The search is on for the 2025 Best Places to Work.
Big super says cutting bank investments will hurt members
“Without funding from super funds, banks would be much more dependent on volatile foreign capital,” AustralianSuper chief strategy officer Paula Benson says.
US stocks drift lower, data bolsters Fed pivot
The S&P 500 ended the final trading session of the week modestly lower. Iron ore extends rebound, for now. Bitcoin holds above $US65,000.
REA lobs $12b fourth bid at UK’s resistant Rightmove
The Murdoch-backed REA has just days left to win over the British online property listing behemoth, as a “put-up-or-shut-up” deadline looms on Monday.
Israel strikes Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut
Three major Israeli TV channels said Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was the target of strikes, which sent clouds of orange and black smoke billowing in the skies.
The two months that almost unravelled Star’s casino empire
Steve McCann knew his new job at the struggling gaming giant would be tough. Nothing prepared him for the first two months.
- Analysis
- Federal election
Labor, the Greens and the threat of minority government
Labor is struggling to keep everyone happy as the election nears but courting both miners and environmentalists looks like a near-impossible task.
Jewish group rejects calls for Sydney Uni’s Scott to resign
Sydney University boss Mark Scott has been under intense pressure to resign over his mishandling of antisemitism on campus. But not everyone agrees.
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Edition
AFR Magazine – Power 2024
The hotly anticipated lists of Australia’s most powerful people in 2024.
Smart investor
The best and worst retirement calculators revealed
Wildly different answers emerged when the same scenario was plugged into dozens of super funds’ retirement calculators. Now a consumer group is demanding higher standards.
The $52b side hustle economy offers a shot at getting rich
The ATO estimates there are around 1 million side hustlers, including a fast-growing group of white-collar workers who dream of going into business for themselves.
- Opinion
- Investing
Commercial property prospects that might excite Warren Buffett
If Warren Buffett applied his investing philosophy to Australian commercial property, what might he buy?
- Opinion
- Investment banking
Why now may be the right time to invest in private credit
The Australian market for private credit is at an earlier stage of development, but attracting investment.
- Opinion
- SMSFs
How to get your kids more tax-free super when you die
Re-contribution strategies allow you to withdraw money from super and put it back again to minimise tax for whoever inherits it. Such strategies are making a come-back, particularly in SMSFs
weekend reads
The cost of sending your child to a private school – in seven charts
Just one year of tuition at a top-range private school will set you back at least $40,000, but demand keeps growing.
Meet the AC/DC-loving chief doctor who eats by example
Outgoing Australian Medical Association president Steve Robson says prevention is the only cure for Australia’s sick health system.
One year on from October 7, the attacks still reverberate
As it prepares to mark the first anniversary of the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, Israel is risking a wider regional war.
Even $10,000-a-week rehab is no guarantee of getting clean
A luxury industry has grown around helping wealthy drug addicts kick their habit, but patients say recovery takes more than money.
People don’t want ‘challenging’ music, says Peaceful Piano king
Chad Lawson writes music to improve your mental health – which has meant this stalwart of Spotify’s Peaceful Piano playlist repressing some of his own creative impulses.
The best of travel, fashion, cars and more, straight to your inbox every Saturday.
Companies
Dan Murphy’s parent Endeavour rocked by CEO exit
Over three decades Steve Donohue rose from the Dan Murphy’s shop floor to the top job. On Friday, he shocked the market with his departure.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Endeavour Group CEO’s last drinks a chance to reset
Steve Donohue knows booze and retail as well as anyone, but shareholder diplomacy was a challenge. Good luck to whoever takes over.
Optus communications ‘manifestly inadequate’ in 2023 phone outage
Senators want new rules to force telco groups to keep the public updated when phone and internet connections fail.
New gas projects approved, but supply buffer shrinks
Labor has approved two small gas projects in Victoria, hot on the heels of a new warning over gas being shipped overseas.
‘At tipping point’: Inside one of Australia’s busiest hospitals
Doctors and nurses in Australia’s busiest emergency ward say the system is under unprecedented pressure amid a surge in mental illness and geriatric patients with nowhere else to go.
