The search is on for the 2025 Best Places to Work.
- Updated
- Middle East tensions
‘Targeted raids’: Israel starts ground operation in Lebanon
The Israeli military says it has begun a “limited, localised” operation against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, after days of preparations.
How far will Israel’s ground invasion go?
The Israeli defence minister has announced the “next stage” of war following the assassination of the militant group’s leader.
- Live
- Markets Live
ASX to slip from record, August retail sales awaited
Australian shares to start the quarter lower. Transport stocks in focus. Powell tempers rate cut hopes. Goldman takes a shine to gold. Follow updates here.
- Exclusive
- RBA
RBA gives RBC Capital Markets private briefing, bars bank after leak
The incident is the second off-the-record discussion between the central bank and traders that has been made public. It was held after a February rate decision.
- Live
- Need to Know
Airline foreign investment could be in national interest: Chalmers
Jim Chalmers says he is waiting for review board advice on Qatar, Virgin buyout; Israel starts ground operation in Lebanon; Hezbollah display “not enough” for arrests, AFP says. Follow live updates.
Qatar Airways to buy 25pc of Virgin Australia, funding big expansion
The deal with Bain Capital will allow the Gulf carrier to effectively bypass government approvals for more flights, creating a formidable rival for Qantas.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
How the Virgin and Qatar deal could wedge Qantas and Labor
Bain’s deal with the Gulf carrier will make it a more formidable rival to Qantas, and put pressure on a government that claims to want stronger competition.
Get our expert take on the race to the White House plus receive our weekly World View newsletter to make sense of the global impact. Exclusive to subscribers.
The hotly anticipated lists of who wields the most overt, covert and cultural clout in Australia.
Companies
‘Not just going to happen’: Telstra boss warns on AI boom
Vicki Brady says Australia could miss out on a vital boost to productivity from artificial intelligence if it fails to build the core infrastructure required.
Macquarie leads the pack in end-of-year mortgage scramble
Official figures show the financial services giant’s loan book rose at four times the pace of its big bank rivals in August.
Mark Carnegie pushes Circle’s USD Coin to Australia’s super funds
MHC Digital says USDC, which has a market cap of $50 billion, could be used by big institutional investors to bypass banks and save hundreds of millions of dollars.
Perpetual faces investor backlash over bonuses with ‘no justification’
Proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services, which had previously been supportive of the fund manager, is urging a vote against executive pay and board members.
Fonterra targets South-East Asia, keeps Aussie dairy arm for now
The burgeoning cafe and bakery scene across South-East Asia has boosted the milk giant’s appetite for the region.
- Updated
- Mergers & acquisitions
REA abandons $12b pursuit of Britain’s Rightmove
REA Group chairman Hamish McLennan’s personal touch was not enough to get the deal, which Rightmove rejected on Monday, over the line.
Drifting former telco turned Austrian miner gets unstuck in Mongolia
Jade Gas has bounced around for three decades, and is trying its luck with coal seam gas in the ex-communist country. Could this be the ASX’s next gas giant?
Companies in the News
Search companies
View stories and data from an ASX listed company
Markets
Iron ore rockets 10pc as ASX, China records tumble
The price of Australia’s key export soared above $US110 a tonne on Monday, extending a rally in mining stocks and lifting the sharemarket to a record.
What happened overnight? S&P 500 ends its quarter on a positive note
The US benchmark equity index rose as Fed boss Jerome Powell reassured markets that lower rates lie ahead, albeit he signalled cuts will probably be at a moderate pace.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The ‘everything bubble’ is back. Here are five dangers to watch
Thanks to the Fed and China, markets are back at the levels reached during the 2021 frenzy. But it might not take much for investors to let a little air out.
- Opinion
- Sharemarket
Markets are on their best behaviour as the bulls take charge
The Fed is cutting interest rates and China’s policymakers are pumping its economy with money. Is there anything standing in the way of global sharemarkets?
ASX closes at all-time top, ends the quarter 6.5 higher
Shares reset record high; Synlait posts giant loss; Pacific Smiles rejects Genesis bid; AGL nabs new deal with Portland smelter; iron ore prices leap 7pc. Follow updates here.
Opinion
Why budget surplus is up, up, up
Jim Chalmers is claiming credit for delivering two budget surpluses in a row. He’s less keen to explain how much the high level of income tax helped.
Columnist
Our fiscal strategy strikes the right balance
We are repairing the budget without hurting an already weak economy, putting people under more pressure or ignoring urgent and unavoidable spending.
Federal treasurer
Chalmers isn’t a fair dinkum fiscal repairer like Keating and Walsh
It’s not unfair to look through Dr Chalmers’ two vanishing surpluses to the bigger budget picture: not enough has been done to tackle Australia’s long-term spending.
Editorial
Spending pressures make third surplus unlikely
The treasurer has delivered a solid second budget surplus of $15.8 billion on the back of booming income tax receipts, but future spending pressures are emerging.
Economics editor
A cure for disinformation that’s as bad as the disease
Well-meaning legislation to protect Australians from online lies could end up silencing legitimate public health questions as well.
