Low rates inflate asset prices: RBA
Confidential Reserve Bank analysis shows it is alert to the risks from low interest rates, which could bump up house prices by 30 per cent over three years, but is so far unconcerned.
- Live
- Markets Live
ASX to slide; China GDP data ahead
The Australian sharemarket is set to ease after uncertainty in the US pushed Wall Street lower on Friday. Economic data from China is expected to show Australia's largest trading partner grew at an annualised 6.2 per cent in the December quarter.
Hrdlicka rings in changes at Virgin as top execs exit
Virgin Australia has lost three key executives, including CFO Keith Neate, virtually completing Jayne Hrdlicka's reshuffle of the company's executive ranks since she took over the business last year.
Australian Open hit by third COVID flight
There's now 72 Australian Open players in hotel quarantine after a third flight was linked to a positive COVID test last night; the acting foreign minister said getting 40,000 Australians stranded overseas remained a "top priority. Follow updates here.
Rio Tinto, Fortescue hit pay dirt as prices surge
If iron ore prices stay about $US165 a tonne there will be upgrades to earnings expectations for the major iron ore producers, says fund manager William Curtayne.
- Opinion
- Superannuation
Why we should stick with the 12pc super guarantee rate
It's clear that the 9.5 per cent super guarantee rate is only enough to fund a satisfactory retirement if people are prepared to chew through their savings – an option most retirees reject, writes Karen Maley.
Small caps: how to make 25pc in a pandemic
First Sentier's Dawn Kanelleas held fast to her strategy as the COVID-19 virus ravaged stock prices and has reaped the rewards with an outstanding portfolio performance.
Companies
Wealth management firms accused of underpayments
Two firms have settled claims they are illegally not paying annual leave to advisers on up to $250,000 a year, with lawyers warning the practice is 'likely commonplace' in the industry.
Recession to force law firms to adopt tech, ditch billables
A lawyer who says he's seen this thing happen before says the recession will fuel clients' unmet demand for lawyers to modernise their manual work processes.
Culture war looms for Rio over Arizona copper mine
Rio will get hold of land in Arizona sacred to Native Americans to build a massive copper mine within two months – unless Joe Biden or the courts intervene.
Transurban kicks off 2021 with US toll road bid
Transurban will find out on February 1 whether its pitch to build a new toll road in Maryland has won.
'Super-spike' to fire up LNG producers
Most of the recent spike in LNG prices won't be in evidence in December quarter reports, but Woodside should still see some more robust numbers.
- Analysis
- Mergers & acquisitions
CountPlus sets out to fill the big banks' wealth vacuum
The ASX-listed wealth manager has amassed a $50 million war chest to acquire small firms, doubling down on one of Australia's most problematic sectors.
Tyro prepares response to short report
Tyro executives have spent the weekend fixing its outages and responding to a short report that shaved almost 12 per cent off its share price in an hour.
Markets
Why Flight Centre's revival faces turbulence
Between the lows of April and November, travel stocks went for a trot. Here's why the steam cooled, and what threats remain.
How markets were looking before the bell
Australian shares are poised to open lower, mirroring losses overseas as the torrid start to the year eases before a busy week of US earnings. $A drops.
Rise and rise of $A triggers reporting season nerves
The sharp rally in the Australian dollar could damage profits for some companies in the upcoming February reporting season, strategists are warning.
Bankers Trust alumni reunite to answer Beckon call
Beckon Capital, a new investment firm, is aiming to raise $150 million to help sustainable businesses. Finding enterprises worthy of investment is the easy part.
- Opinion
- Bonds
Why central bankers pump up assets
The effects of blunt monetary policy have created a divide between the have and have-nots, and the populist agitation could lead to more binary policy alternatives, and unstable investment conditions.
Opinion
Full recovery means getting back to macro policy normal
The RBA's internal warning about financial stability risk underscores the need to return fiscal and monetary policy settings to normal as soon as possible to propel Australia's self-sustaining recovery.
Editorial
Why banning China from buying Probuild is justified discrimination
The security reality is that different rules must apply for takeovers by Chinese firms because Beijing sees every commercial entity as a tool of the state.
Contributor
Porter's a reverse IR culture warrior
The Industrial Relations Minister's third tranche of reforms threatens the LNP and its constituencies and advantages the ALP.
Contributor
Australia playing catch-up in stakeholder-driven capitalism
In 2020 climate risk was to be recognised as investment risk. Pandemic aside, a paradigm shift in global finance is under way – and Australia risks being left behind.
Contributor
Biden’s North Korea problem
If the Biden administration is to make any progress on the denuclearisation of North Korea, it will need to seek better co-ordination not just with allies South Korea and Japan, but also China.
