- Analysis
- China relations
Revealed: China’s plan to wean itself off Australian iron ore
For a China that’s determined to punish Australia, the windfall gains delivered to Canberra from surging iron ore prices are intolerable.
UK to offer Australian farmers tariff-free access - but not until 2037
The plan is for a 15-year phase-in for the free-trade deal’s farming provisions - but it’s unclear if Canberra is on board.
Why Australia is running low on timber, cars and pianos
An almighty crunch between stimulus-fuelled demand and supply chain disruption caused by transport and logistics bottlenecks is threatening to derail the global recovery.
G7 agrees to stop international funding for coal
Getting Japan on board in such a short timeframe means those countries, such as China, which still back coal are increasingly isolated.
- Analysis
- Big four
Big banks ride the revival
Rising share prices, lifted profits and the prospect of higher dividends signal happier days ahead for investors.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
What separates the good stocks from the bad
Culture is regarded by many investors as a nebulous concept, but a leading fund manager says understanding it is the key to investment success.
- Investigation
- Nuix investigation
Nuix turmoil throws spotlight on Macquarie
Fresh details have emerged of the bank’s role in the tech company’s IPO, amid a witch-hunt to find the source of internal leaks.
Companies
COVID-19 shortages a risk to recovery
As businesses scramble to manage the shock by reshaping their supply chains, fears are growing that the ongoing shortages will put a damper on the economic recovery.
Supply chain squeeze breathes new life into manufacturing
As the pandemic causes mayhem in global trade, local metalworkers are filling the gaps left by foreign rivals. Now the challenge is to hold on to the business.
- Exclusive
- IPO
Tamboran shrugs off carbon risks with $66m shale IPO
Institutional investors have backed a $66 million initial public offer by the ambitious Northern Territory shale gas explorer, reassured by its commitment to be net zero carbon from the outset.
‘Technology not tariffs’, say solar advocates
Technology options should take preference over tariffs to allow more rooftop solar onto the grid and for the benefits to be shared more broadly, solar advocates say.
Energy investors caught in policy crosshairs
Conflicting messaging from governments and business on the energy transition this week is adding to ESG concerns to make investors wary.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Kogan’s own hyperbole haunts investors
Less than a year ago, Ruslan Kogan was talking up a “once in a century” opportunity. But the pandemic has left Kogan.com with a huge hangover.
Crown’s financial crime chief backs cashless casino
Crown Resort’s flagship Melbourne casino should phase out cash in its gaming rooms in favour of a cashless card to combat financial crime.
Markets
US stocks end mixed, oil rises for first time in four sessions
The S&P 500 closed little changed after Patrick Harker said the US central bank should speak about reducing bond buying sooner rather than later.
China hammers bitcoin anew with warning on miner crackdown
The latest sell-off pushed bitcoin below its average price over the past 200 days, which led some chartists to forecast it could trend towards $US30,000.
Probe into share crunch after $800m Reddit-led rally
ASIC and the ASX have been asked to probe potential stock manipulation of an ASX minnow after trading activity fell dramatically following a Reddit-fuelled ‘pump and dump’.
Bitcoin just a ‘sideshow’: Carnegie’s crypto warning
The prominent venture capitalist says financial advisers have a duty to stop clients being duped into questionable cryptocurrency investments put forward by ‘scuz-buckets’.
ASX rises despite mid-week sell-off
The Australian sharemarket was able to overcome a mid-week sell-off, with strong advances from the tech, travel and gold sectors offsetting heavy losses from the major iron ore miners.
Opinion
The time has come for harder vaccine nudges
A target for reopening borders and vaccine passports would create carrots and remove reasons for Australians not to get vaccinated.
Editorial
The government has developed strategy hesitancy
The government went on the front foot in the early days of the pandemic but if the public has vaccine hesitancy, Scott Morrison has developed strategy hesitancy.
Columnist
RBA unlikely to taper stimulus given fragile forecasts
Hawks from CBA and NAB calling on Martin Place to taper its quantitative easing are likely to be disappointed by the central bank.
Columnist
PM sets tax and energy traps for Labor
Once upon a time, Liberal governments sold power stations, now they’re building them.
Political editor
Liberals lacked an economic philosophy in 1963 budget, too
From the archives: As part of our Platinum 70 Year we are taking a look back at the AFR view on significant domestic and international events during the past seven decades.
Editorial
Numbers show there’s no JobKeeper ‘cliff’
The April employment numbers are remarkable, but it is going to take a lot more to keep joblessness falling.
Editorial
Politics
‘Roads should be trimmed with gold’: Upper Hunter prepares to vote
The byelection result in the coal-mining region on Saturday could spell relief or more pain for NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Borders staying closed despite vaccine rollout record day
More than 101,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were delivered in the 24 hours to Friday afternoon.