Former deputy chief health officer
Bringing COP31 Down Under will be an unprecedented opportunity
Australia could co-host the global climate meeting in 2026 well on the way to emissions targets, and ready to drive fresh momentum.
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
Income tax hits 25-year high in Chalmers’ surplus
The treasurer’s second budget in the black has been underwritten by the highest share of wages taxation since before the GST was introduced in 2000.
Pro-Hezbollah protesters could evade punishment
The Albanese government is under pressure to take a hard line on supporters of Hezbollah following protest rallies at the weekend.
Australia favourite to host COP31 climate talks
A growing coalition of countries is backing Labor’s plans for the 2026 summit to be hosted in concert with Pacific countries.
Lending laws locking out home buyers: Bendigo bank
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has rebuffed calls to ease mortgage lending laws after Coalition MPs and ANZ warned prospective home buyers were struggling to get finance.
Competition watchdog gets $30m boost for supermarket probe
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will receive a $30 million funding boost to investigate misleading and deceptive pricing practices.
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World
Nasrallah’s funeral could coincide with IDF invasion
The Hezbollah leader’s funeral – like his speeches – is likely to garner considerable attention across the region and may be exploited by anti-Israeli forces.
Britain calls time on coal power, steel mills
On a single day, the UK closed its last coal-fired power plant and its largest carbon-munching steel mill.
Israel widens war as Iran vows to punish ‘criminal acts’
Dozens of Israeli planes hit targets in Houthi-controlled Yemen while also continuing to kill militant commanders in Lebanon.
SoftBank to invest $721m in OpenAI
The move is part of a funding round that would value the artificial intelligence start-up at an eye-watering $US150 billion.
- Analysis
- Manufacturing
Are Chinese cars spying on you?
Security experts say there is a genuine growing fear that the West is becoming exposed to Chinese components under the hood as vehicles become more connected.
Property
China removes curbs on homebuyers, sparking stock market surge
Officials are trying to reverse a grinding property downturn and broader slowdown in growth that has afflicted every corner of the Chinese economy.
Sumitomo Forestry to pay $115m for majority stake in Metricon
The home-builder deal is the latest by a Japanese property company looking to offset the effects of a shrinking population at home.
Buyers pay $9.3m for home that needs $1m reno
In a time of high construction costs, property hunters competed for a house that needed a lot of work – but it was still cheaper than the alternative option.
Riskiest real estate bonds are beating Nvidia’s returns
It’s a turnaround few could have predicted when landlords around the world were creaking under the weight of higher interest rates and changing work habits.
An old London bridge? No – it’s a new housing development
In Camden borough, a row of tall brick arches gives the impression of a Victorian viaduct. But they’re something else altogether.
Wealth
- Exclusive
- Superannuation
AustralianSuper ESG option invested in nuclear weapons: report
Australia’s 14 biggest superannuation funds are investing about $3.4 billion in nuclear weapons despite many promising to avoid controversial arms.
- Opinion
- ETFs
Why thematic ETFs are usually duds
Thematic exchange-traded funds – think electric vehicles, renewable energy or AI – promise to cash in on exciting trends, but are often disappointing.
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.
Technology
- Gadgets With John Davidson
- Digital Life
Ocean cruising too slow for you? Speed things up with this action cam
DJI’s Osmo Action 5 Pro has features that will turn even the most sedate sojourn into a white-knuckle adventure.
- Opinion
- Digital Life
Why the Series 10 is now Apple’s best watch
The Watch Ultra 2 is still Apple’s most expensive watch, but the new Series 10 betters it in some (but not all) ways that matter.
- Exclusive
- Start-ups
Cannon-Brookes’ Startmate cybersecurity bet pays dividends
Startmate’s $35,000 stake in cybersecurity company Bugcrowd is now worth $2.1 million, delivering eye-popping returns for its billionaire backers.
Work & Careers
- Exclusive
- Workplace disputes
Brookfield fired manager on maternity leave, kept replacement: lawsuit
Kelly Dyball, who the property giant featured in the media to boost its women-in-leadership profile, was made redundant while on maternity leave and replaced by the man hired to act in her job, a lawsuit alleges.
- Exclusive
- CFMEU
CFMEU delegates investigated over ‘steeling’ claims
One of the union delegates under investigation for allegedly selling steel from a major government site is a former member of the infamous Bra Boys surf gang.
Life & Luxury
Melbourne dining powerhouse wins award for country’s best wine list
Gimlet’s head sommelier says the key to success is paying the same level of attention to someone drinking by the glass as to a high-roller ordering a $12,000 bottle.
Eight experts pick the best cruises for 2025
It seems no waters are uncharted these days. We tapped eight cruise leaders for their favourite itineraries.
One bike is more than enough for this cycling-mad executive
It just has to be the right bike, says digital marketing specialist Dan Copsey.
How Zimmermann brought surf and sun to Paris Fashion Week
Now a permanent fixture on the Paris calendar, the Australian brand has found its feet, and is giving them brand new shoes.
Unlimited ice baths and saunas: LA-style wellness lands here
Super Young’s most expensive membership package includes unlimited access to red light therapy, hyperbaric chambers and cryotherapy. All for $15,000 a year.
