If your business is turning inspiration into innovation, it’s time to be recognised.
Lowy’s lament: ‘I know how insidious antisemitism can be’
Sir Frank Lowy experienced hatred against Jews first hand in Hitler’s Europe, and is shaken by what he now sees “leaking out of decent people” in Australia.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
There’s a bigger story behind Perpetual’s sad break-up
The break-up of Perpetual is a story of mismanagement, but it also speaks to the structural changes sweeping across Australia’s financial sector.
- Exclusive
- Interest rates
RBA board split in doubt as Libs dig in
The impasse between Jim Chalmers and Angus Taylor means the new RBA interest rate setting board will not be up and running by its planned start date of July 1.
- Live
- Need to Know
Justice Michael Lee rules Lehrmann to pay trial costs
Bruce Lehrmann has been ordered to pay the vast majority of Network Ten’s legal costs for his failed defamation case; Air Vanuatu enters liquidation; Wong undecided on UN Palestine vote. How the day unfolded.
- Investigation
- Rich List
For this Rich Lister, does the reality live up to the hype?
Property mogul and entrepreneur Shaun Bonett has a fortune of more than $2 billion, according to the Rich List. Those valuations might not live up to the hype.
- Live
- Markets Live
ASX gains; Rio, BHP turn negative
Shares lift; Suncorp homeloans up; QBE premium increases help results; Helia in $100 million share buyback, Upbeat outlook for St Barbara. Follow updates here.
High Court hands Labor rare win on immigration detention
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles welcomed the ruling in the case of the man known as ASF17, who says he would face persecution if he was sent back to Iran.
Rio investors’ fear; Tesla slashes Oz jobs; Perpetual’s bigger story
review
- Analysis
- EU
Europe’s far right is becoming mainstream
Anti-immigration parties with fascist roots, and an unclear commitment to democracy, are emerging as Europe’s new leaders, the New York Times reports.
- Opinion
- USA
Campus protests may help Donald Trump win
History suggests the intellectual conformism sweeping university life could trigger a popular backlash that ends in conservative rule.
- Analysis
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Can the ICC actually arrest Benjamin Netanyahu?
The International Criminal Court is entitled to judge Israeli and Hamas officials, writes one of its former presidents.
- Analysis
- Banking products
Good banks today want to be seen as boring
Regional US financial institutions are promoting themselves as stodgy, stuffy and dull in response to industry failures.
Big US companies are pulling back diversity policies
Facing a legal, social and political backlash, America’s diversity, equality and inclusion industry is starting to reassess and rebrand.
Get the latest business news on the go with the AFR’s new iOS app.
Companies
Investors urge caution as Rio Tinto eyes BHP’s $40b Anglo bid
Rio Tinto should not challenge BHP for control of Anglo American, and should instead target smaller lithium and copper producers, a major investor says.
BHP’s Anglo American bid clouds Rinehart-backed potash project
The miner had been in talks about selling a big stake in the fertiliser development amid a plunge in prices linked to higher exports from Russia and Belarus.
- Analysis
- The Breakdown
Tesla slashes jobs in Australian charging team
The company’s global cuts have come to Australia, with staff laid off and at least one charger location cancelled.
Stokes’ anti-AFR price rise could breach competition law: Samuel
Billionaire Kerry Stokes has faced political criticism – and calls for an ACCC investigation – for forcing The Australian Financial Review print edition out of his home state of WA.
Gold Road’s takeover grip on $2.3b De Grey loosens
Gold Road’s grip on Australia’s best undeveloped gold mine will loosen after it bought only a portion of its rights in De Grey to keep alive a rival deal.
- Updated
- AGM season
QBE pumps up Aussie premiums but squeeze slows
At the insurer’s AGM, QBE revealed growth in all commercial markets, including in Australia where premiums went up by 11 per cent, the lowest in 12 months.
Business loan demand spikes, keeping inflation fears alive
CBA, the country’s largest lender, says a strong labour market is driving “robust” demand from companies, which could push up prices, economists warn.
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Markets
Iron ore’s big China property problem isn’t going away
Pockets of strength in the Chinese steel market have boosted the raw material after a plunge below $US100 a tonne early last month but investors are cautious.
Bank of England boss ‘optimistic’ interest rate cuts are coming
The BoE left its benchmark unchanged at 5.25 per cent, but the UK economy is looking ripe for a rate cut.
New Bridgewater chief ‘rewires’ world’s largest hedge fund
Nir Bar Dea says he had overhauled the firm after just a year in charge, in a bid to restore investment performance and mark a break from founder Ray Dalio.
What happened overnight? Wall Street extended its rally
Australian shares were set to edge higher as US equities lifted, helped in part by solid demand for the sale of 30-year government bonds.
Bezos, Zuckerberg lead magnificent seven insider stock sales
Almost a dozen executives and directors at the firms recently boosted their share sales, earning more than $242 million since late 2023.
Opinion
Budget week is time for Dutton to roll a few Jaffas down the aisle
In the same week Peter Dutton went in to bat for the koalas, Labor flew the flag for gas.
Political editor
RBA’s credibility at risk as central banks confront interference
Alleging neutrality while considering lifting rates seems contradictory.
Columnist
China’s grim pattern in South China Sea needs a collective response
A quiet tussle is going on over China’s ambitions to control all of its neighbouring seas. Affected countries need to unite before China miscalculates.
