This Month
NAB’s retail boss sees opportunity in bank’s big business lending book
Ana Marinkovic was appointed to lead NAB’s personal banking division just over a year ago and has outlined a strategy that is heavy on cross-selling mortgages.
What if Google just broke itself up? A tech insider makes the case
Unless the tech giant can pull off a few miracles in court, it will be forced to shrink. But instead of resisting change, Google could accelerate it.
May
Warren Buffett’s career is one big argument against competition
His famous search for companies with a “wide economic moat” is a folksy and charming way to say that he wants only impregnable monopolies.
Insurance Australia Group goes west with $1.35b RAC buy
IAG will add The Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia to its brand portfolio after striking a similar deal in Queensland six months ago.
Google faces $20b in damages claims for ‘stealing’ customers
Websites have launched civil claims against Google, representing a new front in the tech titan’s legal battles in Europe.
April
Coalition to allow foreign airlines on domestic routes – to Darwin
The opposition says its election promise would make flights to the Northern Territory cheaper and more frequent, but experts are sceptical.
Google operates illegal ad monopoly, judge rules
The US federal court’s decision increases the possibility of the tech giant being forced to sell some of its assets.
March
New Zealand eyes breaking its supermarket duopoly
The local unit of Woolworths and Foodstuffs New Zealand have a stranglehold on the grocery sector, which has been blamed for high prices.
Is a non-compete clause for your hairdresser overkill?
Barney Martin sold his salon partly because staff kept going freelance. But stylists told a Treasury-commissioned study they shouldn’t have to leave their loyal clients behind.
Supermarket inquiry ends not with a bang but a whimper
Instead of wagging fingers at the big chains for the economic challenges, politicians must get serious about tackling some of the underlying causes of inflation.
Woolworths, Coles warn more red tape means higher grocery prices
Disputing the ACCC’s findings that they have oversized profitability, the supermarket giants say increased costs will be passed onto shoppers.
Why Aussie consumers are losing the supermarket wars
While there is no silver bullet, the ACCC has some recommendations to improve competition in the sector.
Woolworths, Coles among world’s most profitable supermarkets: ACCC
But the regulator, after a year-long investigation, concedes little can be done about their market dominance.
We taught Macquarie how to do mortgages: ING boss
The Dutch giant wants to chase its copy-cat in mortgages and business lending, in another indication of the red-hot competition the big four banks face.
The 210pc insurance tax you didn’t know you were paying
No other tax has such a large economic welfare loss. Despite the Henry Tax Review wanting them scrapped, taxes on insurance premiums continue to distort the market.
Dutton rekindles threat to forcibly break-up insurers
The opposition leader has moved to clear up internal confusion, if not division.
‘Too small to fail’: Small banks push for subsidies
Customer-owned banks have told the Council of Financial Regulators they may need credit rating support, debt guarantees and government subsidies to survive.
February
US judge throws out Aussie start-up’s Google antitrust case
Unlockd founder Matt Berriman has been pursuing Google in US courts for four years over its role in his start-up’s collapse.
Cass-Gottlieb fires warning shot at big telco, energy players
The competition watchdog will keep a sharp eye on the retail sector, but also other essential services such as telecommunications and energy.
January
Banks pick fight with RBA over wholesale payment fees
The central bank is considering stricter caps on “interchange fees” in its review of payment costs. Worth $2.1 billion annually, squeezing this could hurt competition.