If your business is turning inspiration into innovation, it’s time to be recognised.
- Exclusive
- Commercial property finance
Lendlease to end global ambitions and put $4b in assets on the market
Lendlease will end all international property development and sell its overseas construction divisions, marking the biggest shake-up at one of Australia’s largest real estate groups in 20 years.
ASX to bounce as investors look for clearer inflation picture
Traders will be watching for a clearer sense of the inflation outlook, with the release of Australian CPI figures and US personal consumption data.
Inside the great Rich List wealth transfer
Control of vast business empires is passing to a new generation, forcing families to confront the hard questions around succession planning. Of the 200 richest Australians, 45 are over 80 and control $136.1 billion.
Will the AI rush help moribund PC sales – and rocket retailer profits?
Microsoft is making big bets on faster, more sophisticated computers. Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi and Officeworks could be unexpected beneficiaries.
- Opinion
- Mortgage brokers
Banks gear up for bruising battle to reconquer the mortgage market
The country’s largest lenders are now looking to disrupt the disrupters by offering low-cost digital-only loans, writes Karen Maley.
- Exclusive
- Energy
Foreign student crackdown looms over Li Qiang visit
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will head to Australia next month amid uncertainty over new curbs on universities enrolling thousands of Chinese students.
Behind Ian Malouf’s $50m bet on umbilical cords
The Dial-A-Dump founder has shrugged off doubts about stem cell therapy and is investing heavily to get the treatments more widely approved.
AFR Weekend: The big stories, best reads and expert advice. In your inbox on Saturday.
MONDAY MEDIA
Winners and losers emerge as News Corp’s major restructure takes shape
Nicholas Gray appears to have prevailed over Edwina McCann, the influential editor-in-chief of Vogue Australia who had been elevated to be editorial director of News Prestige
Labor’s controversial sports broadcast plans heading for Senate fracas
The government’s proposal, which would allow big streamers like Netflix to bid against free, local platforms, is “un-Australian”, according to the Greens.
- Opinion
- Publishing
AFR will not walk away from WA
Political and business leaders in Western Australia say privately that Kerry Stokes has an unhealthy degree of media power in the state.
Could US Ticketmaster case spell the end of extra fees?
A Biden administration effort to rein in entertainment giant Live Nation might encourage ticketing competition in Australia.
Elon Musk’s X accountable for hate speech posts in Australia: ruling
The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal has rejected the platform formerly called Twitter’s argument that it should not be held responsible for anti-Muslim posts here because it is US-based.
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Companies
- Exclusive
- Fashion retail
Why Cue founder split with designer Dion Lee
In his first comments since the fashion label of designer Dion Lee fell into administration, backer Rod Levis says the company “needs a lot more finance”.
NAB plots major AI strategy to roll out in three key areas
National Australia Bank said generative AI is identifying systemic risks from customer complaints and helping bankers assess documents used to support lending.
Will the AI rush help moribund PC sales – and rocket retailer profits?
Microsoft is making big bets on faster, more sophisticated computers. Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi and Officeworks could be unexpected beneficiaries.
South African politics complicates BHP’s Anglo American discussions
As they try to seal a $75 billion deal on the same day as the South African election, the two miners remain split on the costs Pretoria will impose on any deal.
Energy group offers $1000 annual rebate to wind farm neighbours
For more than a decade, community opposition has been the brick wall renewable energy projects have been running into. Now, Engie is trying something different.
Bonza administrators ask for more time to save stranded budget carrier
The airline’s owner, 777 Partners, and its financiers are mired in legal action in Britain and the United States over its aviation assets.
Membership crackdown could hurt Kogan.com’s ‘north star’
Investors are betting regulation changes to lucrative membership programs will hurt the retailer’s major profit driver at a time earnings are already under pressure.
Companies in the News
Search companies
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Markets
- Opinion
- Bonds
I have fallen in love with bonds again – and with good reason
Bonds are back, and after a hiatus I am fully back in love with the asset class and their defensive attributes. Crucially, they look to be on the cusp of a significant fall in yields and rise in prices, writes Ellerston’s Vimal Gor.
Magnificent seven power Wall Street higher
Tesla, Meta Platforms, Nvidia and Apple paced the advance as investors opted to buy this week’s dip with conviction ahead of a three-day US weekend.
Lithium giant says China will remain pivotal to local mining projects
Local miners are torn between their dominant customer and investor over two decades, and the lure of subsidies from the US, Australia’s biggest defence ally.
Rally hits a wall on China growth and US inflation fears
Worries about China and hotter-than-expected business activity in the United States hit markets on Friday as traders ramped up bets against the $A.
Di Pilla’s HMC buys Payton Capital in $5b private credit push
HMC has appointed the former head of Macquarie’s US principal finance business in New York to run the new strategy.
Opinion
There’s value in big government spending done right
The private-public partnership championed by Anthony Albanese that is transforming the supply chains is a role model for underwriting critical minerals expansion.
Contributor
ICC loses its moral bearings over Israel and Gaza
An each-way bet on the ICC’s war crimes charges against Israel adds to the incoherence of Labor’s position amid a fraying of the social fabric of multicultural Australia.
Editorial
The war over Ozempic isn’t helping overweight Australians
The drug regulators’ decision to take the low road and ban compounded weight loss drugs won’t help those suffering health complications from obesity.
Former deputy chief health officer
Don’t believe the artificial intelligence hype
Economic theory and the available data justify a more modest, realistic outlook for productivity gains from AI.
Economist
Populism is yet to peak globally
It’s a mistake to analyse the presidential election in America-only terms. Joe Biden and Donald Trump are being tossed about by global political climate extremely favourable for right-wing populists.