Retail sales lift 1.1 per cent as NSW diners splurge
NSW leads a healthy 2.5 per cent average increase in spending on dining out in April, with economists attributing the Premier State’s result to the Berejiklian government’s Dine and Discover program.
Victoria’s tax hike for business ‘self-defeating’: PM
Scott Morrison says Labor is ‘addicted’ to higher taxes, warning that federal Labor will likely make similar moves to Victoria should it win the next election.
Gains from mental health workplace levy outweigh costs: Allan Fels
The productivity gains from Victoria’s mental health program will dwarf the costs of the payroll levy, says the former head of the National Mental Health Commission.
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World
IMF backs $65b plan to help world escape COVID19 crisis
The money would fund an effort to immunise at least 40 per cent of the global population by the end of 2921 and 60 per cent or more by the first half of 2022.
China’s five-year plan to slash Australian iron ore imports
China wants to source almost half its iron ore from domestic operations or from offshore investments by 2025 in an ambitious plan to wean itself off Australian imports, new documents reveal.
Singapore’s vaccination success corners children in new wave
Thirty-seven students from 25 schools and preschools have tested positive this month as the virus skips a largely vaccinated elderly population.
Afghanistan pullout: The rich can leave, we have no choice but to stay
The horrific bombing of a Kabul girls’ school highlights just how tenuous the gains of the past 20 years are as foreign forces start withdrawing from Afghanistan for certain.
US looks to help rebuild Gaza, leverage Hamas over rockets
Joe Biden said Washington would work with the UN and other international stakeholders to provide rapid humanitarian assistance for Gaza and its reconstruction.
Property
Australia Post relocating to Melbourne’s hipster fringe
Australia Post is moving to a new headquarters in trendy Burnley, in Melbourne’s the inner-east, joining a number of corporates in the neighbourhood who have left CBD life behind.
Payroll tax an extra burden for recovering real estate
The surprisingly quick rebound in Victoria’s residential market is one reason for the improving economy, but companies say they can’t afford an extra impost.
Pratt family member buys $22m Toorak house
Heloise Waislitz made an offer at the top end of Janine Allis’ asking price range, snapping up the home within 24 hours of the first open for inspection.
Victoria’s build to rent investment at risk: Greystar
Victoria has so far beaten NSW for BTR projects because of Sydney’s higher land costs. But new – higher – tax rates narrow the gap, a key investor has warned.
Daniel Grollo sweetens payout to ATO in revised Grocon plan
Almost half of the $13.7 million of GST payments owed to the Tax Office will be wiped out through an upfront payment of $6 million in a revised deal.
Wealth
High Court test for defamation in the digital age
A former youth detainee is behind the latest test for defamation laws in the digital age.
Top tips on winning a real estate bidding war
Property veterans say strategy can outmanoeuvre buckets of cash in an auction and deliver a knock-out bid.
- Opinion
- Flat Chat
Is strata committee financial support for ‘fighting funds’ illegal?
How strata committees may be breaking the law by supporting legal and political campaigns with owners’ money.
Technology
- Exclusive
- Shares
How Iress’ new product boss plans to fight inertia
Having spent most of his career in Silicon Valley, Joydip Das wants to help Iress keep up with the evolving ways young people interact with financial services.
Apple brings CEO Tim Cook to court in defence of app store
The company is counting on Mr Cook’s appearance to help in an antitrust case brought by Epic Games, maker of the popular video game Fortnite.
Fast-growing Danish-American software company targets Australia
Templafy is backed by big US VC funding and plans to double its Australian team in a push for corporate clients over the next 18 months.
Work & Careers
Is this Christine Holgate’s victory?
There is delicious irony in the fact Holgate is going to a problematic business but one that, if successful, could be among the greatest rivals to Australia Post.
Dylan Alcott isn’t here to win grand slams
The wheelchair tennis champion spearheads a little-known burgeoning business empire focused on disability services.
Life & Luxury
How China’s artists went from dissidents to organs of the state
The vibrancy of the art scene in some Chinese cities in the noughties was probably the closest a modern art historian will come to the chaos and glory of Weimar Germany.
Pandemic readers turn page to escapism to beat lockdown blues
Libraries across the country are recording huge uptakes in e-book loans, according to new data.
Death of a Ladies’ Man
This is an odd, unclassifiable film that combines comedy, drama, tragedy and a musical homage to Leonard Cohen.
A ‘Lucky’ life inspires Kylie Kwong’s new eatery
After a soul-searching absence, the high-profile chef returns with a dining concept that celebrates Cantonese techniques, native Australian ingredients and family.
‘Menopausal women are sold snake oil in a pink bow’
Dr Jen Gunter isn’t taking any prisoners (Gwyneth Paltrow included) on her mission to bust midlife myths.
