Labor’s plan to unlock the right foreign investment
While some investors will get a fast track, extra safeguards will be set up for high-risk proposals, like China entities investing in critical infrastructure.
- Exclusive
- Big four
Westpac’s Yetton targets ‘right returns’ over mortgage wars
The consumer bank chief also also promises to extend a moratorium on regional branch closures until 2027.
Downer EDI and council workers were ‘seriously corrupt,’ ICAC finds
Former employees of Downer EDI were corrupt on transport projects and the company did not always comply with rules dealing with subcontractors, investigators found.
New gas supplies ‘needed’ says Bowen as Gippsland wind takes off
Energy Minister Chris Bowen believes Australia has no option but to seek new supplies of gas even as he green-lights six potential offshore Gippsland wind projects.
‘Country mile ahead’: How PsiQuantum won a $1b investment
Chief scientist Cathy Foley said US-based PsiQuantum showed it was a “country mile” ahead of other Aussie companies in trying to build a world-first quantum computer.
‘The future is the future’: Anglo American won’t rule out a merger
Chairman Stuart Chambers told the miner’s AGM that his job in coming weeks was to see if major shareholders backed the board’s rejection of BHP’s $60 billion bid.
Bonza in crisis after planes repossessed
Bonza has appointed a voluntary administrator to run the discount regional airline after the company behind its aircraft provider repossessed its planes in Australia leaving thousands of passengers stranded on Tuesday.
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best places to work
This company pays you for your commute with extra days off
This fintech has taken a different approach to getting people back into the office and the results are paying dividends for diversity, too.
How a weekly Shark Tank challenge turned The Royals family around
Suffering high turnover and low engagement, creative agency The Royals decided to carve out a day each week dedicated to one pitch. It worked.
- Analysis
- Best places to work
How we picked the award winners
The AFR BOSS Best Places to Work ranks the best workplaces in Australia and New Zealand across nine different industries.
- Opinion
- Best places to work
Employees want more autonomy, so it’s in bosses’ interest to listen
Convinced that happier workers are also more productive, Australia’s most progressive employers are giving staff greater freedom and choice.
How these firms retained staff by helping them grow
Boutique management consultancy Grosvenor has won the professional services category of the 2024 AFR Best Places to Work list.
Get the latest business news on the go with the AFR’s new iOS app.
Companies
Coles wants suppliers’ help in cutting prices as shoppers seek deals
The supermarket chain’s sales rose 5.1 per cent in the third quarter but liquor sales fell as consumers cut spending by looking for cheaper alcohol options.
‘The future is the future’: Anglo American won’t rule out a merger
Chairman Stuart Chambers told the miner’s AGM that his job in coming weeks was to see if major shareholders backed the board’s rejection of BHP’s $60 billion bid.
Ex-SFE boss warns ASX a threat to financial stability
Former SFE boss Les Hosking says ASX is a ‘single point of failure risk’ threatening financial stability. Joe Longo says he’s ready to act.
Kean questions need for Eraring bailout
It will be the “NSW government”, not the renewables sector, that faces the music if sluggish wind, solar and transmission rollout leads to blackouts.
Bapcor CEO-elect quits two days before taking job
Paul Dumbrell has pulled out of taking the top job as investors brace for a profit downgrade and one of the founders lashes out at the board.
ASIC chairman ‘very disturbed’ about CBA’s bonus move
Joe Longo said he had raised concerns about CBA’s breach of bonus caps directly with the bank’s chairman Paul O’Malley and urged the bank to reconsider.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Coles has a bit of a booze problem
While Coles’ supermarket sales are holding up well, a shock drop in its liquor division tells a story about the growing pain of interest rates.
Companies in the News
Search companies
View stories and data from an ASX listed company
Markets
BHP Anglo deal could create headache for ASX investors
The mining giant is already one of the largest companies on the ASX 200. A successful buyout bid of Anglo America could add to the heavy concentration of resource stocks on the index.
European economy rebounds, but June rate cut still on the cards
The bounceback has not triggered inflation, creating space for the European Central Bank to start easing the squeeze before the US Federal Reserve.
CBA tips one rate cut this year as retail sales ease fears of a rise
Last week’s hot inflation data reignited the prospect of further rate increases, but Tuesday’s weak retail sales numbers have traders walking back those expectations.
China’s factory activity slows, denting recovery
China’s factory activity expanded for a second consecutive month in April, but at a slower pace, suggesting its vast manufacturing sector might have lost steam.
ASX closes up; worst day for Worley since 2021
Shares firm; retail sales disappoint; $A slips; Sidara sale sinks Worley; BHP confirms $38b settlement; Origin gas revenue falls; Coles sales up.
Opinion
Quantum a better bet than burning a billion on solar panels
But even if this is the right place to deploy such a huge sum, we know too little about whether this was the best way to spend it.
Editorial
Labor’s reforms will de-risk foreign investment
The overhaul in the budget will strengthen the review framework where we need to, streamline it where we can, and make it more transparent, writes Jim Chalmers.
Federal treasurer
Labor green lights toxic bully-boys of the CFMEU
The political protection racket the modern ALP is running for the toxic behaviour of the CFMEU, which would be condemned in any other setting, is disgraceful.
Editorial
Why Australia can’t build enough new homes
The nation’s housing ambitions are way off target. That means the price of new homes and rentals will continue to climb, compounded by still high immigration numbers.
Columnist
Are we about to witness a rerun of the Asian financial crisis?
