The Financial Review Wine Club is the home for seasoned collectors and wine enthusiasts.
Trump glorifies Putin, uses Nazi rhetoric in campaign speech
The former US president demonised immigrants as “poisoning the blood of our country” and called January 6 defendants “hostages”, amid alarm over his language.
ASX to drop 1pc as US rate cut optimism cools
ASX futures indicated shares are poised to drop 1 per cent, or 74 points, at the return of trade on Monday.
- Opinion
- Workplace culture
The perils of mangling a colleague’s name
Mispronouncing a co-worker’s name at work can be hazardous – and not just if it’s the boss, writes Pilita Clark.
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Rinehart’s common sense crucial to green mining transition
Policy-makers need to heed the calls by two prominent female resource sector leaders not to hobble the upstream mining sector on which the nation’s prosperity rests.
What top CEOs expect Australia’s economy to look like in 2024
Corporate leaders reckon inflation will linger, but say Australia will avoid a recession in 2024.
Home-deposit-lending start-up digitally altered news article in ads
OwnHome has wiped CBA, its own backer, from ads it is running on Facebook and Instagram, which feature a digitally manipulated version of a Financial Review story.
Full speed ahead for Transurban despite traffic chaos
The traffic jams surrounding Sydney’s new Rozelle Interchange haven’t bothered Transurban investors, with the stock rising 7 per cent since it opened in late November.
Breaking news on companies, politics and economics, in your inbox as it happens.
Smart investor
10 ways to stop ‘silver divorce’ destroying your wealth
Older couples are increasingly calling it quits. These are the issues to consider before breaking the knot.
This retirement strategy could foolproof your savings
A timeless game plan invented in 1985 helps retirees – and younger investors – avoid worries during sharemarket downturns by planning ahead.
- Opinion
- Interest rates
New Zealand’s recession is a warning for the rest of world
While markets are rejoicing about the prospect of lower interest rates next year, stagflation across the ditch points to very different possibilities.
My brother won’t help Mum. Should she change her will?
My elderly mother needs help with her bills but my brother won’t contribute. What can we do?
How to enjoy a family Christmas with all the help you need
Elderly people spending time away from their regular home during the holiday season can be eligible for extra government-funded support.
Get the latest business news on the go with the AFR’s new iOS app.
Companies
- Exclusive
- Electric vehicles
PEP bets $250m on EV charging firm founded in a Sydney garage
Most of the cash will be used to drive EVSE’s growth and integration with Intellihub smart meters to help customers manage their charging and protect the grid.
Ex-Santos exec fires up $425m waste-to-hydrogen plan
Greenhill Energy is preparing to raise capital for a multistage plant to turn waste into fertiliser, hydrogen and synthetic fuels.
‘Too much risk’: Call for strategic coal power reserves
The head of the electricity supplier, Mark Collette, wants serious discussions on a scheme for a coal power reserve to prevent the lights going out on consumers.
- Exclusive
- Retail
Foster Blake sold Go-To stake for $89m. She’s bought it back for a fraction of that
The former Young Rich Lister, along with her co-founder Paul Bates, have taken back control of the skincare brand from the failed BWX Group.
Rinehart and Forrest set for battle of the billionaire boots
Gina Rinehart’s acquisition of Rossi Boots and its trademarks paves the way for her to produce Kidman-branded apparel, and compete with Andrew Forrest’s R.M. Williams.
What top CEOs want Labor to focus on in 2024
Corporate leaders want the Labor government to focus on helping households with cost-of-living pressures, the housing crisis and slow planning approvals.
Rozelle road designs kept from public view
Infrastructure Australia did not see final plans for the Rozelle Interchange and councils and communities had no access to details before the controversial project caused gridlock.
Companies in the News
Search companies
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Markets
- Opinion
- World markets
Shareholder democracy is still very complicated
Anti-ESG rhetoric evident in 2023 voting making it “impossible for global asset managers” to do what they perceive as the right thing, writes Merryn Somerset Webb.
- Opinion
- Private equity
Why Wall Street’s alternative asset managers are singing
Wall Street’s biggest thing since private equity is celebrating a breakout year for the new money spinners. It may be justified, but history suggests trouble ahead.
Wall Street’s rally cools as rate cut hopes reined in
Stocks wavered after two US Federal Reserve officials suggested rate cuts would be slower and later than had been speculated.
Fed insider says talk of a March rate cut is premature
Federal Reserve Bank of New York president John Williams said it’s too early for officials to begin thinking about cutting rates as soon as March.
- Opinion
- Bonds
Here’s what you need to look for when buying bonds in 2024
When allocating to fixed income, there are things that fund managers look for. With two of the three boxes ticked already, next year could be interesting for the market.
Opinion
What we can all learn from Blind Freddie
We need policy that helps Australians. We need policies that make investment in our country worth doing.
Contributor
Votes at the UN are not for the home gallery
Voting for a one-sided Gaza resolution for domestic political reasons just betrays our foreign policy principles and costs us practical influence.
Editorial
Australia’s science curriculum is not broken
The performance of science students has stopped declining as resources from private publishers became available to teachers. Investing more in what is working will be far more productive than starting from scratch.
Former Chief Scientist
A chance to fix the inequity chasm in Australian schools
A report handed to education ministers last week has outlined a plan for real change after decades of reforms that have failed to bite.
Charity leader
COP28 puts the heat on energy transition
The conference’s proposed measures could put the world back on course in its climate change response. What we need to see now is action from leaders in politics and business.
Former energy regulator
Israel-Hamas tangled up in Ivy League identity politics row
The war in Gaza has exposed the splits within Western societies between those who believe in critical theory and those who still believe in the egalitarian genius of liberal democracy.
