Today
The three habits helping Australians build the most wealth
Amid record levels of economic inequality in Australia, a respected survey of household trends shows how average people are building their savings.
Yesterday
Wong should have sent a stronger message about China and US uncertainty
The foreign minister missed an opportunity to be firm about the challenges from Beijing and the US, and Australia’s defence.
The charts that underlie the RBA’s inflation fear
There are two big risks dominating the inflation outlook, central bank deputy governor Andrew Hauser told the Financial Review Business Summit.
The secret chart the RBA used to justify its latest rate cut
The central bank’s deputy governor revealed a previously secret graph that showed inflation would have fallen below target if rates were paused for longer.
Chalmers upbeat but economists warn of shallow recovery
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the Australian economy has turned a corner after the strongest GDP growth figures since the pandemic, but economists say any recovery will be shallow.
Housing woes are hurting our living standards
Australia’s big housing problem is contributing to our stagnating living standards and sluggish real incomes.
This Month
Australia must control the controllables to compete with Trump’s America
While Trump is sending America in a more productive and competitive direction, Australia is going nowhere fast.
Repair fiscal policy to stop politicians fighting RBA’s monetary policy
Political ill-discipline has produced the biggest spending increase for a first-time government since the Whitlam era 50 years ago.
What Goldman, Macquarie, CBA and AusSuper are really watching amid chaos
Five burning issues for Australian business leaders and global investors have emerged from the tumult of Donald Trump’s first six weeks in the White House.
‘Heck of a lot of work’ to do on gender gap: Wikramanayake
Chief executives at some of Australia’s biggest businesses have welcomed the latest pay gap data, but said much of the gap is due to challenges with the talent pipeline.
Why ASX corporate governance principles need a shake-up
Questions must be answered, including whether the broad consensus-based approach of the council should continue or it should be an advisory body to the bourse.
GDP tipped to grow at fastest pace since 2022 as exports jump
The economy is expected to have grown by 0.6 per cent in December thanks to higher state and federal government spending, resurgent consumers and an influx of tourists.
Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman sees five hidden risks
The private equity giant’s chief executive is a sea of calm amid the drama on global markets and in geopolitics. He says the US president has three priorities.
Top bureaucrats say work-from-home has gone too far
Former Treasury boss John Fraser and former NDIA head Martin Hoffman say public servants need to be in the office regularly to collaborate.
The age of uncertainty calls for a new reform era
The Summit is an opportunity to drive an important conversation about how we can develop a policy framework that enables Australia to ride out the gathering storms.
Coalition to force public servants to return to the office
Opposition frontbencher Jane Hume says working from home has become unsustainable, with a Dutton government to force public servants to the office five days per week.
Trump’s tariff puts Australia in hard place between iron ore and China
If Australia wants to negotiate an exemption to US tariffs, it will need to convince the White House it will fight Chinese subsidies while not overly subsidising its own sectors.
Business profits rise as economy gains momentum
The jump in profits has fuelled economists’ expectations that GDP figures on Wednesday will show economic growth is finally picking up.
Chalmers challenges Taylor to economic election debates
But economists derided both sides for failing to address urgent reforms required in tax and budget repair.
The government spent $500m on trade, but business sees no benefit
After four years of the government trying to streamline international trade, exporters say they are yet to see cost and time savings.
Chalmers insists he is ‘very respectful’ of Bullock
The treasurer says “everybody knows how respectful I am” of the RBA governor, denying a report in AFR Magazine that he pressured her over the bank’s messaging on government spending.
Chinese ships a reality check for our military
Readers’ letters on Chinese military vessels circling Australia, Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine, Woolworths’ cost cuts and the Jackson Pollock painting Blue Poles.
February
WiseTech implosion | Wild sharemarket moves | House price outlook
This week on the podcast, the drama that’s torn apart the WiseTech board, what’s behind the massive moves on the share market and a question about house prices.
Chalmers has ‘damaged’ RBA independence
Jim Chalmers’ pressure on Reserve Bank governors Michele Bullock and Philip Lowe is “highly reprehensible” and has damaged the independence of the RBA, Roger Corbett and Angus Taylor say.
Founder empathy is testing the limits of good boards
Independence, like value, is largely in the eye of the beholder. And investors are doing their homework on captured directors.