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    Inflation has no chance of hitting Chalmers’ forecasts: survey

    Higher-than-expected inflation will take at least 12 months to fall anywhere near the Reserve Bank’s target, casting doubt on Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ more optimistic forecast.

    Elections in the UK and France are adding to uncertainty and pushing markets lower.

    ASX shares to fall as UK, France elections weigh on investors

    The benchmark ASX 200 is set to dip 0.5 per cent at the start of trade. The Bank of England has warned the French elections could trigger market volatility.

    Scott Morrison incurred the wrath of French President Emmanuel Macron when he announced the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal with UK PM Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden.

    Morrison’s ‘longest night’: Inside the making of AUKUS

    The military agreement is a mess and risks leaving Australia with no submarine capability at all by the late 2030s. The cloak of secrecy that secured the deal could now be its undoing.

    Albanese banishes rebel Labor senator

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has suspended Senator Fatima Payman indefinitely from Labor’s caucus after she defied his leadership by vowing to cross the floor again to back pro-Palestine motions.

    Investors realise private credit is a two-way street, right?

    Credit products are being launched a mile-a-minute, promising plenty of returns buoyed by high rates. But behind the euphoria, there’s plenty of disquiet.

    RBA’s new Englishman tells Aussies: you’ve forgotten how rich you are

    If Australians don’t appreciate their fortune, as Andrew Hauser correctly points out, they may not be well placed to preserve it, writes Michael Stutchbury.

    Guzman y Gomez’s big challenge? Keeping its franchisees smitten

    The growth of the Mexican-themed fast-food business is directly tied to its store owners. The experience of other companies shows managing this is no easy task.

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    Edition

    AFR Magazine – July 2024

    Read all the stories in our Culinary & Travel issue.

    Get the front page and latest edition of the Financial Review as it was printed, delivered to your inbox every morning.

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    Companies

    Chinese electric vehicles face big tariffs in Europe and the US.

    Officials warn US, EU manufacturing boost could hit Australian miners

    China is Australia’s largest buyer of resources, and in the last financial year accounted for $156 billion in sales, to feed its factories and power stations.

    Corporate Travel Management boss Jamie Pherous.

    Corporate Travel boss lends to exec he once gave $13m in shares to

    Jamie Pherous had previously transferred stock to the company’s former executive director for no consideration to help with her “health challenges”.

    McGrathNicol founder Tony McGrath and chairman Jason Preston.

    Why this economic downturn will hit harder than the GFC

    Two decades after spinning out of global firm KPMG, insolvency and advisory firm McGrathNicol has seen the rise and fall of corporate titans and economies.

    Guzman y Gomez co-chief executive Steven Marks at the company’s ASX listing.

    Guzman y Gomez’s big challenge? Keeping its franchisees smitten

    The growth of the Mexican-themed fast-food business is directly tied to its store owners. The experience of other companies shows managing this is no easy task.

    Escalante raises stakes as gaming empire loses dominance

    The businessman created a gambling market in the US worth billions of dollars from scratch. Now competition and regulation may force the company to change tack.

    Nine considers expelling AI bots from checking out its content

    Major publishers including the New York Times already restrict what services such as ChatGPT can see. Others say AI “scraping” is an “extinction-level event”.

    Solomon Lew’s surprise role model? Vegas mogul Sheldon Adelson

    Like the colourful businessman, the billionaire rag trader won’t stop building his empire. And Myer, with a new chief, is finally playing ball.

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    Markets

    UniSuper chief investment officer John Pearce thinks central banks should leave interest rates where they are for now.

    UniSuper’s John Pearce lines up his next financial year

    Super funds and portfolio managers have ruled off on a year that was powered by super stocks. As another begins, they’re looking for the obvious trades.

    The May CPI indicator suggests that “a lot” is going the other way.

    The RBA is walking a tightrope between inflation and jobs

    As Reserve Bank deputy governor Andrew Hauser said on Thursday, it’s a mistake to change policy on one piece of data. But it is an egregious folly to ignore serial indications of sticky inflation.

    A short-selling ban in South Korea has hurt the country’s attempts to win an upgrade from MSCI.

    High-speed traders, short sellers face Asia crackdown

    Regulators are tightening the screws on hedge funds as stocks slump in an apparent attempt to stabilise markets. Not everyone is convinced.