Fight or fold? Coles, Woolies face the angry shoppers they ‘fooled’
With its bombshell allegations this week the ACCC has given the big supermarkets two options, neither particularly palatable. Do they fight or do they fold?
Competition watchdog dissects Namoi takeover
Undertakings provided by Singapore’s Olam may be insufficient to approve a takeover of Namoi Cotton, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says. .
Companies in the News
Search companies
View stories and data from an ASX listed company
Markets
Iron ore’s ‘fundamentals’ still point to lower price: Goldman
The steelmaking material surged more than 10pc on news of China’s latest efforts to stoke its flailing economy. Goldman said the advance will prove fleeting.
Bullishness persists in what BofA calls a ‘bubble dream’
US equities traded sideways to end the week, however, optimism about the outlook has the S&P 500 on a path to far more record highs this year yet.
UniSuper faces uprising from scientists over its support of gas
More than 1000 members of the $140 billion industry super fund have signed a letter to its board demanding it leverage its influence over APA Group or risk greenwashing.
Why a rising $A is good news for the RBA and rate cuts
The Australian dollar has leapt US5¢ since August and is expected to climb further as other central banks cut interest rates and the RBA stays put.
Rajiv Jain’s GQG cops $725,000 fine for muzzling would-be whistleblowers
US regulator hauls up the fund management giant for violating whistleblower protections by making staff sign overly restrictive non-disclosure agreements.
Opinion
Keeping vigilance over our big super risks
Australians now have a mountain of capital saved in their super system. But size brings its own challenges.
Editorial
RBA’s Bullock now has a bigger megaphone. But what should she say?
It’s possible the inflation problem is not about overheated demand, but rather the supply bottlenecks caused by lagging productivity.
Editor-at-large
Supermarket pile-on is going to cause real harm
If the supermarkets are guilty, then throw the book at them. But it’s populist politics that is really at work here.
Business professor and former regulator
Labor’s smoke and mirrors on housing
Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese face much tougher questions about their economic agenda than the confusion about negative gearing and capital gains taxes.
Columnist
Why Netanyahu is Harris’ election nightmare
The Israeli prime minister continues to thumb his nose at Washington, and a wider war might well be the very October surprise Kamala Harris fears.
International editor
Inflation makes or breaks this year’s Power list
The power rankings reveal the splintering of traditional political power in a two-party system that is emerging alongside the economic strains.
Editorial
Reports
Technology - Valuation shift
This special report looks at shifting valuations for tech companies in public and private markets, plus how AI will change work.
Politics
- Analysis
- Australian economy
Albanese and Chalmers: negative gearing’s odd couple
The prime minister and the treasurer are chalk and cheese on negative gearing. Some of the differences are generational, some look more philosophical. But how will they play out as the election looms?
Labor won’t pursue negative gearing changes, Shorten predicts
The former Labor leader says he is sure the government won’t take changes to property investor tax breaks to the next election.
How supermarkets get us to spend more than we planned
Consumer behaviour experts say supermarkets are masters at knowing which buttons to press to get customers to spend more than they intended.
Dutton’s nuclear policy put to the test
Several of the fundamental arguments made by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to underpin the Coalition’s nuclear policy do not convince independent energy experts.
- Updated
- Middle East tensions
Wong warns Israel against ‘next Gaza’ war
In a speech at the United Nations, Penny Wong said Lebanese civilians should not pay the price of Israel’s campaign to clear out Hezbollah from southern Lebanon.
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World
Defiant Netanyahu says Israel will ‘degrade’ Hezbollah in fight for life
Israel’s prime minister told the United Nations “enough was enough” and his country would continue to fight Hezbollah and Hamas, reigniting fears of a wider war.
- Updated
- Australian economy
China’s stimulus blitz ‘very very good’ for Australia: Chalmers
The treasurer, who is on a visit to Beijing, says iron ore exporters will remain under pressure amid slowing housing and infrastructure projects in China.
‘Asian NATO’ backer to become Japan’s new PM
The country’s ruling party picked former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba as leader, setting him up to become prime minister, a move that risks irritating China.
