The inflation number that could trigger an interest rate rise
The RBA will struggle to justify keeping the cash rate on hold if consumer price index figures next week show underlying inflation stuck above 4 per cent.
- Opinion
- Interest rates
If the RBA was doing its job, it would immediately lift rates
A hot inflation figure on Wednesday would show we are in the grip of a structurally persistent crisis which has been underestimated in three of the last four quarters, writes Christopher Joye.
Labor Right pushes for extra spot as O’Neil speculation swirls
Speculation is intensifying that Clare O’Neil will be shifted from Home Affairs and be replaced by Agriculture Minister Murray Watt.
Top barrister slams Berejiklian over corruption denial
Former ICAC assistant commissioner Anthony Whealy criticised the ex-NSW premier for her defiance after losing an appeal over a corruption finding.
Trump shadow looms over these energy funds
Fund managers are scrambling to assess what a Republican win in November could mean for the billions of dollars earmarked for green investments.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Three ‘grown-up’ questions investors must ask themselves
It feels like a plethora of risks emerged during a wild week on world markets. One $24 trillion investor says it’s time for asset allocators to start asking hard questions.
- Live
- Markets Live
Miners and energy buoy ASX; Bellevue Gold sinks 24pc
Shares extend gains; S&P 500 turns lower; Mineral Resources says its on track to meet production guidance; Bellevue tumbles on discounted equity raising. Follow updates here.
World View: Australia’s leading foreign experts interpret global events for you. Insights delivered every Wednesday.
Edition
AFR Magazine August 2024 – Design
Who’s hot in Australian design right now | The homegrown solution to building energy inefficiency | The latest in luxury watches
paris 2024
Losing Matildas suffer a nightmare start to the Games
World Cup semi-finalist Australia simply outclassed by powerhouse Germany in a 3-0 loss on a stifling, dispiriting night in the south of France.
What’s on Friday? Check out the full schedule here
Find the times and days of all your favourite sports right here with this interactive guide to the Paris Olympic Games.
Korea-supporting Aussie swim coach spared the axe
Michael Palfrey, who said he wanted his protégé Kim Woo-min to beat his Aussie 400m rivals, will continue training Australian swimmers.
The Aussies with the best medal chances at the Olympics
Australia could make history in Paris if all goes to plan. Here are some of the athletes that could contribute to the gold tally.
US basketball superstar backs Kamala Harris
Sport and politics aren’t supposed to mix at the Olympics. But someone forgot to tell Steph Curry, who endorsed the Democrat in a pre-Games press conference.
review
What happened to Russia’s seized superyachts
Swift action to impound palatial boats became a symbol of western resolve after the invasion of Ukraine. Now the costs are mounting for owners and governments alike.
- Opinion
- Publishing
Why influencer publishing is bad for the book industry
Why a new Ebury imprint by the social media entrepreneur Steven Bartlett is bad news for books.
Inside Google’s plans to revolutionise the weather forecast
Traditional methods have involved “physical models” run on supercomputers. GraphCast can be run on a laptop, and come up with a forecast in minutes.
- Opinion
- US election
When Harris calls Trump a predator, voters will listen
The vice president has a key witness in her case against the former president – his current running mate.
India’s have-nots are expressing their displeasure
While Mumbai’s super-rich show off their wealth, a chastened Narendra Modi moves to shore up support among the poor.
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Companies
There’s an $8b business quietly growing inside Wesfarmers
In 2008, Kmart was on its knees. But a trip to the United Kingdom turned into the company’s greatest success – Anko, the home brand with big growth plans.
- Analysis
- Big four
Could ANZ’s trading scandal trigger executive accountability laws?
ASIC declined to say whether its ANZ investigation involved the Financial Accountability Regime. But an ANZ update this week was speaking the language.
No wind or sun? Try using compressed air and molten salts
“You want as many cards up your sleeve as you can,” says Hydro Tasmania chief executive Ian Brooksbank of emerging renewable generation technologies.
