- Live
- Markets Live
ASX bounces 2pc; PM urges banks to pass on any cuts
The ASX is sharply higher as expectations of policy intervention lifts global sharemarkets; Q4 trade surplus dips to $1b; housing approvals fall 15pc in Jan.
- Analysis
- US votes 2020
Sanders v moderates: Super Tuesday showdown looms
Regardless of what happens when the Democrats' race results come in, the White House will almost certainly be occupied next year by a white male aged between 74 and 79 years.
'Diversified' portfolio can ride out coronavirus: Future Fund
The Future Fund's is highly diversified and very well positioned for this type of event, says its chief investment officer Raphael Arndt.
Indonesia's secrecy, just adds to panic
COVID-19 patient contradicts health minister, others say hospitals have turned symptomatic people away and a panicked public is raiding supermarket shelves.
- Exclusive
- Coronavirus outbreak
Virus could kill up to 100,000 Australians
Economist Warwick McKibbin estimates up to 68 million people will die from the coronavirus, including as many as almost 100,000 Australians.
Labor targets new sports rorts revelations
The Morrison government changed the list of projects for its controversial sports grants program hours after the federal election campaign began in what Labor says was a breach of caretaker conventions.
Limits on movement, event bans loom
Mass gatherings, public events and medical facilities could be included in efforts to limit the spread of the deadly virus.
Virus crisis
Doctor victim of first local transmission of coronavirus
Authorities are trying to contact passengers who sat near a woman with coronavirus on a plane returning to Sydney from Iran.
- Opinion
- Coronavirus outbreak
The coronavirus could hit the US harder than other wealthy countries
Underlying deep-seated social and economic inequities are likely to create unique vulnerabilities, not to mention the current divisive political climate.
European Central Bank 'stands ready' to act on coronavirus
The ECB's statement comes ahead of a reported G7 conference call of finance ministers and central bank chiefs on Tuesday.
Climate, coronavirus raises risk of 'armed mistrust' between China, US
Australia needs to encourage regional cooperation, Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong says.
Investment banks, tech giants go digital as virus spreads
Global investment banks operating in Australia lamented the impact of COVID-19 response plans on their operations and clients.
Companies
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Banks are smashing their own margins, too
A rate cut will hurt bank profits, but the big four banks are already eating into their own margins as intense competition forces them to fight harder for borrowers.
Harris Scarfe in exclusive talks with Spotlight Group
Morry Fraid and Zac Fried's Spotlight Group appears set to buy Harris Scarfe, which collapsed in December.
Westpac gives up on gender equality
The bank’s star has fallen yet further with the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
AMP's De Ferrari says red tape will cause recession
AMP is at the pointy end of a wave of increased regulation. Now its chief executive is calling out the unintended consequences, including a possible recession.
- Exclusive
- Information security
Inside EY's security work at ANZ
Internal documents show ANZ Bank has become one of EY's biggest cyber security clients globally, as the big four professional services firms jostle to become tech giants.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Coronavirus confusion for business
When a major national business sought direction from the government on the coronavirus it was left confused. This suggests the country's response plan needs to be updated.
iSignthis acquired CEO's company, didn't disclose it
And we should have full confidence in the integrity of its other disclosures?
Markets
American financier comes to Sargon Capital's rescue
Sargon Capital's white knight appears to be hiding in plain sight.
OECD slashes Australian growth on virus fears
Coronavirus will slash 0.5 per centage points off Australia's economic growth this year according to new forecasts from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Dow surges near 1300 points on rate cut bets
Australian shares opened sharply higher with the market tipping a 25 basis-point cut from the RBA and a stunning late day rally in New York that lifted the Dow more than 5 per cent.
Why the RBA should hold off cutting rates
Financial markets have fully priced in the chance of a rate cut but many economists and the RBA shadow board are not in favour.
- Opinion
- Bonds
Lowe's prescient warning about US corporate bond market
The murky depths of the US corporate debt market have investors worried amid fears a slowing economy because of the coronavirus could spark an avalanche of downgrades.
Opinion
Audit inquiry pretty painless for firms
The fact the big four consulting firms are openly pleased that many of their ideas were adopted in the interim report by the parliamentary committee looking into audit quality says plenty, writes Edmund Tadros.
Professional services editor
What the virus is teaching us about the board of the future
Fears and confusion over the global spread of coronavirus are just another example of the range of demands putting greater pressure on corporate boards.
Columnist
Central banks' crisis response far from ideal
A Reserve Bank rate cut might break the circuit of panic. But it also risks re-inflating asset bubbles.
Editorial
The Treasurer is missing the mark
Josh Frydenberg mocks the idea of wellbeing as a measure of economic success. But in an age of climate change it might be the best one, writes Richard Dennis.
Columnist
Sensible steps that will restore faith in auditors
A parliamentary committee did not find any of the conspiracies imagined by critics of the audit business. But it did find room for improvement.