- Updated
- AUKUS
‘Utterly untrue’: Keating berates Marles over AUKUS defence
Paul Keating launched fresh criticism of the $368 billion agreement, part of internal Labor squabbling over the pact, which has not gone unnoticed in the UK and US.
China’s newest nuclear sub sinks in blow to modernisation
China’s newest nuclear attack submarine has sunk in a shipyard accident, in a setback to the country’s attempts to overtake the US in a naval arms race.
Property
- Exclusive
- Luxury property
Bankruptcy, a diamond dealer and a $100m home: Spring in Point Piper
A Goldman Sachs partner offloads a $13 million unit, receivers put a $12 million penthouse to market, and a childcare entrepreneur lists a $100 million waterfront.
- Exclusive
- Insolvency
John Palasty jumps from Virtical’s sinking ship
The developer is trying to distance himself from Virtical’s collapsing empire, stepping down and selling his shares to a director of multiple failed companies.
- Exclusive
- Luxury property
‘Induces laziness’: $6m east coast headland hits market
One of Queensland’s original newspaper dynasties has offered their Capricorn Coast retreat for the first time in 90 years.
ACCC green light for $1.3b Lendlease, Stockland estates deal
The divestment is one of a number of major initiatives that Lendlease boss Tony Lombardo is pursuing in a radical overhaul of the global developer.
- Exclusive
- Commercial real estate
Adrenaline rush, light and sound show planned for Mornington cable car
Plans by Rich Lister Peter Gunn and NAB director Simon McKeon for Arthur Seat Eagle on the Mornington Peninsula include a thrilling luge ride.
Wealth
Financial advice for $88: Super funds launch low-cost tools
Superannuation funds have ramped up their financial advice offerings, but the type of advice they can provide remains limited.
Parents’ eye-watering education bills don’t end with school
Helping kids get started in life has arguably never been more expensive. Plan and save early, experts say. We’ve also found the most generous scholarships available.
- Exclusive
- Rich families
Rich Lister wealth secrets revealed after 30-year loophole ends
Two years after removing an exemption that allowed Australia’s richest families to keep details of their private companies secret, their financials are filtering through.
Technology
Meet the ‘actionable futurist’ who demystifies tech for the C-suite
Futurist Andrew Grill reckons execs will struggle to make good decisions about deploying tech in their businesses if they’re not actively using it themselves.
Cannon-Brookes-backed Spaceship acquired in $80m deal
The superannuation fintech, backed by Airtree and Grok Ventures, has been bought by eToro in an all-scrip deal.
How a Caramello Koala helped catch Coles and Woolies out
As consumers’ belts tightened, price-sensitive shoppers vented their frustrations online on Reddit, TikTok and X. The ACCC, it seems, was listening.
Work & Careers
‘Gold rush mentality’: Lawyers pile into AI advice
Lawyers are taking advantage of uncertainty around the legal implications of artificial intelligence use to build out new practices in the area.
Legal privilege an ‘attraction’ in law firm’s consulting play
HPX Group chief executive Nick Humphrey says rolling consulting services into a legal practice means clients have a better chance of taking advantage of legal privilege.
Life & Luxury
Margot Robbie’s ‘My Old Ass’ is a bummer
This lame coming-of-age story, produced by the megastar, is no Barbie. Meanwhile, 85-year-old Ian McKellen hams it up megalomaniacally in The Critic.
Christopher Esber steals the show at Paris Fashion Week
On a drizzly day in Paris, the Australian designer delivered bright new ideas for dressing.
Women-only gallery’s court win: ‘30 seconds to squash the patriarchy’
Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art will be allowed to reopen its Ladies Lounge and exclude men after Tasmania’s Supreme Court found it didn’t breach anti-discrimination law.
Everything you want to know about Fashion Week
The whole soiree is actually a month, taking in four big events in New York, London, Milan and Paris. Here’s a rundown of what’s been happening on the runways.
It’s the Kylie and Troye show as ARIAs go for the masses
After a concept album about a cockroach won in 2023, the industry voters for Album Of The Year in 2024 have picked more mainstream fare.