- Exclusive
- Supermarkets
Why you can’t order online from Aldi anytime soon
The German discount supermarket had been investigating internet sales, which is a space that its rivals Woolworths and Coles have aggressively expanded into.
Bruce Lehrmann’s new lawyer is not used to defamation cases
Colourful Sydney lawyer Zali Burrows is now representing former political adviser Bruce Lehrmann as he pushes ahead with his defamation appeal.
Qantas hopes downturn doesn’t extend to business class
Fears of a lull in demand sent airline stocks lower across the globe, but wealthier older travellers appear to be prioritising spending on more expensive seats.
Rebel Corrs group seeks move to King & Wood Mallesons
Five partners in Corrs’ employment practice are in discussions to shift to rival firms, after some in the group voted against a controversial contract extension.
Companies in the News
Search companies
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Markets
Here are two ASX small caps that could be set for a re-rating
Naos’ Sebastian Evans likes to take big stakes in smaller companies. He’s now betting on disruption to strata management and a solution to the housing shortage.
‘Don’t wait until it’s too late,’ warn ASX small-cap managers
Local fund managers are telling clients to start moving money out of large caps before Australia catches up to the US in the global inflation race.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Markets are being shaken by big tech and Trump. It could get ugly
For two years, FOMO has built around artificial intelligence, the promise of a soft landing and belief in rate cuts. All of a sudden, different fears are driving stocks.
- Updated
- Big four
ANZ says bond trading scandal fallout could extend to the very top
The ANZ board may be forced to take action against the bank’s chief executive Shayne Elliott and other senior managers over the misleading trading data submitted to the federal government and investigations into its workplace culture.
Shares fall; Macquarie, Fortescue sink on results
Shares lose 1pc. Seek warns on profits. ANZ suspends, terminates staff. Fortescue misses production expectations. Wall Street tumbles on slowdown worries. Follow here.
Opinion
It’s not just Labor that let the CFMEU off the leash
Jacqui Lambie, Pauline Hanson and some independents have played a role in enabling the militant union.
Political editor
ANZ’s bond trading scandal is now too serious to contain
An update on Thursday reveals that the bank and its board are under no illusions about the consequences they may face from the escalating markets scandal.
Senior reporter
Democrats will pay a price for anointing Harris
Kamala Harris is unpopular, a bad campaigner; a bad manager; has a penchant for excruciating banality; is a blue-state Democrat who needs to win purple states; is anchored to Joe Biden’s record; and her career smacks of connections and favouritism.
Contributor
Hoarse but coherent Biden bows out, sets up Democrats’ last hope
Joe Biden says his decision to step aside as the Democrats’ presidential candidate was because the greatest need is to defend American democracy.
Columnist
War-torn world pauses in gratitude for Olympic Games
In 2024 with geopolitical tension everywhere, the Olympics are once again showing their power to get on with important matters like playing games.
Editorial
If Trump and Vance are ‘populist’, there should be more of it
Trump and Vance make the media uncomfortable by saying things about issues like free speech and the family the Democrats would never dare to.
Columnist
Reports
Cybersecurity and AI
The federal government lays out plans to help boost the nation’s cyber defences, while experts outline steps to stay safe.
Politics
- Exclusive
- Building Bad
Union sparkies spare Cbus-backed builds from work bans
Developments in western Sydney are running months behind schedule due to industrial action at Endeavour Energy. But two projects seem to be exempt.
PM stresses stability ahead of first reshuffle in two years
NT Senator Malarndirri McCarthy is the hot favourite to replace Linda Burney in cabinet and Indigenous Affairs.
- Exclusive
- AUKUS
‘Show me the evidence’: AUKUS tsar challenges critics
Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead says there will be setbacks but Australia is on track to meet key milestones under AUKUS.
- Opinion
- Canberra Observed
It’s not just Labor that let the CFMEU off the leash
Jacqui Lambie, Pauline Hanson and some independents have played a role in enabling the militant union.
