Join investors and regulators as they take a deep dive into cryptocurrency and digital assets.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
REA’s big British bet haunted by ghosts of failed deals past
First it was BHP Group – now REA is having a tough time swallowing a UK target, namely real estate portal Rightmove. The parallels are stark.
- Opinion
- ACCC
Coles and Woolworths score own goal on dodgy discounts
The big supermarket chains have already lost the public relations war over the ACCC’s allegations of fake discounts. What’s the next move, asks Jennifer Hewett.
Government spending to hit record, delaying rate cuts
Westpac estimates state and federal government spending will hit 28 per cent of GDP by the end of 2025, up from the pre-pandemic average of about 22.5 per cent.
Cbus’ CFMEU fallout ‘shows APRA’s weakness in super oversight’
Super funds get “preferential treatment” compared with banks and insurers, which may leave retirees out of pocket down the track.
Rail loop is housing, not just infrastructure: Labor
Pollsters say the Victorian government’s more explicit linking of the Suburban Rail Loop to its tackling of the housing crisis is a savvy but overdue political move.
David Foster out of Bendigo and Adelaide after bruising Star inquiry
He had been on the bank’s board since 2019, and was its chairman until April when he went on leave amid a NSW inquiry into the casino, where he was also chair.
The unassuming senator with Labor’s fortunes on his shoulders
Queensland is at the centre of two crucial elections in the coming months, and the personable Murray Watt might be the bridge builder who helps tip things for the ALP.
The best of travel, fashion, cars and more, straight to your inbox every Saturday.
crypto summit
CBA crypto experiments held up in regulatory bottlenecks
Unanswered questions from a myriad of regulators are stifling Australia’s largest bank from advancing cryptocurrency and digital asset projects.
Go long and let others take the risk: crypto fundies’ top strategies
Some of Australia’s best performing digital asset managers have told investors to ignore the noise when mulling a bet on cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin bros could swing US election: Scaramucci
The former communications director for the Trump presidency said 2 million voters could swing on the candidates’ differing digital asset policies.
ASIC wants crypto start-ups to hold financial services licences
The corporate regulator will appear at the AFR Crypto and Digital Assets Summit on Monday with a warning to developers in the polarising sector.
Bitcoin is going mainstream. Can Australia join the party?
Twenty-thousand crypto believers descended on Singapore this week – and the companies they represented may surprise you.
The best of travel, fashion, cars and more, straight to your inbox every Saturday.
Companies
It was cybersleuths who (allegedly) caught Woolies, Coles in the act
In the end, it wasn’t the government, or Treasury, or a parliamentary committee that caused the biggest headache for the country’s supermarket giants this year.
- Updated
- Media & marketing
Britain’s Rightmove to ‘carefully consider’ REA’s $12b takeover bid
News Corp’s real estate platform increased its offer to almost $12 billion after its first two bids were swiftly rejected by the UK’s biggest property portal.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
REA’s big British bet haunted by ghosts of failed deals past
First it was BHP Group – now REA is having a tough time swallowing a UK target, namely real estate portal Rightmove. The parallels are stark.
Telix on $1b spending spree to build US radiopharmacy network
The biotech is investing heavily in global networks that will enable it to control the supply and distribution of nuclear medicines used to treat cancer.
Australia’s most powerful deal makers in 2024
If investors step up and hit the bid on those valuations, the market will see real momentum. If not, it will be the same painful conversation about dry powder next year.
Cheese and milk producer Beston goes bust as Japanese suitor walks
The company behind the Edwards Crossing Cheese Company and Mables brands has called in administrators, owing more than $55 million to National Australia Bank.
David Foster out of Bendigo and Adelaide after bruising Star inquiry
He had been on the bank’s board since 2019, and was its chairman until April when he went on leave amid a NSW inquiry into the casino, where he was also chair.
Companies in the News
Search companies
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Markets
ASX in the ‘dividend doldrums’ as boards hoard cash
The Australian sharemarket had one of the sharpest declines in payouts in the world in the second quarter and the outlook is not much better, investors warn.
Industry veteran builds ‘better’ model to pick ASX winners
Former Credit Suisse alumni John Birkhold has spent years developing a model that undoes traditional ways of investing – he’s now about to turn it on the ASX.
China must ramp up housing rescue to boost growth, economists warn
Amid doubts over whether China can meet its lofty 5 per cent GDP target, analysts say Beijing needs “a complete change in mindset” to revive the property market.
Ophir’s prediction for the ASX’s next 10-bagger
Shares in a2 Milk, Afterpay and Northern Star earned the coveted status for Ophir and its co-founder Andrew Mitchell. He predicts Life360 will be next.
Coles, Woolies drag ASX lower ahead of RBA
ASX snaps winning streak. ACCC sues supermarket giants for misleading discounts; CBA, iron ore giants fall; Austal nabs US Navy deal; REA makes third bid for Britain’s Rightmove. Follow updates here.
Opinion
Coles and Woolworths score own goal on dodgy discounts
The big supermarket chains have already lost the public relations war over the ACCC’s allegations of fake discounts. What’s the next move?
Columnist
Dutton nuclear policy sell fails to add up the cost
The energy future of Australia requires details – and lots of them – so that voters can make an informed choice.
Editorial
Dutton’s nuclear folly is an economy wrecker
Under the Coalition, Australian manufacturing would face a decade of uncertainty and taxpayers would finance the renationalisation of electricity generation.
Former Labor minister and economist
Labor sings vastly different tunes on supermarkets and Qantas
Aviation is much more concentrated than supermarkets, yet the government seems to accept that the airline industry should remain anticompetitive.
