Biden's plan to fix a broken America
Joe Biden's pathway to success – and America’s by extension – is narrow and fraught. But it does exist.
No virus cases: Calls to reopen economy
State premiers are facing greater pressure to reopen their borders as NSW joined business leaders to argue they are heavily inhibiting the economic recovery.
Tech stocks to oscillate as smaller names play catch up
This year is shaping up to be another big one for the local tech sector, but the prices of the biggest stocks are tipped to swing.
The industries set to outperform in 2021
Investors across the board are in agreement that 2021 will be a good year for equities - and cyclical sectors will be the ones to back in the recovery.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Sustainability bonds fuel ESG boom
As global financial markets gradually turn "green" through an explosion in ESG fund inflows and green bond issues, investors can now buy an innovative bond designed to transform the world's dirtiest industries.
The church that turned from Trump
In the past few years, one church has become a subject of fascination for its members' surprising resistance to Trumpism.
QBE loses pandemic payouts case in Britain's Supreme Court
The ruling on business interruption insurance, hailed as a 'financial vaccine' for COVID-hit firms, could influence similar litigation Down Under.
Companies
- Exclusive
- Energy transition
From Antarctica to Perth: Masdar eyes waste, hydrogen
Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company put solar panels on Australia's Antarctic research station, and CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi sees an exciting future here too.
SwapPay will be Australia's first cryptocurrency for fashion
Founder and CEO Paul Elsibai wants young customers to return and recycle unwanted clothing in exchange for "coins" to be used with his brands.
- Updated
- Fintech
Tyro under pressure as activist shorts pile on
Tyro has been forced to place its shares in a trading halt after its terminal outages invited an activist short-seller attack.
Vanguard ETFs hit Australian record amid pandemic
The world's second-biggest asset manager has reported its best year since entering the Australian market 20 years ago, with almost $6 billion flowing to its ETFs.
'It's unethical': Why I altered coal data results
For one lab worker, the threat to change mineral export certificates was very real.
New dawn as local potash industry emerges from the shadows
Investors are pouring funds into Australia's nascent potash industry ahead of a big year for the commodity.
China may allow imports of some stranded Australian coal cargoes
The deliberations are at an initial stage and any decision would need the approval of more senior Chinese leaders.
Markets
ASX 'poster child' Afterpay leapfrogs Telstra
Afterpay has cemented its status as growth star on the Australian sharemarket, overtaking Telstra to become the 13th-largest stock by market capitalisation.
ASX falls to weekly loss despite Afterpay surge
The Australian sharemarket closed lower this week as Afterpay's record high share price couldn't offset losses from the major miners and other blue chips.
US stimulus bonanza welcomed as recovery hunt goes on
Trillions of dollars of US fiscal stimulus arrived on Friday but investors appear to want better economic data and more comfort on inflation before committing to another sustained bout of share buying.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Magellan's Douglass sticks with China tech
Magellan Financial group, manager of a $15 billion global equities strategy, has raised its risk rating on Chinese tech stocks but says they are still fundamentally undervalued.
Dangerous FOMO is driving investors
The billionaire investor says investors have succumbed to a 'fear of missing out', which is out of step with the economic and scientific reality of the pandemic.
Opinion
Washington sends Xi a quiet message not to touch Taiwan
While the world was distracted by Trump's antics, American planners carried on developing strategy to push back against Beijing in the Pacific.
Columnist
The soft war that America is losing
The US depends far more on its soft power than authoritarian China does. Once it is lost, it is hard to get back.
Borderline nonsense as the economic questions loom
There is still time to put in place a national approach that could end sudden unilateral border closures.
Editorial
Time for new foreign policy thinking in the Canberra citadel
There's an urgent need for a fresh approach as Australia is tossed by America's convulsions during the last days of the Trump presidency and China's resurgence.
Senior writer
Should a black letter lawyer or light touch economist lead ASIC?
James Shipton wants to return to the job. But internal rivals are pushing up to steer the corporate regulator in a business-friendly direction.
Senior writer
Woke capitalism, or genuine concern for racial and ethnic diversity?
State Street's latest move to pressure boards to embrace greater racial and ethnic diversity is causing unease at the top levels of corporate Australia.
Columnist
Politics
- Exclusive
- Australia's China challenge
Australian companies warned about doing business in China's Xinjiang
The Morrison government could strengthen laws against forced labour following crackdowns by the UK, US and Canada against China's treatment of Uighurs.
Moderna struggles to find enough adolescents for vaccine trial
The study needs at least 3,000 participants provide valid safety and effectiveness data, and get authorisation from the FDA.