Contributor
Biden inaugural should echo Nixon, not Kennedy or Lincoln
To turn the page on the Trump era, the new President should draw inspiration from another disgraced predecessor. But living up to the healing rhetoric in a deeply divided America is a near impossible task.
Columnist
Politics
- Exclusive
- Defence
Shot across the bows on submarine contract
The Defence Department might revisit an upgraded Collins class design for the future submarine amid tensions with the French.
Pandemic delivers $50 billion saving in debt repayments
Deloitte Access Economics tips employment and population growth to come back sooner than expected thanks to vaccines.
Elderly may not be given Pfizer jab after Norwegian deaths
Australian health officials are scrambling to get more data on 29 elderly and frail Norwegian patients who died after receiving their coronavirus immunisation.
Low testing rates stall easing of NSW restrictions
The NSW Premier says testing numbers have to rise before any further easing of restrictions, despite the state 'doing really well'.
Top judge urges lawyers to take stand on climate change
Lawyers should take a 'Good Samaritan' approach to climate change, says Justice Brian Preston, including by advising clients on the consequences of their actions for the planet.
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World
US state capitals, Washington on alert for armed protests
The FBI have warned of possible armed demonstrations outside all 50 state capitol buildings from Saturday to President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration.
James Murdoch blasts US media for unleashing ‘insidious forces’
The remarks by Rupert Murdoch’s youngest son are his strongest public rebuke of America’s news industry since he parted ways with the family business built by his father.
Biden plans flurry of executive orders, new legislation for first days
The day he takes office, the President-elect is planning to return the United States to the Paris climate accords and repeal the ban on US entry for citizens of some majority-Muslim countries.
Merkel's party elects leader committed to upholding her legacy
Armin Laschet, head of the country's most populous state, beat long-time Merkel critic Friedrich Merz in a run-off.
India starts vaccinating its 1.3 billion people
The campaign is unfolding in a country that has reported more than 10.5 million coronavirus infections, the second-largest caseload after the United States, and 152,093 deaths, the world's third-highest tally.
Property
Cashed-up buyers back in action early
Early indications are the housing market is maintaining momentum after capital city prices rose 2 per cent overall across last year.
Office rents near the bottom
Office rents fell 11 per cent in Sydney and 12 per cent in Melbourne during 2020, according to new figures from Cushman & Wakefield.
Work from home trend eats into office demand
While attempts are being made to quantify the structural change to workplaces wrought by the pandemic, it is the rate of unemployment which has the most direct impact on office demand.
Accolade's South Australian wineries hit the market
The Petaluma Winery in the Adelaide Hills and Krondorf in the Barossa Valley are both up for sale via expressions of interest.
New hands for Ballykeane orchards
The transaction ends the Leone family's control of the 190-hectare aggregation of four holdings after 45 years of ownership.
Wealth
- Opinion
- Investing
How the pandemic highlights the perks of staying invested
Lessons from 2020 include ignoring short-term noise if you're happy with your risk tolerance, keeping a watch on costs and not to be surprised by volatility.
- Opinion
- SMSFs
Check to avoid getting dodgy SMSF advice
Given the recent DIY fund rip-offs, here's what to research before you pick an adviser or follow investment advice.
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.
Technology
How Twitter, on the front lines of history, finally banned Trump
Banning Trump was a difficult but inevitable decision for Twitter, and one that has divided social media users.
Bribery sentence could sideline Samsung's Jay Y Lee
A heavy sentence could could sideline the company's vice-chairman just as it looks to overtake rivals in key areas.
- Analysis
- US votes 2020
Trump, Twitter and the messy fight over free speech
The decision to ban the President has demonstrated the unaccountable power of the big social media companies.
Work & Careers
WFH shift drives surge in burnout, overtime hours
Nearly three-quarters of Australians suffered burnout last year and the average office worker's overtime nearly doubled, according to a global study.
Whistle-blowing soars to record with Americans working from home
Whistle-blowers have been more active in the United States since the beginning of the pandemic.
Life & Luxury
Fiji's safe silver lining for Australian luxury resort owners
Fiji provides a textbook lesson in doing tourism in the COVID-19 era. Its 'Big 8' luxury resorts are ready to begin welcoming back holidaymakers, having lost thousands of dollars since March.
‘All Creatures Great and Small’ rehabilitates cows and soothes
An unlikely theme for a TV series – a rural veterinarian in Yorkshire in the 1930s – has turned into a long-running favourite.
The jury is out on France’s top publishers
It's been a year of introspection for French publishing houses after scandals began to pierce their closeted elite world and expose them to a public reckoning.
Bring back the public information film
The pandemic begs for a return to those old effective government messages, the documentary.
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.
Most viewed
From the gallery
A look back at Australia’s most fabulous parties
- Matthew Drummond, Lauren Sams, Philippa Coates and Julie-anne Sprague
