Melbourne's 14-day average down to 5.5
Premier Daniel Andrews is due to speak at 10am as Victoria records just one new case. New case linked to northern suburbs outbreak which saw more than 500 people asked to isolate. Follow live updates here.
- Live
- Markets Live
ASX rises; BlueScope soars; Link eyes PEXA spin-off; CCAmatil in 'pause'
The Australian sharemarket has opened higher as BlueScope soars on earnings guidance. Link says $2.8 billion private equity bid 'materially undervalues' company. Coca-Cola Amatil in trading 'pause' amid Asahi speculation. IAG says first quarter premium growth up single digits. Austal buys BSE for $27.5 million.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Australia Post's deep cultural problem exposed again
The board and management of Australia Post made an awful judgment call when they handed out $12,000 in Cartier watches to members of staff.
Founders, insiders bail on tech darlings, shares keep running
If the smart money's selling, what does that mean about who's buying?
Investors blast Webjet over CEO bonus package
But the travel outfit defends the options granted to the boss, saying there are no guarantees it will turn into cash.
QBE finds interim replacement for Pat Regan
QBE has appointed head of international Richard Pryce as the group's interim CEO following the sudden departure of Pat Regan last month.
'She is an absolute total liar': Maxwell denied Epstein sex claims
Newly unsealed court documents reveal the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell denied any inappropriate activity involving her close companion, the financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Companies
Link mulls PEXA demerger; says PEP, Carlye offer too low
Link Group’s approach in light of a $5.20 a share private equity bid, which it knocked back on Friday morning.
Energy sector's next big thing to get a major boost
The Asian Renewable Energy Hub's wind and solar farms will together make up the largest power station on earth, renewable or otherwise.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Crown and Packer trapped in difficult marriage
While a bit of space will do Crown Resorts and James Packer the world of good, their fortunes ultimately remained tied closely together.
Packer fails to save Crown from first strike
James Packer has refused to save Crown Resorts from a “first strike” against its remuneration report and opening the door to a spill of the board next year.
Bill Gates backs start-up to eliminate harmful 'forever' chemicals
Allonnia is trying to engineer microbes to get rid of harmful chemicals created by big manufacturers that never break down or disappear.
IAG dodges 'Rio Tinto' moment on Aboriginal heritage
The insurer will walk away from a contentious project in the Blue Mountains following pressure from traditional owners, activists and shareholders.
Meal kits group Marley Spoon seeks $56m for growth
The company is raising around $56 million to fund growth, with the US as the star performer although order sizes and frequency have dropped from the peak in COVID lockdowns.
Markets
Australian trading platform Stake is beating Robinhood overseas
The Sydney-based commission-free broker has been rapidly expanding this year in a global land grab that has left its US rival in its dust.
CEO David Solomon faces pay cut as Goldman Sachs gets record 1MDB fine
The bank will pay more than $US2.3 billion in a plea deal, the largest penalty in US history for a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Market sell-off abetted 11pc hit to household wealth
The decline in the financial wealth of Australian households in the first three months of 2020 was partly triggered by the fearful flight from stocks and bonds to cash.
What happened in markets overnight
Australian shares are set for a modest advance as investors turn cautious amid rising global virus cases and ahead of the final US presidential debate.
Will 'animal spirits' reawaken the economy?
Entrepreneurial spirits need to be lifted if the economy is to recover, but tax incentives and the legacy of COVID-19 restrictions could dampen that.
Opinion
The luxury watch fiasco is all about timing
Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate has experienced first-hand the dangers of bad political optics.
Political editor
The dogs nipping at postie Christine Holgate's heels
Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate had already made her fair share of enemies before being forced to stand down over the gift of $12,000 in Cartier watches to employees.
BOSS Deputy editor
Reform window will soon open, but will anyone jump through?
An election-free period from March next year offers the Morrison government a rare opportunity to push on economic reform – if it's brave enough to try.
Political editor
High Court should apply black letter law on borders
The idea that a more public and transparent High Court appointment process would be simply about finding the best candidate is challenged by the political contention swirling around the government’s next two court picks.
Editorial
Australian exporters should brace for more pressure from China
With no sign of a thaw in icy Sino-Australian relations, businesses dealing with China should be ready for further deterioration in the political and commercial relationship.
China correspondent
The case for Australia to step up in south-east Asia
Canberra can work with the middle powers of south-east Asia to collectively influence the regional order, even if none is powerful enough to attempt to dictate it.
Contributor
Politics
Calls for Holgate to quit over luxury watch bonuses
Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate faces an independent review into the purchase of luxury watches for four executives, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison has condemned as 'disgraceful'.
- Opinion
- Canberra Observed
Reform window will soon open, but will anyone jump through?
An election-free period from March next year offers the Morrison government a rare opportunity to push on economic reform – if it's brave enough to try.