Contributor
How Australian business can work better to counter cyber threats
More businesses will be hit by cyber attacks like Toll's and it is time to bring in a code of conduct that tells companies what they must do in the aftermath.
Contributor
Politics
- Exclusive
- Cyber protection
Business must lift defences as cyber attacks mount
Rachel Noble, the digital spy agency's new chief, has told business to bolster cyber defence capabilities in the wake of the crippling attack on Toll Group.
- Analysis
- Coronavirus outbreak
The economy will bounce back. But when and at what cost?
The operating assumption is to prepare for this crisis to last until Christmas. The hope is it will end earlier. Ministers and their staff are being advised to manage their workloads so as to avoid burnout.
Rain boost for crops despite virus hit: ABAREs
The government's commodities forecaster expects a big pick-up in production as rain returns to average levels.
Government invites feedback on new timesheet rules
Review into workplace laws will examine business concerns about the new rules to record the hours and unpaid breaks of salaried workers.
- Analysis
- Cash economy
Labor, Libs join forces to stare down cash conspiracy theorists
Bipartisan support for a $10,000 cash ban shows that politics can defy extremists from the right and left.
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World
- Updated
- World elections
Netanyahu claims win in Israeli election
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led on Tuesday in a cliffhanger election in Israel, but was still short of a governing majority in a third national ballot in less than a year.
Klobuchar drops out of race, endorses Joe Biden
Amy Klobuchar is ending her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination and endorsing fellow moderate Joe Biden, her campaign said.
Voters mock Michael Bloomberg's promotion of gas as green
Fighting coal was supposed to lift the presidential hopeful, but his embrace of natural gas has caused him to be labelled a '#climateDenier and a hypocrite'.
Australia edges to pole position in race for first FTA with Britain
Britain's blueprint for a free-trade deal with the US suggests talks with Washington could be a long haul - putting Canberra in the box seat.
Virus could force Fed's hand this week
As Wall Street prepared for another hair-raising week, Paul Sheard said the Fed’s emerging orthodoxy would be to deploy its small arsenal of remaining fire power early and aggressively.
Property
Apartment approvals slump in January
Latest figures indicate the housing supply crunch will worsen once homes under construction are absorbed.
Home listings surge in February
New listings skyrocketed in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra during February, jumping by more than 60 per cent as vendors took advantage of strong demand.
Bidder who doesn't bid saves day for vendor
All it took was for one last-minute bidder registration to inject the necessary urgency to get a Sydney home sold.
Liberman family backed investors buy Queensland mall for $84.5 million
Charter Hall sold the neighbourhood centre it had held since 2013.
Five things driving the housing recovery
The country's property recovery is advancing at varying speeds across different markets, according to new analysis by Herron Todd White.
Wealth
- Opinion
- Sharemarket
How to survive through uncertain times
Whether it's the coronavirus or another catalyst, market volatility is to be expected. Long-term intervention by central banks has made us complacent.
- Opinion
- Coronavirus outbreak
Will COVID-19 end the bull market?
Price-to-earnings ratios remain elevated despite the S&P 500 index entering a technical correction - thanks to monetary policies that have driven prices to record levels.
- Opinion
- Aged care
Five things you need to know about aged care deposits
In some situations, paying some or all of the refundable accommodation fees can increase access to the age pension.
Technology
- Analysis
- Shares
Recovery shows why tech can beat market's virus jitters
If WiseTech's share price performance on Monday is anything to go by, the coronavirus-induced sell-off will be temporary - at least for tech.
- Exclusive
- Funding
Human touch secures $14m for debt collection fintech
It bans its employees from using the word "debtor" and has just raised one of the largest venture capital rounds seen in Australian fintech so far this year.
- Exclusive
- AI
Chatbots answer the car questions you're too afraid to ask
Popular Korean car manufacturer Kia is now using AI, not just to help drive its cars but to help sell them too via Google's smart speakers and phones.
Work & Careers
How HR is reinventing itself
As human resources departments move on from administration and compliance, they are becoming central to workplace transformation.
Government invites feedback on new timesheet rules
Review into workplace laws will examine business concerns about the new rules to record the hours and unpaid breaks of salaried workers.
Life & Luxury
- Opinion
- Cars
Classic cars get the silent treatment
Now you can transform that much loved collectable into an electric model.
Next up from IKEA: solar panels
After installing solar panels in its stores, the homewares retailer is launching a one-stop solar shop to increase home solar take-up in Australia.
- Opinion
- Leadership lessons
You're more than your job title
Leaving a job can rattle your sense of identity, but learning how to let go of your 'brand association' can be liberating.
Fashion duo Camilla and Marc talk about losing their mum
The successful siblings were children when their mother died of ovarian cancer. Now they have a campaign to fight the disease.
Do women make better CEOs?
The answer is yes, according to new research from Macquarie University's Business School. Here's why.
