NewsBite

Business confidence

November 2024

The ASX 200 bank index has surged nearly 10 per cent this year.

Banking’s next gen

Bank leaders face succession as shares peak, leaving newcomers to find growth in a challenging landscape

October 2024

The Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, aka Jeff's Shed.

Melbourne is losing its conference capital crown

The city has long called itself the major events capital of Australia, but data shows it has fallen behind Sydney in hosting business conferences.

  • Gus McCubbing

April 2024

A pro-Palestine blockade disrupted shipping at the Port of Melbourne in January.

Business leaders blast pro-Palestine protests aimed at hurting economy

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry says pro-Palestine protests aimed at causing maximum economic damage are “un-Australian and disrespectful”.

  • Brad Thompson

November 2023

Banks stare down a turbulent economy

The sector has recorded growth in the face of persistent macroeconomic risks and fierce competition.

July 2023

Wafex owner Craig Musson says demand for his company’s flowers has dropped in the past 8 weeks.

‘Canary in the goldmine’: WA economy shows signs of tightening

Riding high for years on the back of a booming resources sector, the good times in Western Australia appear to be waning as consumer demand begins to weaken.

  • Tom Rabe
Advertisement

April 2023

Consumer confidence has soared on interest rate pause

RBA rate pause sends consumer confidence soaring

Business conditions remain healthy after the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to pause interest rate hikes boosted consumer confidence levels.

  • Poppy Johnston

March 2023

An ore crushing station in California.

US revises down economic growth to 2.6pc rate

The US economy maintained its resilience from October to December, the government said. But consumer spending was down.

  • Paul Wiseman

January 2023

Kristalina Georgieva: “For the first time in 40 years, China’s growth in 2022 is likely to be at or below global growth.”

China is bad news for the global economy in 2023, warns IMF head

Its COVID-19 woes add to weakening activity in the US and Europe, the International Monetary Fund’s managing director, Kristalina Georgieva, says.

  • Dan Burns

December 2022

The survey findings are “consistent with the notion that the bulk of the interest rate tightening cycle is now behind us”, Westpac says.

Business confidence turns negative on inflation, rates fears

The slump in business confidence comes despite conditions remaining well above the long-term average.

  • Ronald Mizen

November 2022

Not knowing how credit scores work could lead to a lower score, making it harder to obtain a loan.

Banking in a higher rate environment

As the banks stare down a year of uncertain conditions not faced in a long time, where will they direct their capital?

October 2022

Retailers are struggling to pass on rising costs to consumers.

Profit warnings soar as UK companies struggle with costs

Consumer-facing sectors such as retail and hospitality have been among the hardest hit, accounting for over half of all warnings in the third quarter.

  • Daniel Thomas
Higher interest rates are beginning to take a toll on household spending.

Consumer sentiment plummets as core inflation set to surge above 6pc

Underlying inflation is set for the fastest pace since December 1990, according to the latest National Australia Bank business survey.

  • Updated
  • Ronald Mizen

May 2022

Bear markets triggered by recessions are always the worst, and we are now heading for a deep downturn.

The stock market crash has only just begun and it will hurt

A recession now looks certain. The only real question is how deep it will be, and how long it will last.

  • Matthew Lynn

April 2022

Restaurant owner Joel Rees and Danielle Almeida with their children Flora (5) and Icaro (3).

Meet the voters Morrison and Albanese are trying to sway

The budget has been delivered and the battle lines have been drawn. But are swinging voters, those who will decide the election result, listening yet?

  • Ronald Mizen, Tom McIlroy and Michael Bennet

March 2022

Shoppers shrugged off their omicron caution in February, with retail sales lifting to the second highest level on record over the month.

Retail sales surge in February, but confidence plummets in March

Retail sales rocketed in February as shoppers shrugged off any remnant of omicron caution to push spending to the second highest level on record, but the outlook for March looks more uncertain, with consumer confidence tanking ahead of the federal budget.

  • Ronald Mizen
Advertisement
Wealth management products and services such as financial planning, superannuation and life insurance have been an growing part of the banks' offerings since the 1990s and early 2000s.

Banks funding the recovery

Banking takes centre stage as the economy rebounds

January 2022

Tourists in a crowd-free Melbourne during one of last year’s lockdowns.

One in three expected to catch COVID-19 as economists sound alarm

Nine million Australians could have contracted COVID-19 by the end of the year, but state health departments forecast the current wave to peak next week.

  • Michael Read and Finbar O'Mallon

Mounting risks cloud 2022 market outlook

Inflation, slower growth, geopolitical threats, and systemic problems are set to keep investors on the edge of their seats in 2022.

  • Nouriel Roubini

November 2021

Company gross operating profits defied the COVID-19 delta variant in the September quarter by rising 4 per cent, led by construction and professional services.

Company profits defy delta to post 4pc quarterly gain

The rise has been led by construction and professional services, and bolstered by the $10 billion in government support.

  • Ronald Mizen
Rex Patrick is taking his fight to the Federal Court.

Senator on the hook for $150,000 in government legal fees

Cross bencher Rex Patrick is suing the Australian Information Commissioner for alleged unreasonable delays in dealing with FOI reviews.

  • Ronald Mizen

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/business-confidence-1mpj