Featured Opinion
How the RBA shocked the market – and households
The Reserve Bank shocked the market and horrified mortgage holders with its decision to raise rates and the suggestion more might be needed.
Columnist
Running Qantas demanded ruthless decisions, and Joyce made them
The airline has now commenced a massive capital rebuilding of its fleet that will test shareholders and the skills of new CEO Vanessa Hudson.
Editorial
Joyce’s on-time Qantas departure leaves Hudson with her work cut out
The handover’s timing was as good as any. But the new CEO’s job is harder than the planes taking off and landing on schedule.
Aviation expert
RBA sticks to its inflation fighting guns
The good news that the economy is being held up by four strong drivers. But it means the fight against too-high inflation is far from over.
Editorial
Why the RBA now sees inflation as a more formidable foe
The Reserve Bank is clearly anxious that Australia’s inflation experience is now mirroring the US pattern, where it remains stubbornly high.
Columnist
Liberals love the monarchy, and it could destroy them
The King’s ascension places the question back in play: will Australia remain a prominent subject of the world’s fifth-oldest constitutional monarchy, or move again to become a republic?
Senior correspondent
Jones breaks promise to fix broken financial advice
The Financial Services Minister must explain why he has broken his pre-election commitment and not adopted seemingly sensible changes proposed by the Levy review.
Editorial
An open letter on the quality of financial advice review
While families face tough economic conditions, important proposals on financial advice are languishing in the Minister’s office.
Lawyer and superannuation expert
More From Today
- Opinion
- Letters to the Editor
Letters: Risks of relying on consultants
Don’t dismiss Abbott’s warning on Voice; Australian gas users need assurances too; Leave NDIS reforms to the real experts; Working poor in most need of financial advice; Three ways to improve our fiscal landscape; Script savings could decimate pharmacists
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Yesterday
- Analysis
- Aviation
Two interviews, three weeks, one winner: inside the Qantas succession
After announcing the AFL’s new boss in Melbourne, Richard Goyder flew to Sydney to chair a board meeting where the directors finally chose Vanessa Hudson.
- Lucas Baird
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The $12b question for new Qantas boss Vanessa Hudson
Vanessa Hudson insists Qantas can balance its massive capital investment program with shareholder returns. Investors may need some convincing.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Analysis
- Big four
Bankers see bad debt charges back at ‘normal’ levels
Sharply higher interest rates are set to buoy the half-year profits of the country’s major banks, but the flip side is that they’ve also contributed to a rash of corporate failures.
- Karen Maley
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Four reasons why the RBA lifted rates in May
Hot jobs, accelerating services inflation, rebounding house prices and weak labour productivity tipped the RBA board’s hand to lift the cash rate for the 11th time this cycle to 3.85 per cent.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Courageous RBA call will put spotlight on federal budget
Philip Lowe will cop plenty of heat for a surprise rate rise. But he’ll be eager to see next week’s budget do its bit to tame inflation, too.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Chalmers has no more cash to splash
Instead of talking down the strong economy and bottomline inherited from the Coalition, the treasurer needs to hold his nerve against the Labor left and focus on bringing the budget to balance.
- Angus Taylor
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Hudson’s calm amid COVID turbulence wins Qantas’ top job
Vanessa Hudson is a Qantas lifer who has worked in almost all parts of the airline. But it was her success in steering the group through the pandemic that sealed her promotion.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
‘Odd’ house price recovery is a headache for the RBA
The rise in house prices that has sent economists scrambling for the magic eraser also shows how immigration can stoke inflationary pressures.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Sharemarket
The key to spotting the next Amazon or Google
How company founders – and investment trends – adapt to changing circumstances is key to long-term returns.
- Giselle Roux
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Growth makes Airwallex a target for APRA under outdated laws
The prudential regulator’s decision to require Airwallex to get bank guarantees over its customer funds shows the clash between new models and decades-old laws.
- James Thomson
This Month
- Opinion
- Infrastructure
Tough decisions looming on which road, rail projects stay on track
Everyone agrees Australia’s infrastructure pipeline needs major rehabilitation, but there are costs to more cancellations and deferrals. Who pays for that?
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Anthony Albanese, the ill-advised wedding guest
There is something beneath the dignity of his office about Mr Albanese’s ill-advised attendance at such a gathering.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- Tax reform
Why it’s a myth that Australia is a low-taxing country
Despite brimming coffers there are calls for tax increases, or tax cuts to be scrapped. There is no case for that.
- Robert Carling
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
WestConnex delivery not enough for Transurban top job
Distribution growth is the No.1 matter for whoever replaces Scott Charlton in the CEO’s seat, in a race that is narrowing.
- Updated
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Mortgage brokers
Home owners rack up $20,000 in bank cashbacks
More than a quarter of home owners are refinancing their mortgages every year, and are being paid thousands by the banks for their short-lived custom.
- Updated
- Aaron Patrick
- Opinion
- Property investment
How to profit as Baby Boomers downsize
As demand grows for high-end retirement living, opportunities range from development plays to commercial real estate debt.
- Sam Tamblyn
- Opinion
- Globalisation
The high price of decoupling China
Lower growth, higher inflation, and a weaker US dollar are all likely outcomes if the Sino-American economic chill continues to deepen..
- Stephen Roach
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Charlie Munger nails the big worry amid record bank earnings
NAB, ANZ, Westpac and Macquarie Group should report unprecedented results in the next week. But that won’t stop investors looking for pockets of stress.
- Updated
- James Thomson
Snapchat’s rushed AI rollout has horrific results
Launched without necessary training, bots from huge companies are showing themselves to be dangerously bad, and rules are urgently needed to force responsibility.
- Paul Smith
- Opinion
- Alpha Live
Bonds v stocks: which market is calling it right?
There is an unresolved tension between bond and equity markets about when a recession will occur and how severe it will be. Can their forecasts co-exist?
- Jonathan Shapiro