Investors are becoming increasingly alarmed as the buoyant US economy and high US interest rates risk triggering renewed instability throughout the Asian region, writes Karen Maley.
Columnist
Magic debt thinking collides with inflation and higher rates
Since the GFC, economists have suggested that using debt to finance government spending is a free lunch. But the tide has turned in the past two years.
Columnist
Politics
Bail rules and offender tracking to lead national cabinet talks
High-risk violent offenders face closer tracking in the community, part of a push by state premiers for tough and immediate new responses to domestic violence.
Investors trim rate rise bets as retail sales growth hits 2½-year low
Annual growth in retail sales has fallen to its lowest level since the pandemic as cash-strapped households tighten their belts.
Budget surplus of $13b tipped, but Labor needs a ‘credible’ plan
It could be the second consecutive surplus for Labor and the first time that has happened in almost 20 years. But the longer-term outlook is increasingly bleak.
Rein in states’ spending to help RBA, Chalmers told
Governments are on track to loosen their budgets by $50 billion in the middle of an inflation crisis and rising interest rates.
Kean questions need for Eraring bailout
It will be the “NSW government”, not the renewables sector, that faces the music if sluggish wind, solar and transmission rollout leads to blackouts.
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World
Man with sword kills 14-year-old boy, injures four in London attack
Police described the attack in east London as “truly horrific” but said terrorism was not involved.
China’s gold buying spree raises fears for Taiwan
China has now been buying gold steadily since October 2022, marking its longest build-up of the precious metal since at least 2000.
Chinese influence lingers in Solomons despite Sogavare ouster
The new Solomon Islands government is not expected to be as overtly hostile to Australia after Manasseh Sogavare declared he will not recontest the prime ministership.
BHP’s rivals for Anglo American set to emerge
The UK-listed miner has rejected an approach from BHP, but other major miners including Rio Tinto could announce a competing bid.
China’s factory activity slows, denting recovery
China’s factory activity expanded for a second consecutive month in April, but at a slower pace, suggesting its vast manufacturing sector might have lost steam.
Property
Lendlease needs ‘wholesale change’ now: Allan Gray boss
Allan Gray boss Simon Mawhinney says change that would restore shareholder confidence in the property developer should come immediately.
- Exclusive
- Hotels
New Pullman to breathe life into Launceston’s ‘old’ hotel scene
The 139-room hotel will form part of the repurposing of the 1930s TAFE building overlooking Launceston by developer Red Panda.
How supermarket shoppers became part of a $3.8b gold rush
As supermarkets hunt for new sources of revenues in an age of rising costs and narrowing margins, they have stumbled on one of their most valuable assets: data.
Another 10pc fall tipped for office tower values before bottoming
CBD office tower values have been battered by the shift to remote and flexible work, uncertain business conditions and high rates.
Stockland says interest rates key to further market improvement
The country’s largest listed diversified developer said sales picked up in the March quarter, but lower borrowing costs were needed for the housing market to pick up.
Wealth
- Opinion
- Melbourne house prices
Melbourne property market is due for a comeback
Oxford Economics predicts the median Melbourne house price will grow 21 per cent over the next three years, outpacing Sydney’s forecast 18 per cent expected growth.
- Opinion
- Investing
How to maximise your long-term returns
If your portfolio is inconsistent with your risk tolerance, you’re more likely to lose sleep and make poor decisions driven by emotions.
I lost $2.5m of my super to scammers
Five victims outline how their funds were taken by sophisticated impersonation fraudsters and why they feel abandoned by their banks.
Technology
- Analysis
- Quantum Computing
Quantum computing explained and what’s different about PsiQuantum
The Australian-invented machine uses light particles, which could be a fast way to build a quantum computer but might use too much power.
- Opinion
- Digital Life
You’ll forget you’re even wearing these earbuds
The OpenFit earbuds by Shokz might not look the best, but they certainly feel the best of any earbuds we’ve ever reviewed.
Snapchat going backwards in Australia
Elon Musk’s takeover crushed Twitter, but Snap is still a fraction of the size of the dominant Meta-Google online advertising machine.
Work & Careers
Review targets workplace watchdog’s stomach for construction fights
Details about a KPMG review into the Fair Work Ombudsman comes as the CFMEU strikes on a key Qld government project, and warns of potential political fallout.
- Opinion
- Workplace
Singapore’s burnout rate shows the price of success
Singaporeans enjoy some of the highest living standards in Asia. But all of this has come at a price. It is also one of the most stressed-out societies.
Life & Luxury
At this luxe Belmond Hotel in Oxfordshire, food is the real star
Four decades on, Raymond Blanc has more planned for his exclusive Michelin-starred gourmet retreat, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.
The style I stole from my mum
To celebrate Mother’s Day, Life & Leisure quizzed three duos on how they found their personal look.
TikTok and cost-of-living crisis reignite a mega ’80s style trend
Just because you like a colour, doesn’t mean it likes you. Yes, “getting your colours done” is the new fashion hack for buying smart, not more.
2024’s best protein supplements help with exercise and ageing
They’re not just for gym junkies – emerging research suggests they may hold benefits for mid-lifers and older adults, as your requirements increase with age.
Spotify’s CEO launches body scans to prolong life
The company that billionaire Daniel Ek founded, Neko Health, opened in Stockholm last year, and it is about to open in London.
From the gallery
BOSS Financial Review
Pioneering CEO reveals the truth about four-day work weeks
- 6 mins ago
- Amantha Imber