Columnist
Reports
Motoring - Cars to watch
The special report looks at the most exciting cars of the year, sporty EVs, and car collecting as an investment.
Sponsored
by BMWPolitics
Hostages shot by Israel had white flag, early inquiry finds
Netanyahu hints new hostage negotiations underway; Top US generals travel to Tel Aviv urging shift; Wine restrictions to be lifted early in new year, says Farrell. Follow updates here.
All China trade restrictions gone in 2024, Farrell predicts
Trade Minister Don Farrell says Australia has whittled down China’s trade restrictions on $20 billion of goods, and what’s left will go in 2024.
US rate cuts could aid Labor election strategy: Chalmers
Labor’s mission between now and the next election is to seize the mantle of superior economic manager, says Jim Chalmers.
Queensland a fight on two fronts for Labor: Chalmers
Treasurer Jim Chalmers, the most senior federal MP from Queensland, says the Albanese government will need to win over Greens voters and fight “the old enemy” at the next federal election.
Nearly half of Australians chronically sick
A surge in mental health diagnoses has pushed the number of people with chronic conditions to the highest level since records began.
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World
Israel found the Hamas money machine years ago. Nobody turned it off
Agents worried as millions poured in. Hamas bought weapons and plotted an attack. The authorities now say the money helped lay the groundwork for the October 7 assault.
US, British warships shoot down attack drones over Red Sea
Global shipping companies have halted journeys through the area because of attacks by rebels, in moves that could disrupt vital trade through the Suez Canal.
Israeli soldiers killed hostages as they held white flag
Anger over the mistaken killings is likely to increase pressure on the Israeli government to renew negotiations with Hamas over swapping more of the captives.
- Analysis
- Monetary policy
US rate cuts a boon for Biden in election year
Lower borrowing costs are set to bring relief to US voters in a presidential voting year after a long period of high inflation.
Cardinal guilty of mass fraud in Vatican ‘trial of the century’
The former papal confidant, who oversaw the management of Holy See funds, faces jail time after the verdict in the landmark court case.
Property
Undersupply of new homes to trigger next boom, but not yet
The supply shortage is unlikely to spur strong price growth over the near to medium term, but it could underpin the next reboun, experts say.
- Exclusive
- Luxury property
Former Allianz boss spends $15m on Woollahra pad
Former Asia-Pacific CEO of Allianz, George Sartorel, and his wife, Kathy, have purchased a designer Woollahra home in Sydney’s east.
Homebuilders worry about costlier kitchens after benchtop ban
Builders and materials suppliers say there’s no clarity on alternative products for the to-be-banned material, and no supply chain to meet demand, either.
- Exclusive
- Luxury property
Brisbane record up for grabs as historic Queenslander lists
The sprawling Queensland estate of financial services industry player Craig Offenhauser and wife Lorelle could eclipse Brisbane’s April record of $20.5 million.
- Exclusive
- Luxury property
Royal Sydney: Rose Bay mansion hits market for $33m
Insurance industry boss Mark Senkevics and his wife, urban development big wig Kimberley Jackson, have listed their home fronting Royal Sydney Golf Club.
Wealth
- Exclusive
- eSports
PAC Capital owner Clayton Larcombe may have bailed out investors
The former stockbroker may have used personal assets to improve the performance of his esports funds, an unusual but not illegal practice.
- Opinion
- Interest rates
New Zealand’s recession is a warning for the rest of world
While markets are rejoicing about the prospect of lower interest rates next year, stagflation across the ditch points to very different possibilities, writes Christopher Joye.
10 ways to stop ‘silver divorce’ destroying your wealth
Older couples are increasingly calling it quits. These are the issues to consider before breaking the knot.
Technology
Morgan Stanley was warned about ‘unusual’ Nuix targets in 2020
The investment bank was a co-lead manager for the software company’s disastrous 2020 float, shortly after which Nuix said it would not meet its forecasts.
Sargon’s Kingston bankrupted over $154m China financier debt
Phillip Kingston, founder of superannuation technology venture Sargon Capital, did not appear at a court hearing about money. He says he’s in Ukraine.
- Exclusive
- Enterprise IT
Atturra’s $90m acquisition spree to help it take on Accenture, IBM
CEO Stephen Kowal says the Cirrus deal will give it the balance sheet and scale needed to compete for projects against foreign-owned IT businesses.
Work & Careers
Brian Schmidt on the double-edged sword of leadership
After eight years at the helm of Australian National University, Brian Schmidt says he’s been hit by everything – except locusts.
Rinehart calls for tax cuts, criticises renewables and ‘eyesore’ solar panels
Gina Rinehart, named The Australian Financial Review Business Person of the Year, demanded a cut to taxes, while Boris Johnson spoke in defence of Donald Trump.
Life & Luxury
Think you know this week’s news? Answer these 10 questions
Have you been paying attention this week? Test your knowledge across politics, business and world news.
Here’s how to plan for a sober Christmas
Life can be better and richer if you feel in complete control of your drinking habits, rather than them controlling you.
‘May our gladioli bloom in celebration’: Barry Humphries farewelled
King Charles, Rupert Murdoch, Elton John and Andrew Lloyd Webber led tributes at a state memorial at Sydney’s Opera House for the man who ‘invented a language’ for Australia and took it to the world.
This billionaire started his company to avoid bank fees
Kristo Käärmann found a cheap way to send British pounds to his native Estonia. His solution now has 16 million global users.
Psst. It’s OK to buy make-up and shampoo from the supermarket
Traditional beauty companies eschew mass markets but these Aussie brands are happily stocked on supermarket shelves.
