Today
Israel strikes heart of Beirut, killing six
Witnesses reported hearing a massive blast, and a security source said it targeted a building in the central district of Bachoura, near parliament.
- 29 mins ago
- Timour Azhari and Ari Rabinovitch
Yesterday
Chinese home buyers scout showrooms at midnight after stimulus
The swift turnaround in sentiment of retail investors has fuelled hopes that the country’s property market freefall may finally be halted.
- Bloomberg News
This Month
ASX caught in China-fuelled short squeeze
Avoiding China and owning banks was an easy route to beating the market. Now those winning bets are crumbling.
- Alex Gluyas
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.
- Alexandra Stevenson
September
- Opinion
- Federal budget
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.
- Jennifer Hewett
- 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.
- James Titcomb
ASX hits fresh record; Dutton calls for arrests; Five bubble dangers
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
‘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.
- Alastair Gale and Yuki Hagiwara
- 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.
- Updated
- Jessica Sier
BYD distributor insists no ‘kill switch’ inside its car software
The Australian face of China’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer said it cannot remotely control any EVs sold here, after the US sought a ban linked to spy fears.
- Jessica Sier
China pledges more stimulus, driving asset prices higher
China’s Politburo injected fresh excitement into financial markets on Thursday, pushing for more fiscal spending to stabilise the property sector.
- Updated
- Alex Gluyas
- Analysis
- Electric vehicles
I drove the ute that could ruin weekends. Here’s what happened
Electric vehicles have a veneer of delicacy; an assumption the BYD team is keen to dismiss with the new Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute.
- Jessica Sier
- Exclusive
- Asia-Pacific
Japan’s new ambassador has high hopes for closer ties
In an interview, Kazuhiro Suzuki says the two countries are “indispensable” to achieving peace and prosperity in a region where the shadow of China looms large.
- James Curran
- Opinion
- Driverless cars
Why is Australia stuck in the slow lane on driverless cars?
Australian regulations put a far higher bar on robot drivers than human ones. That makes little sense when it’s likely that the tech is already safer.
- Marion Terrill
Inflation cools; PM targets negative gearing; Macquarie fined
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Trump pledges to take jobs and factories from allies, China
The former president promised a “manufacturing renaissance” as the centrepiece of his plan, saying he would offer foreign firms low taxes and little regulation.
- Tim Reid and Gram Slattery
‘NATO of critical minerals’ deal to hit China dominance
Local mining and processing projects could be funded by more than a dozen like-minded nations as part of a new joint financing body agreed to by 14 countries.
- Phillip Coorey
Federal government warned of Chinese EV software security risk
The federal government is being warned that a timid approach to risks from Chinese vehicle software could undermine national security.
- Simon Evans, Tom Rabe and Jessica Sier
Markets cheer China stimulus, but pundits warn it’s no ‘bazooka’
Iron ore futures surged 6 per cent, triggering a rally in ASX mining stocks, but China’s latest support package may not have a lasting impact on commodity prices.
- Alex Gluyas
China unleashes stimulus blitz to hit annual growth goal
The central bank announced a cut to the amount of money banks must hold in reserve, taking it to the lowest level since at least 2020. It also cut a key policy rate.
- Updated
- Wenjin Lv and Alan Wong