The search is on for Australia’s fastest growing companies.
Minority government draws closer as Labor spins its wheels
The government is running out of time to start rebuilding its fortunes, with the latest Freshwater poll showing it unable to gain traction with voters.
- Live
- Markets Live
ASX to fall; Lendlease revenue slides; BlueScope lifts dividend
Shares poised to slip at open; Westpac posts $1.8 billion in unaudited net profit; A2 Milk says market conditions in China remain challenging; Ampol slashes interim dividend as earnings drop. Follow here for more.
- Exclusive
- Bonds
ANZ sacks first trader amid workplace culture investigation
While the bank has taken action against staff involved in the bond trades, this is the first time an employee has been let go due to the cultural review.
- Exclusive
- Legal industry
Senior silks command up to $25k a day, but ASIC, ACCC pay under $5k
Bar associations are sounding the alarm about the situation, which has left regulators relying on an evaporating pool of experienced barristers.
- Live
- Need to Know
‘Outrageous bullying’: Steggall doesn’t regret calling Dutton racist
Zali Steggall says policies that are “inherently racist” need to be called out; Metro line opens in Sydney; Deal on CFMEU crackdown imminent; US pushes Israel for ceasefire deal. Follow live updates.
Harris urges key state to ‘fight’ as Trump steps up campaign
The vice president’s trip to Pittsburgh and surrounding counties ahead of the Democratic convention in Chicago underscores how crucial the state is to her hopes.
- Exclusive
- Building Bad
CFMEU bats for bosses against Jewish club after alleged subcontractor bribes
The Hakoah Club was also told that a proposed street protest in Sydney’s Paddington could attract pro-Palestinian activists.
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Companies
Choke in gas supply makes imports, once unthinkable, almost inevitable
Falling production at a large plant and a forecast slide in supply from fields off the south-eastern coast is adding to the anxieties of major users.
- Exclusive
- Aviation
AFP on the scene at Rex as boardroom recriminations deepen
The inquiries come weeks after the regional carrier collapsed, and as administrators at EY work to find a buyer for its fleet and network of services.
- Exclusive
- Responsible lending
Melbourne private capital firm lands in ASIC’s line of sight
Oak Capital describes itself as a “mid-tier” non-bank lender and specialises in real estate financing. The regulator has stepped up it scrutiny of the sector.
Mining lobby says Plibersek intervention imperils $1b gold project
The federal environment minister late on Friday placed heritage protection orders over the headwaters of the Belubula River, near Regis’ McPhillamys development.
Real estate portal Domain the ultimate fixer-upper for Nine’s board
It’s Australia in 2024, and property is (still) king. Getting the one-time growth engine firing again would make for some very happy shareholders.
Cyclone damage bill at South32’s Groote manganese mine hits $171m
The lucrative operation is owned jointly with Anglo American. New filings show the two diversified miners are injecting more money to resume exports next year.
- Opinion
- Gender equality
When it comes to chairing major boards, men still rule
Over the past year, depending on when the data was cut, there have been either no women, or one woman, sitting at the helm of an ASX20 company.
Companies in the News
Search companies
View stories and data from an ASX listed company
Markets
Jim Chalmers warns of $3b budget hit on iron ore slump
After hopes a buoyant Chinese economy would keep prices high faded away, the commodity’s price fell sharply and is now trading below Treasury’s indicative forecast in the budget.
How markets were looking before the ASX opening bell
Investors will have a clearer picture of consumer sentiment as a string major retailers and discretionary brands report their results.
- Opinion
- Sharemarket
Resilient corporate profits are masking the ASX’s shaky foundations
Earnings season reveals local groups are performing better than expected. Weakness in China and a fall in Commonwealth Bank’s share price could undo the gains.
- Opinion
- Private equity
After the rout, this area of the market is ripe for making money
As the Federal Reserve prepares to start cutting interest rates, there are two questions to be asked when making your next investment bet, particularly following this month’s turmoil.
Wall Street smashes records to post best week this year
Equities extended their advance into a seventh straight session, with the S&P 500 seeing its best performance in such a span since October 2022.
Opinion
The ASX’s legal mess reveals deep-rooted problems in boardrooms
Court action against the ASX over its bungled CHESS replacement project reflects a worrying escalation in the box-ticking, compliance culture inside Australian boardrooms.
Contributor
Poll shows why productivity should be the main game in Canberra
The gridlock of minority governments would mean that Canberra’s productivity policy problem, which is already partly to blame for prolonging the cost of living pain, will only get worse after the next election.
Editorial
Why Super’s governance model delivers for members
The existing arrangements are used by high-performing workplace pension schemes globally for one simple reason: they work.
Superannuation industry advocate
Democrats now the American dreamers
Democrats have become the true believers in the American mission. Republicans will be more prudential in assessing foreign policy capacities.
International editor
Why the US presidential race will be a referendum on masculinity
The contest pitches the ‘nice guys of the left’, in Tim Walz and Dough Emhoff, against the toxic masculinity of Trump and the anti-cat-lady conservatism of J.D. Vance.
Contributor
Sponsorship money doesn’t grow on trees and less popular sports will lose out
As we saw when tobacco advertising was banned, elite sports had little difficulty is attracting new sponsors, but non-elite ones will struggle, writes Sinclair Davidson.