    Goldman Sachs, UBS top tables as local bankers welcome big deals

    Wall Street giants returned to the top of the coveted league tables as larger transactions returned, while UBS jumped seven spots to top M&A ranks.

    Wall Street slips, inflation data bolsters rate pivot

    Shares in New York fell, with megacap tech hit by a late wave of quarter-end profit taking. Disinflation narrative intact as focus shifts to jobs. Nike plunges.

    Opinion

    In the end, Payman gave Albanese no choice

    For the second time in this sitting session Fatima Payman has stolen the agenda and derailed the government’s attempts to spruik cost-of-living relief.

    Phillip Coorey

    Political editor

    Phillip Coorey

    Chalmers’ ANZ-Suncorp merger approval is ironic for bank competition

    The whole drawn-out process could end up discouraging market dynamism by offering no way out to the smaller banks lacking the economies of scale to compete effectively.

    The AFR View

    Editorial

    The AFR View

    Will Keir Starmer go wobbly on AUKUS?

    The fantasy of a post-Brexit “global Britain” is gone, but British Labour says it will be everywhere around the world, and all at once.

    James Curran

    International editor

    James Curran

    Better carrot and stick provides investment certainty for carbon cuts

    The climate safeguard mechanism for large emitting facilities means reaching the 43pc emissions reduction target by 2030 is certainly “doable”.

    Kerry Schott

    Former energy regulator

    Kerry Schott

    Joe Biden must quit now, in case he does actually win

    The prospect of Biden as president for four more years is too scary to contemplate: the entire global order will be endangered if there is an empty vessel in the Oval Office.

    Ross Douthat

    Contributor

    Ross Douthat

    Three elections, and it’s the same economic incoherence

    Elections under way in the US, Britain and France are being fought on what voters want to hear, rather than on what adds up.

    The AFR View

    Editorial

    The AFR View

    Reports

    Powering our energy future

    With our renewable energy capacity needing to increase ninefold to meet our net-zero commitments, electrification is critical to our energy and economic future.

    Sponsored

      by Ausgrid
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    Politics

    Caps on foreign student numbers could devastate the economy, say university leaders.

    Teal MPs seek softening of foreign student cap laws

    Legislation to cap the number of international students will be debated this week – even as visa numbers are in dramatic decline.

    Technology stocks, and global equities more broadly, were crucial to ART’s returns, Andrew Fisher says.

    Super giant seeks tech stock ‘second wave’ after delivering 11.3pc

    Rising tech stocks helped land an 11.3 per cent return for Australian Retirement Trust superannuation members, but unlisted property was still a drag.

    Western Australia will receive thousands more skilled migrants this financial year under a deal struck between the state and federal government.

    ‘Unique position’ secures WA thousands more skilled migrants

    Perth property prices have soared amid unprecedented migration. Now WA Premier Roger Cook has landed a promise of thousands more migrants to build more homes.

    BHP accuses class action law firm of ‘losing’ 100,000 claimants

    BHP lost its claim to have 33,000 claimants struck out of the class action it is defending over the 2015 Mariana dam disaster, but the overall figure still slipped from 700,000 to 600,000.

    Don’t trade free speech for iron ore, jailed HK mogul’s son warns

    Sebastien Lai wants the Albanese government to pressure China to release his pro-democracy father Jimmy Lai.

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    World

    Far-right National Rally party president Jordan Bardella poses for a selfie after voting in Garches, outside Paris.

    Far-right looms as France votes in snap elections

    France is voting in parliamentary polls that President Emmanuel Macron called this month, a gamble that has thrust the country into uncertainty over its future.

    French far-right leader Marine Le Pen speaks with National Rally president Jordan Bardella at party headquarters on EU election night.

    France’s far-right ‘dream ticket’ chases election victory

    Far-right leader Marine Le Pen anointed her youthful protege as prime minister in waiting, but the office may come sooner than either expected as France votes.

    California Governor Gavin Newsom is being mentioned as a potential replacement for Joe Biden.

    Rudd schmoozes Biden’s mooted replacements

    Joe Biden’s poor debate performance has sparked discussion about who could replace him, and take on Donald Trump in November.

    Biden tries to calm wealthy donors after dismal debate performance

    The president held fund-raising events with Democratic donors amid calls for him to step aside over concerns about his fitness.

    US, Europe warn Hezbollah to back off from Israel war

    Western powers and Arab mediators issued the warning after Iran and Israel traded threats of what Iran said would be an “obliterating” war over Hezbollah.

