Yesterday
Financial planners panic over $50m compensation blowout
A blowout in the cost of compensating victims of financial misconduct threatens the viability of the industry funded scheme, advisers say.
- Jonathan Shapiro
- Opinion
- Federal election
Dutton’s economic pitch is all vibe, not details
Dutton’s back-to-basics approach on economics offers a sharp contrast to Labor’s bigger government record of the past three years, but policy proposals are scant.
- John Kehoe
RBA rate cuts coming – but don’t expect a windfall
Economists say the tight jobs market and increasing government spending will mean the RBA will deliver just three or four rate cuts in total this year.
- Michael Read
- Analysis
- Australian economy
Falling behind: three reasons why the RBA will sit on its hands
Economists and analysts are getting excited about a rate cut but inflation risks, and lack of any credible economic agenda, will likely leave them disappointed.
- Michael Stutchbury
ECB cuts rates for fifth time as eurozone economy flat lines
Investors maintained bets for further easing, pricing an additional 70 basis points of cuts during the rest of 2025, which would lower rates to near 2 per cent.
- Alexander Weber, Mark Schroers and Jana Randow
January
Tobacco taxes drop to nine-year low as black-market ciggies boom
A 282 per cent increase in the tobacco excise rate has turned smokers to the black market and put a big dent in the federal budget.
- Michael Read
AI war highlights need to work with both superpowers
Readers’ letters on the artificial intelligence race between the US and China, road tax for electric vehicles and life with limited mobility.
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Jerome Powell held. So should Michele Bullock
The US Federal Reserve held rates constant as it waited to see what policies Trump implements. The Reserve Bank should also wait until after our election and it knows what policies will be implemented here.
- Ed Shann
- Updated
- Interest rates
Trump lashes Powell after Fed keeps rates on hold
The president sharply criticised the Federal Reserve for defying his calls to lower interest rates, and instead signalling a new wait-and-see approach.
- Matthew Cranston
- Opinion
- The AFR View
No side of politics has a plan to make you better off
The depressing reality is that no party can convincingly articulate a strategy to improve Australians’ fortunes in the next three years and beyond.
- The AFR View
EV tax should be part of road funding revamp
Readers’ letters on taxes for electric vehicles, Grace Tame’s protest against Rupert Murdoch, Donald Trump’s US presidency and co-ownership of property.
- Opinion
- Interest rates
CPI pushes the rate cut door wide open
RBA is overachieving on inflation and should “break on through to the other side” to reduce the policy rate in February.
- Stephen Miller
- Opinion
- Inflation
Falling inflation boosts Labor’s election push
The Albanese government will be even more relieved than the Reserve Bank that the latest consumer price index shows a further drop in inflation.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- Inflation
February rate cut on the table, but not a done deal
There is a plausible reason to cut interest rates next month, but also a reasonable case to hold steady and await more information on the economy.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Two other interest rate debates will decide where the ASX goes next
A February rate cut is all but locked in. But with the Australian sharemarket back near record highs, investors need to consider two other big questions.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Queensland budget
Debt blowout shows budget honesty is ‘crooked’ in Queensland
The shocking budget blowout after the state’s election last year shows a massive institutional failure that has lessons for governments across the country.
- John Kehoe
Living standards to stagnate until 2030: Deloitte
Deloitte predicts it will take another five years before real wages return to their pre-pandemic levels, complicating Anthony Albanese’s bid for re-election.
- Michael Read
Trump may deal China a major win
Readers’ letters on Donald Trump’s tariff threats, US climate policy, a tax overhaul for electric vehicles and Grace Tame.
- Opinion
- The AFR View
China’s AI leap means security must trump economics for Australia
Australia’s dilemma is that there is a tension in balancing the commercial advantages of cheaper Chinese technology with our national security interests.
- The AFR View
- Exclusive
- Productivity
Ex-Macquarie boss rails against Mosman NIMBY-ism
In a rare interview, Nicholas Moore has highlighted the need for more homes in inner-city suburbs such as the Sydney harbourside suburb of Mosman where he lives.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Nicholas Moore: blame bigger government for falling living standards
Much of the cost-of-living malaise in Australia is the result of policies that have expanded the role of government at the cost of long-term productivity.
- Nicholas Moore and Tom Switzer
- Opinion
- Trade wars
Trump is wrong: Climate change, not China, is the threat to Panama Canal
Any loss of capacity, which is more likely to be caused by drought will ripple through supply chains and push up costs in Australia.
- Michael Bell
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Brisbane should learn lessons of Australian Open’s success
It’s always tough for governments to justify spending money on sporting venues. Yet, long-term thinking and the best option for leaving a legacy should be factored into the plans for Brisbane’s Olympic stadium.
- The AFR View
Inflation figures make or break for pre-election rate cut
While economists expect inflation is falling faster than the RBA’s forecast, will the decline be rapid enough for the central bank to shift gears?
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Trade
Australia-China trade will be caught in middle of Trump’s tariff war
Australia is now more dependent on a single market than it has ever been since the late 1940s when our biggest customer was the United Kingdom.
- Richard McGregor