WHO expert explains Australia's pandemic success
In Europe, Dr Margaret Harris finds herself explaining how bushfires and our proximity to Asia have helped this country control the pandemic.
Tennis bubble swings into play
International tennis stars arrived in Melbourne to be part of a $40 million tennis quarantine bubble, ahead of the Australian Open.
Federal government under pressure to relent on international students
The federal government is under pressure to let international students return, with the student accomodation industry arguing a parallel solution is feasible.
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World
Biden expands White House climate team
New hires from the environmental movement will join old hands from previous White House administrations.
Fortress Washington: pro-Trump violence fears haunt inauguration
The FBI has warned of more riots by Donald Trump supporters to disrupt Joe Biden's swearing-in as president next week; Biden launched a $US1.9 trillion stimulus plan. Read all the day's news here.
Government, business urged to 'shop local' during pandemic
State governments are directing more spending to local small business, something NSW country baker Erin Vaccari says helped her through the coronavirus crisis.
Security is fortified in Washington as links to rioters are examined
Among new concerns is the possibility that members of security forces were among those who carried out the raid on The Capitol.
Biden unveils $US1.9trn economic and healthcare relief package
The US President-elect has set a high bar for Republican endorsement, but the package will be important to all poorer voters.
Property
Lending surge 'bodes well' for property
Home lending has surged to record highs as buyers seize on ultra-low borrowing costs and bet on a sustained recovery in residential property prices.
E-commerce boom has property bankers eyeing warehouses
Data centres, hospitals and build-to-rent apartment blocks, along with logistics hubs are likely to be favoured by deep-pocketed investors in 2021, in the wake of the pandemic disruption.
- Opinion
- Property market
Super not a simple solution for housing affordability woes
If the super system is tweaked yet again, it is worth thinking about permitting savers to use some of their retirement funds in a 'mortgage offset' facility.
Property listings plummet in every capital but one
The number of homes for sale in January was 18 per cent lower than a year ago, pointing to further house price rises – especially in the smaller capital cities.
Bankers spy opportunity amid property disruption
The pandemic has accelerated change across the property sector. A roundtable of top real estate bankers share their thoughts on the outlook for 2021.
Wealth
A bitcoin fraud or billion-dollar opportunity?
A Sydney research firm has accused one of the world's bigger bitcoin miners of being an investment scam, reflecting broader scepticism about cryptocurrencies.
Tech stocks to oscillate as smaller names play catch up
This year is shaping up to be another big one for the local tech sector, but the prices of the biggest stocks are tipped to swing.
Expect about 5pc from bank dividends, say analysts
The big banks are expected to restore dividend payouts to about 70 per cent of profits this year.
Technology
How a single day reset ELMO CEO Danny Lessem's life
ELMO Software CEO Danny Lessem did not grow up with technology, but as soon as he was introduced to the internet, his future was set in stone.
SwapPay will be Australia's first cryptocurrency for fashion
Founder and CEO Paul Elsibai wants young customers to return and recycle unwanted clothing in exchange for "coins" to be used with his brands.
- Exclusive
- Healthcare
Breast cancer blood test biotech scores fresh funds
Healthcare veterans Jayne Shaw and Ron Phillips have scored $4 million in a round led by Citadel's Mark McConnell to develop its breast cancer blood test.
Work & Careers
IOOF backs male executive accused of groping female colleague
IOOF is standing behind its deputy chief investment officer, Stanley Yeo, despite allegations the prominent fund manager groped a female employee's breasts multiple times.
Coles makes offer to end lockout in automation battle
Hundreds of warehouse workers have been locked out for two months in a key fight for more benefits in the face of automation threats.
Life & Luxury
Ammonite's love story leaves science on the rocks
Real-life Victorian-era fossil hunter Mary Anning is prised out of her natural history shell and into a fictional lesbian romance.
Brandenberg Orchestra celebrates a 12th-century polymath
The orchestra will pay tribute to Hildegard von Bingen as part of the Sydney Festival.
How this woman adds priceless value to architecture
Esther Charlesworth turned down a chance to work with IM Pei, instead helping rebuild a war-ravaged Bosnian town. The decision set her on a different path.
Ferrari devotees up in arms over SUV plans
Ferrari's Purosangue isn't expected until 2022. But sports car traditionalists are already grinding teeth like the gears in their manual transmissions.
MG's new SUV is the cheapest electric car on the market
The Chinese-built SUV is exactly the type of vehicle that is going to thoroughly normalise electric drivetrains over the next few years.
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From the gallery
A look back at Australia’s most fabulous parties
- Matthew Drummond, Lauren Sams, Philippa Coates and Julie-anne Sprague