Contributor
Reports
Wealth - Sustainable investing
This special report looks at the growing movement to support natural capital and options for investors to balance returns with greening their portfolios.
Politics
Voters prefer limits rather than total ban on gambling ads: poll
Limiting the number of sports betting ads shown on television, and when they can be shown, is more popular than banning them altogether.
- Exclusive
- Political lobbying
Jabiluka mining boss sidelined while Albanese met Peter Garrett
Brad Welsh, the chief executive of Energy Resources of Australia, says he was shocked about the abrupt cancellation of the lease announced last month.
- Opinion
- Federal election
Gambling ban findings small comfort in an otherwise bleak snapshot
The latest poll has good news for the government on the gambling ban front, but the stuff that really matters remains dire, writes Phillip Coorey.
Former ACCC tsar Samuel pushes Cbus for more independent directors
Graeme Samuel recommended Cbus get more independent directors after a 2015 review, but he says the fund has scarcely acted.
Saul Eslake’s devastating assessment of the Tassie economy
From AFL stadiums to chocolate fountains and unfunded election promises, spending increases and tax cuts are sending the Apple Isle backwards ever faster.
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World
Blinken arrives in Middle East seeking Gaza ceasefire
The US secretary of state will meet on Monday with senior Israeli leaders including Benjamin Netanyahu, a senior State Department official said.
Ukraine blows up key Russian bridge in tactical push
The bridge’s destruction is a setback for Russian supply lines as Ukraine seeks to consolidate its territorial gains in the Kursk region of western Russia.
Deadly Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza, Lebanon despite truce talks
The new bloodshed came after the United States and its allies expressed optimism over ceasefire negotiations to end the war in Gaza.
- Analysis
- US election
Kamala Harris’ big test this week: Policy or personality
All eyes will be on the vice president at the Democratic National Convention as she tries to keep momentum going in the race for the White House.
‘Crazy laugh’: Trump leans into attacks on Harris
At a rally in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump vacillated between criticisms of the economy and immigration and personal attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris.
Property
Decline in home ownership a boon for retirement operator Eureka
The company’s new chief executive, Simon Owen, says a growing number of retirees don’t have the real estate to buy into more expensive homes.
Real estate portal Domain the ultimate fixer-upper for Nine’s board
It’s Australia in 2024, and property is (still) king. Getting the one-time growth engine firing again would make for some very happy shareholders.
Sydney investor Jacky Cheung adds prized Scone farm to $265m portfolio
Private Sydney investor Jacky Cheung has added one of the Upper Hunter region’s biggest farms, Balarang Station, paying $32.5m
Vietnamese owners hope to triple money on NT cattle station
Pham Nhat Vu, the brother of Vietnam’s richest person, Pham Nhat Vuong, is selling Vermelha Station near Larrimah, which he purchased for $18 million in 2016.
It was a hot real estate trade. Now investors are worried
For individual investors, the chance to invest with Wall Street’s elite was too good to pass up. It’s not looking so good for them now.
Wealth
- Exclusive
- Investing
What investors can learn from 30 years of markets data
Analysis by Vanguard Australia for AFR Weekend reveals how different asset classes have performed and a surprise top performer in the last financial year.
The ATO has this overlooked property tax in its crosshairs
Small-scale property developers need to be aware that GST is applicable in certain circumstances. Read the 10 tips for mum and dad developers.
Should I pay my children to stay off social media?
The right age for children to start using social media is a topic of hot debate.
Technology
Lifestyle, culture websites argue for their slice of Meta’s pie
There are more than 440 separate publications on the approved list that Meta could be forced to deal with. Meta reckons that list is too long.
- Exclusive
- Venture capital
Auditors warned against Vic government’s $37m space balloon bet
Auditors expressed “substantial doubt” about the financial viability of a space exploration start-up, a year before Breakthrough Victoria placed a huge bet on the US company.
Crowdfunding firm seeks survival funding after ‘diabolical’ 18 months
Equitise, a major equity raising platform, is in talks with investors to recapitalise the company as the sector looks to rebuild after the tech funding winter.
Work & Careers
- Opinion
- Gender equality
When it comes to chairing major boards, men still rule
Over the past year, depending on when the data was cut, there have been either no women, or one woman, sitting at the helm of an ASX20 company.
AFR journalist wins Kennedy Award for second year running
The award for Outstanding Finance Reporting is the latest in a string of honours for the investigative journalist Neil Chenoweth.
Life & Luxury
Dad bod and why we plump for an extra helping
New fathers often find themselves with extra upholstery. Although polishing off your kids’ meals doesn’t help, the key factor is time.
Hot topic for cyclists: are disc brakes really worth it?
This company founder has ridden the Three Peaks and other tough endurance events on his 2018 Trek Emonda and isn’t convinced to upgrade.
The secret testing NASA did in the 1960s
Omega had no idea its timepieces were being tested against other major brands to find the most reliable watch to go into space.
The comic cynicism of the celebrity academic
A new, celebrated novel makes fun of academic fame, university politics and self-entitled students.
Everyone is angry at Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, even its musicians
The MSO’s decision to cancel a guest pianist for his Gaza war commentary, then backtrack, has united pro-Israel and pro-Palestine activists in disdain.