Defence expert
Sad halting of the press in WA
The Australian Financial Review has built a publishing model based on premium digital subscriptions. But it is still sad that from May 22, no one in Western Australia will be able to read a hard copy version.
Editorial
Half-priced detergent every few weeks? Shoppers can smell a rat
Deep food and grocery discounts have become increasingly popular with consumers, but the cost is unfairly borne by suppliers, prompting calls for change.
Columnist
Why headcount matters when it comes to budgets
As any finance chief will attest, the number of bums on seats tells you most of what you need to know about an organisation’s underlying size and costs.
Government editor
Reports
BOSS Best Places to Work
The awards celebrate the achievements of the best small, medium and large organisations and nine sector winners.
Politics
- Analysis
- Immigration
No more gaming the system, says High Court
The High Court has sent a clear message: those “manipulating the system” won’t be rewarded with a get-out-of-detention free card.
- Analysis
- Federal budget
The budget that could be make or break for Labor
Jim Chalmers is gearing up for his third and most important budget. If he spends too much and stokes inflation, he knows he’ll own the next rate increase.
Energy funding chopped under weight of Victoria’s debt
Experts say this week’s state budget shows the Victorian government has prioritised major transport projects over the energy transition.
This tree symbolises how Victoria became a financial basket case
After 300 years of withstanding the elements, the River Red Gum in Bulleen forced the North East Link to be redesigned as the cost of the project blows out by billions of dollars.
Military tensions flare on the road to stability with China
A near miss between a Chinese fighter jet and Australian helicopter show that friction remains despite improvement in ties between Beijing and Canberra.
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World
‘We’ll fight with our fingernails’: Netanyahu hits back at Biden
The Israeli prime minister defiantly says the country is prepared to stand alone if necessary if it attacks Rafah to further its destruction of Hamas.
- Analysis
- US election
Trump’s long week in court as election looms
Stormy Daniels’ allegations of a sexual encounter with Trump set the courtroom alight this week. How they play into his election chances is unclear.
Trump asked oil CEOs for $1.5b donations in exchange for favours
The former president demanded $US1 billion in donations to get re-elected and offered to overturn environmental rules and policies to help the oil industry.
- Analysis
- Renting
Why Australia’s long-suffering renters are not alone
Rents are soaring not only in Australia but also in the US, UK and Canada, preventing inflation from declining closer to central banks’ targeted levels.
Stormy Daniels accused of profiting off Trump sex claims
The former president’s lawyers are trying to undermine the porn actor’s credibility as the trial resumes in Manhattan.
Property
Simon and Catriona Mordant shoot for record with $16m trophy weekender
The Sydney power couple have listed their Clareville waterfront, which is expected to reset the suburb record.
- Exclusive
- Luxury property
Liberman family to sell $17m Toorak ‘treehouse’
A glass and steel modernist retreat designed by Robin Boyd has joined Toorak’s prestige market with a guide of $15.9 million to $17 million.
Westfield Bondi owner says shoppers are back after horror attack
Scentre chief executive Elliott Rusanow said the mall operator had increased security spending as it returned to a “different” normal after the fatal attack.
- Analysis
- Renting
Why Australia’s long-suffering renters are not alone
Rents are soaring not only in Australia but also in the US, UK and Canada, preventing inflation from declining closer to central banks’ targeted levels.
NSW, developers at loggerheads over infrastructure contributions
Scrapping two new developer levies in NSW would clear the way for at least 50,000 extra homes over five years, according to the property industry.
Wealth
ASIC finds super funds still charging fees for no service
Super funds are obliged to ensure members are only charged for financial advice they actually receive but not all are doing so.
A smarter way to tax high super balances
The government has tried to keep things simple, but in doing so fairness has gone out the window.
Coalition to oppose ‘sophisticated investor’ test overhaul
Labor is grappling with backlash from the start-up sector over calls to limit access to venture capital to investors worth more than $4.5 million.
Technology
Farmers’ software start-up raises $11m with profitability promise
The Funded blog is the home for news on the tech deals that are done in Australia, as soon as we hear about them.
Why everyone’s mad at Apple’s new iPad ad
Apple’s crushing of human creativity has sparked backlash, but its new iPad Pro ad has also inspired some surprising video responses.
The $13.6 trillion question: how do we pay for the green transition?
The private sector will have to provide about 70 per cent of climate finance globally, and the heat is building on governments to deliver policies that do that.
Work & Careers
Why so many top executives start in accounting, consulting
BOSS delves into the career paths of the senior executives at Australia’s 20 biggest companies to discover where they started – and the critical skills and experience they gained.
Love or money? What to tell kids about career choice
Do you tell them to do what they love or urge them to become a doctor, accountant or a lawyer because it will provide financial security?
Life & Luxury
This luxury spa in India costs $17k for five nights. Is it worth it?
We road-test celebrity magnet Ananda Spa in the Himalayas.
How to host a business lunch
The lowdown on what to do – and what not to do – from three hosts who are legends in their own business lunch times.
The world’s wiliest climate warrior? It’s not who you think
International Energy Agency boss Fatih Birol, a lifelong bureaucrat with roots in the oil industry, has made the net zero transition a personal mission.
Cult tailor Patrick Johnson opens stupendous new Sydney showroom
Ballroom blitz: A grand building, and a touch of dirty pink, has resulted in a suitably spiffy new CBD space.
- Opinion
- Mental health
Is it time to stop talking about mental illness?
I believe many young people are being encouraged to frame normal experiences as psychiatric conditions. There are even financial motivations.