    Property

    A crowd for the auction of 45 Ford St, North Ryde, on Saturday.

    Property buyers spooked by talk of another rate rise

    Fewer home buyers are willing to pay above the auction reserve and more buyers are pulling out on fears of another increase in interest rates.

    Houses deliver $59,000 wealth boost to owners after 8pc jump in FY2024

    Residential property owners bagged the capital gains in the past 12 months despite higher interest rates.

    Sarah Kay takes over as Woods Bagot CEO from 1 July 2024.

    The Australian architecture firm with plans for global growth

    The country’s largest architecture practice, Woods bagot, is focusing on growing demands for luxury and non-traditional consultancy services for design firms.

    Developers rush to snap up $350m Qld fund to boost housing density

    The industry has called for new tax incentives to increase housing supply following the mad rush to snap-up a development fund.

    US private equity firm lists $250m farming portfolio

    Proterra Investment Partners is having another go at selling its One Tree Agriculture portfolio spanning 21 farms in NSW and Queensland.

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    Wealth

    Superannuation investors are tinkering their income levels to avoid the ‘Division 293 tax’ where they can, a new study shows.

    The super funds with the most million-dollar members

    After losing ground to industry super funds since the Hayne royal commission, data shows retail funds are fighting back when it comes to attracting and retaining high-net-worth members.

    I’ve saved $50,000 but have a large HECS debt – what should I do?

    Banks do take tuition debt into consideration when assessing mortgage applications.

    When bank of mum and dad comes with interest

    Retirees are increasingly expected to live with, care for and financially support older and younger family members. Here’s your guide to avoiding strife when it comes to wills, means testing and elder abuse.

    Technology

    Meta chief executive and founder Mark Zuckerberg will not renew deals with publishers worth more than $210 million over three years.

    Meta threatens Australian news ban in media bargaining war

    News sites and links could once again be blocked from Meta’s platforms if the social media company is forced to negotiate content deals with local publishers.

    Gemma Lloyd, founder of Work180,

    The ‘grindset’ is back in vogue for start-ups – with a health twist

    Start-up bosses no longer just enthuse about working innumerable hours – now they recommend an ice bath after the innumerable hours.

    Black.ai co-founder Keaton Okkonen says Zoox and Waymo are pointers to the AI talent pool in Australia.

    Look at Zoox and Waymo to see Australia’s AI potential

    The local ecosystem for investment in artificial intelligence is in its infancy, but could thrive if given the right funding.

    Work & Careers

    Productivity Commission chairwoman Danielle Wood.

    ‘You smile too much’: the early career advice Danielle Wood ignored

    Be brave and have fun, is what Australia’s leading women would say to their younger selves.

    Why Cynthia’s uni trip to Silicon Valley was life-changing

    Study-abroad programs have become something of a rite of passage for Australian university students, and it can be a life-changing experience.

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    Life & Luxury

    Le Gainsbarre (detail, 1980 cover of Rock & Folk shot by Jean-Baptiste Mondino).

    Escape the crowds with an intimate tour of a pop legend’s Paris home

    For the first time since his death, the unchanged abode of musician Serge Gainsbourg is open to the public, with his daughter as your guide.

    Among three major Brett Whiteley artworks owned by the late Melbourne businessman Ron Walker is Her, 1967. In oil and mixed media on plywood, and measuring 183 x 237.5 cm, the work is estimated at between $1.8 million and $2.4 million in Smith + Singer’s July 24 sale catalogue.

    Mr Melbourne’s $6m art collection was all about Sydney

    Ron Walker helped build modern Melbourne but the works that hung in his Toorak mansion, and are now for sale, had a very Sydney flavour.

    This Australian chef is the first to win three Michelin stars

    After being plucked from near-obscurity at just 23, Brett Graham has hit the heights of global gastronomy. Now he’s turning his attention back to the farm.

    Matildas player Hayley Raso and Oroton CEO Jennifer Child at Oroton’s head office in Sydney.

    How fashion and beauty are cashing in on the Olympics

    The 2024 Games are being called “the fashion Olympics”, and Australian brands are muscling in on the action.

    Sydney-based designer Christopher Esber at the ANDAM Fashion Awards in Paris on Thursday.

    Christopher Esber first Australian to win French fashion accolade

    The Sydney designer has won the prestigious ANDAM Grand Prize, taking home more than $400,000 in prize money.

    From the gallery