Senior reporter
China’s had deflation before. This is what it needs to do this time
Balance sheet issues were central to the contraction in previous deflationary episodes, and the resolution of these was key. Policymakers should focus on that.
Strategic thinker
Did ‘illusory’ discounts from Coles, Woolies really mislead consumers?
The murky legal issue for the ACCC case against the big two supermarkets is what constitutes a “reasonable” period between a price increase and a subsequent promotional saving.
Consultant
Reports
Executive Education - lifelong learning
This special report looks at lifelong learning, focusing on the impact and efficacy of leadership courses designed for top-tier managers and business leaders.
Politics
Coalition nuclear policy relies on coal for longer than experts expect
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has conceded that the Coalition’s nuclear policy relies on an extended use of coal power and a sharply increased role for gas power.
Only Labor can form majority government: Albanese
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stepped up his stability pitch to voters by disparaging the Greens as a party of extremists
Government spending to hit record, delaying rate cuts
Westpac estimates state and federal government spending will hit 28 per cent of GDP by the end of 2025, up from the pre-pandemic average of about 22.5 per cent.
- Exclusive
- International students
Cap chaos: NIDA has places for students it’s not supposed to teach
New government data reveals multiple instances of erroneous and confusing allocations of international student caps.
Rail loop is housing, not just infrastructure: Labor
Pollsters say the Victorian government’s more explicit linking of the Suburban Rail Loop to its tackling of the housing crisis is a savvy but overdue political move.
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World
BYD shrugs off planned US ban of Chinese smart car software
Liu Xue-liang, general manager of BYD’s auto sales division for Asia-Pacific, said the Chinese EV giant had turned its attention to markets with receptive EV policies.
- Analysis
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israel, Hezbollah on the brink of war unless someone blinks
Almost a year after the October 7 terror attack, Israel’s real war might be about to begin, writes Andrew Tillett.
China stimulus hopes rise as PBoC cuts rate, flags briefing
The People’s Bank of China lowered the 14-day reverse repurchase rate, catching up with reductions initiated in July, and flagged further moves on Tuesday.
Iran’s Guards ban communications devices after strike on Hezbollah
Iran is concerned about infiltration by Israeli agents, including Iranians on Israel’s payroll, and a thorough investigation of personnel has already begun.
Trying to make sense of the US election? Spare a thought for our diplomats
Australian policymakers have an apprehensive wait to see whether they will be dealing with a Trump or Harris administration.
Property
- Exclusive
- Hotels
Hospitality empire on brink as Adelphi Hotel put in administration
Virtical group, which exploded on to the Sydney and Melbourne pub scene last year, has lost control of its two biggest assets.
Sell in the first two weeks, or wait? They sold, for $2.35m
There were many people looking, but few buying. When the vendor of this Sydney home secured two potential buyers, they acted. Quickly.
‘Pay to stay’: Average Sydney hotel room rate to hit $426 by 2033
Sydney will be the standout hotel market over the next decade as occupancy rises to 86pc and few new hotels are completed to keep up with demand.
Cheap no more: where the buyer rush has blunted home affordability
Housing affordability has worsened sharply in some of the country’s cheaper areas amid strong demand.
Apartments taking two-and-a-half years longer to deliver: Urbis
The forecast delay in supply comes as pressure is increasing on the federal government to navigate political opposition to key planks in its housing policy.
Wealth
Let others take the risk: crypto fundies’ top strategies
Some of Australia’s best performing digital asset managers have told investors to ignore the noise when mulling a bet on cryptocurrencies.
The $1 rule, and 43 other easy ways to be better with money
Not everything about money has to be hard. We asked experts for their top tips on how to be better at saving, budgeting and investing.
Three ways the ASX has changed and what investors can do next
Finding yield, good value and diversification on the ASX is getting harder. We asked experts what investors can do to overcome the challenges.
Technology
LinkedIn has (quietly) announced it scrapes your posts for AI
LinkedIn has quietly launched new policies outlining how it scrapes posts and personal data to train AI models. What you need to know (and how to turn it off).
They have 31m followers - but you’ve never heard of these YouTube superstars
Bounce Patrol has more followers than Beyonce, operates out of a quiet Melbourne street, and is helping YouTube transform from the home of DIY videos to a major TV broadcaster.
Microsoft’s climate hypocrisy on AI
The tech giant has marketed AI technology to ExxonMobil and Chevron as a powerful tool for finding and developing new oil and gas reserves.
Work & Careers
Australia’s most powerful deal makers in 2024
If investors step up and hit the bid on those valuations, the market will see real momentum. If not, it will be the same painful conversation about dry powder next year.
The most powerful people in the consulting sector in 2024
As the fallout from the PwC scandal still looms large, smaller operations are moving in on the big four’s turf.
Life & Luxury
Amazing Grace Brown won’t ride back on retirement call
The Olympic champion became the first woman to win both the Olympic Games and world time trial titles in the same year
Kathy Lette on the ‘crime of menopause’
The London-based Australian author spends her working week writing about life’s challenges. But weekends are for crosswords, laughter, cocktails and theatre.
What happened to squash? This financial adviser says it serves him well
Ben Nash, founder of Pivot Wealth, finds playing competitive squash is a great way to get energised before the workday.
Do non-alcoholic beverages really limit your booze intake?
For some, consuming zero-alcohol products only sparks increased cravings for the real thing.
- Analysis
- Fitness
I used to joke about arthritic hips – until I got a pair myself
Losing hip mobility is no fun. It affects your every move, right down to putting on shoes and socks, and it threatened to separate me from one of my true loves – surfing.
From the gallery
The Australian Financial Review Magazine
Australia’s most powerful deal makers in 2024
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