The soaring success and unspeakable grief of Linda Burney
Linda Burney has been a pioneering advocate for Indigenous Australia, but her life has been peppered by tragedy.
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World
Harris gains on rival Trump, calls for debate
The latest survey shows a tight race for the White House separated by a single percentage point, while Democrat elder Barack Obama prepares to break his silence.
Harris presses Netanyahu over Gaza war: ‘I will not be silent’
The vice president said she raised her concerns about the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza during her “frank” meeting with Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu.
Alarms, double prices: Japan is getting fed up with foreign tourists
Angst is rising in Japan over what locals are calling an “over-tourism crisis” – and some towns are taking action.
Indonesia moves to reduce China’s investment in nickel projects
Jakarta wants to help its industry qualify for tax credits under Joe Biden’s initiative to build a US electric vehicle supply chain.
US economy grew faster than expected last quarter
The US economy expanded at a 2.8 per cent annualised rate in the April-June period after rising 1.4 per cent in the previous quarter.
Property
Rich Lister-owned home building empire faces $100m class action
West Australian construction company BGC Housing Group – founded by the late Len Buckeridge and still controlled by the family – is facing a class action from potentially thousands of aggrieved home owners.
QIC loses real estate chief, recruits ex-Dexus executive
QIC Real Estate managing director Michael O’Brien resigned from his role earlier this week.
‘Business as usual’ for Selina’s Australian ‘flashpacker’ hotels
The collapse of budget accommodation operator Selina’s London-based parent company will not impact the operation of its Australian hotels, says chief operating officer.
The millions being made in flipping luxury homes
Four out of the top 10 most expensive houses sold last year were held for less than five years.
- Exclusive
- Retail property
Leica backs Melbourne CBD revival with world’s biggest store
The famed German camera maker has transformed an entire building in the Melbourne CBD into a retail hub that includes an art gallery.
Wealth
Ten books that could help you become a better investor
We asked money managers, financial advisers and a self-made multimillionaire to nominate the books that taught them the most about creating wealth.
- Opinion
- Super Q&A
Why the beach house might be cramping your retirement style
Holiday homes are great, but they don’t produce retirement income and might limit your age pension payments.
Six questions to ask your adult kids before writing a will
Not everybody has the financial literacy and emotional intelligence to handle a significant inheritance.
Technology
Look out Google, here comes SearchGPT
OpenAI has unveiled a prototype of SearchGPT, a new web search chatbot that could rival Google, and change how people navigate the online world.
Advertisers to be verified under new online scams code
The digital industry has established a new online scam code, after delays establishing a mandatory government backed code.
- Exclusive
- Virtual reality
‘We had to have faith’: Apple’s designers on creating the Vision Pro
For these innovators, the Vision Pro isn’t just a step change in computers. It’s a step into the future.
Work & Careers
Four traits that stand out among the 2024 BOSS Young Executives
This year’s BOSS Young Executives have a desire to master the task at hand, collaborate and inspire – and they are tech-savvy.
Executives, celebrities are rushing to take this scholar’s $18K course
Marketing guru Anita Elberse’s program has become a blockbuster for Harvard Business School.
Life & Luxury
- Driving With Tony Davis
- New car snapshot
This flagship Lexus sports coupe is a hidden gem
The luxury car maker’s updated LC 500 is a beauty with a roar.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘other’ musical gets a timely revival
Hamilton is a hard act to precede, but hints of its composer’s genius are all over In The Heights, which is being revived at Sydney Opera House.
It’s About Time you book your spot at the AFR Watch Weekend
Financial Review readers are invited to enjoy special events at the Sydney and Melbourne stores of 15 of the world’s finest watchmakers.
What is the KHive?
Likely Democrat nominee Kamala Harris has supporters embracing her quirky style and turning her cringiest moments into social media memes.
Exercising every day? You may need to stop
Choosing when not to work out can be as important as doing it. Scheduling time to recover can help people avoid injury and enhance performance.