CFMEU shuts down another site in push for huge pay rise
A Probuild Sydney CBD project has been shut down over blocked toilets as the CFMEU ramps up pressure for a 5pc pay rise and nine-day fortnights.
Facebook 'death star' will facilitate terrorism, paedophilia: Dutton
Home Affairs Departmental Secretary Mike Pezzullo says he has formed a 'rebel alliance' against Facebook's plan to encrypt its Messenger and Instagram message services.
Qld's November 1 border reopening with NSW in doubt
Queensland's tourism industry has been sweating on the November 1 border reopening with NSW to boost business, but there are fears a string of mystery coronavirus cases in Australia's largest state may result in a further delay.
SPONSORED
World
London's lockdown takes a bite out of Aussie foodies
Even as British Chancellor Rishi Sunak trowels on more financial support, Antipodean hospitality stalwarts say they're doing it tough.
- Analysis
- Australia's China challenge
Why Heidi Dugan is not afraid of going back to China
The television star and e-commerce entrepreneur is returning to Shanghai next month. She says fears about the safety of Australians in China have been overhyped.
The Australians betting on the Myanmar economy
Mobile banking business Wave Money and ASX-listed miner Myanmar Metals are among the foreign investors taking a chance on the previously closed-off country.
This really is the most important election in US history
The difference between a second Trump term and the election of Biden will have enormous consequences for Washington’s role in the world.
Officials say Iran was behind threatening emails to Democrats
The emails claimed to be from a pro-Trump group called the Proud Boys, but evidence had mounted that they in fact were the work of another, hidden actor.
Property
NSW prices gain, but no national recovery yet, PEXA says
Early signs of a recovery in the most-populous state won't prevent a further decline in home values and loans in the medium term, a new PEXA report says.
HomeBuilder drives 40pc lot sale boost for Mirvac
As the residential outlook improves, Mirvac is boosting its pipeline, including its acquisition of the last two stages in Landcom's Green Square Town Centre.
E-commerce growth lures Mapletree to Brisbane logistics hub
With 55,000 square metres of space, the Acacia Ridge distribution centre on Bradman Street was sold on a sharp 5 per cent yield by Blackstone.
Centuria's NZ platform snaps up $167m Visy Glass factory
Centuria Capital Group has bought a Visy Glass industrial facility in Auckland through its New Zealand platform Augusta Capital in a 20-year sale-and-leaseback deal.
Billionaire drops $89.5m on a 12-bedroom house
Riley Bechtel has bought into a sleepy but searingly expensive Californian neighbourhood that has closed an unprecedented number of eight-figure property sales.
Wealth
What do I need to do to retire at 55?
While salary-sacrifice super contributions have helped a reader get close to her goal, a few tweaks are needed.
The young scientist putting money where her morals are
For 30-year-old environmental scientist Zara Marais, investing is about making sure her money has a social impact in line with her values.
- Opinion
- Flat Chat
A brave new electric world – if your power supply can cope
Apartment residents will either have to find a way of paying the owners corporation for the power they use to charge their cars or investigate communal charging.
Technology
MyDeal soars more than 80pc on ASX debut
The furniture and garden e-commerce marketplace was pushed up as much as 120 per cent when it started trading on the stock exchange on Thursday.
NBN slashes prices to coax users onto ultrafast plans
NBN will offer massive limited-time discounts on its fast internet plans in a bid to get more customers onto its more expensive plans and so boost its revenue.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
NBN doubles down on complexity
A new pricing structure for NBN Co's fastest broadband plans fails the test of simplicity, but could lure consumers into spending more in return for higher speeds.
Work & Careers
Inside the art of succession planning
The new focus on company culture, sudden CEO departures and major external shocks have highlighted the importance of grooming future leaders.
Faculties abolished as academics forced to face reality of budgets
By removing a layer of academic management, the University of Western Australia is hoping to bring academics closer to the financial situation of the university.
Life & Luxury
Are motorbikes works of art?
Absolutely, says the mastermind behind an upcoming gallery exhibition of 100 significant motorcycles winging their way to Australia.
Cox Plate's roar silenced, but magic remains
Not only will the crowds miss the 100th running of the Cox Plate, but they’ll miss what race caller Matt Hill describes as a cracking edition with plenty of story lines.
Why these local whiskies reflect the true spirit of Australia
Rather than emulating drinks traditionally from overseas, these two distillers are using Australian ingredients to create their own unique taste.
What the new Rolls-Royce Ghost will cost you in Australia
It's priced at $628,000 (plus on-road costs) in basic form and more than a million if you work the options list hard. Here's what you get for your outlay.
Foxtel makes prestige TV play with new Kidman drama
Foxtel is banking on the Australian actor's star power and the smash hit success of her previous TV drama, Big Little Lies, to draw in fresh viewers.