Contributor
AFR will not walk away from WA
Political and business leaders in Western Australia say privately that Kerry Stokes has an unhealthy degree of media power in the state.
Editor-in-chief
Reports
The future of financial advice
This special report looks at options to make financial advice more accessible and affordable, including robo-advice, as well as tips for the new financial year.
Sponsored
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Miles’ 50¢ fares unlikely to save Queensland Labor
Queensland Labor’s $150 million pre-election cash splash follows a $1000 power bill rebate, but experts say most voters have already made up their minds.
- Exclusive
- Federal election
Labor faces minority government threat, poll shows
A year out from the next federal election, a huge new poll on Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton’s prospects shows that at least 10 seats are too close to call.
Migrants are ‘driving Ubers’, not working skilled jobs
More than half of skilled migrants are working in occupations they are overqualified for, suggesting that Australia is failing to capitalise on foreign workers to fill skills shortages.
Albanese’s diary reveals the CEOs who scored access in 2023
Absent from the diary was a black-tie gala to celebrate Qantas’ centenary, at which the PM gave a speech and was photographed on the red carpet with Alan Joyce.
- Exclusive
- Defence
Questions surface over fast-tracked $10b warships
Shipbuilders have been given just three weeks to outline their opening pitch to build new frigates for the navy.
SPONSORED
World
G7 finance chiefs back Russian assets plan for Ukraine
The G7 ministers also warned against China’s dumping of cheap exports into their markets, although no concrete actions were decided against China.
‘Hours of attacks’: Russia’s glide bombs target Ukraine city
It was the latest attack in a sustained bombing campaign that has made life increasingly dangerous for civilians in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
Sunak pledges mandatory national service in UK election ploy
Compulsory work for 18-year-olds would provide “opportunities” and “experience”, the prime minister says, as the Tories try to differentiate themselves from Labour.
Five things about the UK election that would baffle Aussies
Voting isn’t compulsory, it’s first past the post, there are no TV ads, no sausage sizzles. This all means that parties campaign differently than Down Under.
PNG landslide death toll estimates raised to 670
Crews have given up hope of finding survivors buried deep under the soil and rubble after a landslide slammed into a village on the Pacific island.
Property
Point Piper mansion sells on the quiet for $80m-plus
Point Piper mansion Rockleigh has sold for over $80 million, clocking the highest price for a property so far this year.
‘Strong spring’ for property sales is in the RBA’s hands
Auction clearance rates are holding steady even as the number of properties listed ticks up. Where the market goes from here depends on what the RBA does next.
Rest Super-backed Cibus to push into carbon farming and robotics
Cibus Capital will make a big push into regenerative farming and will use the latest robotics to expand one of the country’s biggest seedling growers.
Madrid leads European house price gains with double-digit surge
Housing shortages are fuelling dramatic price increases in Europe’s major cities. Madrid has been particularly affected by an influx of Latin American money.
- Exclusive
- Luxury property
Rich Lister behind Lego movies buys $12m Byron digs
Animal Logic co-founder Zareh Nalbandian has paid $12 million for a Byron escape after selling his animation studio to streaming giant Netflix.
Wealth
Investors to be stung by $250m in new advice fees
A tax office ruling will see investors pay 7.5 per cent more for advice obtained from super funds and platforms, despite government moves to cut advice costs.
- Opinion
- Superannuation
‘It’s my money’ attitude leading to illegal super withdrawals
Early release of super is only supposed to allowed as a last resort. So why are so many people being approved to use it for dental work?
What to do if you are asset rich but cash poor
Four strategies to help your assets and savings work harder as the cost of living grows.
Technology
‘Asleep at the wheel’: Appen shareholders vent frustrations
Long-suffering shareholders of the data service company have delivered a 19 per cent vote against the company’s remuneration report at its AGM on Friday.
American chatbots: oversexed, overhyped and over here
In just two weeks, Microsoft, OpenAI and Google have each previewed AI chatbots that critics say are as dangerous as they are impressive.
- Exclusive
- Start-ups
‘If you don’t like it, get a job at a bank’: Canva boss
The design software giant’s all-singing, all-dancing debut event in Los Angeles came with a host of new features – and rumblings of a cost to its tired staff.
Work & Careers
Ord Minnett sued for sacking ‘recklessly dishonest’ director
Broking director David Wylie was fired for allegedly making up that the Ord Minnett’s senior leadership expected him to sell his house to pay the firm’s ASIC penalty.
Aussies aren’t all Bondi Beach fit, Ozempic’s new local exec has just realised
Novo Nordisk Oceania managing director Cem Ozenc mourns the fact Australia’s obesity challenge is lost amid the celebrity hype surrounding the medication.
Life & Luxury
If you love single malt, food and a good craic, try this $10k pairing
An Australian chef with a two Michelin-starred restaurant in Dublin has collaborated with an Irish whiskey maker to create something exceptional and very exclusive.
Are you a picky eater? It could be harming your brain
Researchers have found that people who liked a variety of foods did better on cognitive tests than those with limited dietary preferences.
Why pouring your own water might save your favourite restaurant
Amid a stream of high-profile restaurant closures, leading industry figures have been forced to adopt minor service changes to control price increases.
Could US Ticketmaster case spell the end of extra fees?
A Biden administration effort to rein in entertainment giant Live Nation might encourage ticketing competition in Australia.
What fashion insiders wear for a long-haul flight
Flying can be stressful, but you don’t have to look like a white-hot mess. From a chic silk blazer to merino-wool leggings, here are some handy go-to labels.
