysis
- Trade wars
Trade truce won't deter Trump on tech
Beijing is accelerating its drive for technological “autonomy” to boost its control over its own supply chain in the face of political risks, such as further US embargoes.
Russia's prime minister, parliament resign
The sweeping moves came shortly after Vladimir Putin gave his annual address to Russian lawmakers and proposed major constitutional changes.
Two popes and one big furor over priestly celibacy
The theologically fraught relationship between Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI is beginning to have very real consequences for the Roman Catholic Church.
Trade deal must force China shake-up, says Trump adviser
Former Dow Chemical boss Andrew Liveris has applauded Donald Trump for a reboot of the trading relationship, which could have long-term implications for Australian LNG exports to China.
Property
The one capital city where apartment rents are falling
The market may be turning in favour of landlords, but not yet in Sydney.
Housing construction expectations surge
A turnaround in home-building is some months away, but the trough has passed, a key industry survey shows.
- Exclusive
- Commercial real estate
Victoria narrows $500m Treasury Square shortlist
The four remaining bidders have a month to make detailed proposals for a project some people say will be financially challenging.
Ralan founder's rescue plan faces early threat and challenges
If William O'Dwyer is declared bankrupt or fails to sell 1000 apartments within two years, his administration strategy will fail.
Coronation buys mixed-use Merrylands site for $41 million
Developer expects western Sydney project to kick off a planned portfolio of 5000 BTR homes.
Wealth
- Opinion
- Ageing
Telltale signs that an elderly relative needs help
Taking steps to address danger signs early is not as traumatic as events that may play out following a dramatic change of circumstances, writes Bina Brown.
De facto fears when one partner moves to a nursing home
Physical separation does not usually affect the tax status of a superannuation death benefit payment, writes John Wasiliev who answers your questions on super.
Ditching the rule book helps this fund manager succeed
Dumping old school valuation tools like price-earnings ratios helps Insync's Monik Kotecha deliver consistent outperformance, especially in the fast-moving digital sector.
Technology
Internet stocks set new highs as 2020 kicks off
Facebook and Google have hit new share price highs, along with four other internet companies, indicating ongoing momentum in the sector.
We've got a genome. Do we now need a 'screenome'?
Just as each of us has a human genome, which is a composite of our genes, a group of US academics say each of us has a human “screenome”.
Google cleans up cookie crumbs as online privacy push increases
Google says it will kill off the cookies that enable advertisers to bombard users with ads for things they have looked at online, but monopoly concerns have been raised.
Work & Careers
- Exclusive
- Finance
Julie Bishop adds Greensill to her post-political career CV
AFR Rich Lister Lex Greensill has hired the former foreign minister as Asia-Pacific chairman of his supply-chain financing behemoth.
Citigroup female employees earn 27 per cent less than men
That marks an improvement of two percentage points from last year, according to an internal analysis.
Life & Luxury
Complete First Folio of Shakespeare’s plays goes to auction
The literary treasure, valued at more than $6 million, includes one of the very few authentic portrait portrayals of the Bard.
Bangarra, Beethoven and Bon Scott to light up Perth
The Perth Festival has a new director in Iain Grandage - and he's lined up a program that includes closing down part of a highway for a free concert.
The effect of sex on menopause
The age at which women hit menopause may be affected by how frequently they are having sex in the years that lead up to it, according to a large study of multicultural American women.
Milan embraces sustainability, Gen Z
New attitudes and new cuts starred as men's fashion week got under way in the Italian city.
Virtual reality a taste of dining's future
Trippy, sensory dinner in a digital fantasy world explores how we perceive food.
