Yesterday
APRA warned Cuscal on risk settings ahead of IPO
The payments company, set to list on the ASX next week, is working with the regulator to improve compliance systems after an external review disclosed in its prospectus.
- James Eyers and Lucas Baird
This Month
ACCC takes on Woolworths boss in rare intervention
The supermarket giant appeared at a public hearing on Monday as the regulator investigated the market power of it and its biggest rival, Coles.
- Carrie LaFrenz and Tom McIlroy
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Hilmer reforms of 1990s helped lift productivity. We can do it again
Fred Hilmer’s reforms were groundbreaking because a series of small changes had a massive cumulative effect. With changes to competition policy, we could lift Australia’s GDP by up to $45 billion a year.
- Danielle Wood and Alex Robson
Supermarkets face earnings crunch if loyalty schemes are dismantled
Macquarie warns of a drag on the performance of Coles and Woolworths if the competition watchdog disrupts their customer retention programs.
- Carrie LaFrenz
- Exclusive
- Infrastructure Summit
One business is paying $7.4m in Sydney road tolls
Data compiled by the NSW government shows the high cost of tolls for companies as the state pushes ahead with new laws to monitor the prices motorists are being charged.
- Jenny Wiggins
October
- Exclusive
- Mergers & acquisitions
ACCC to target liquor, pathology, cancer clinics in merger crackdown
The bulk of private equity transactions in Australia will also receive greater scrutiny due to ACCC worries serial acquisitions and roll-ups are flying under the radar.
- Ronald Mizen
Europe likens probe into cheap tomato exports to Beijing trade wars
Australian officials have this month begun an inquiry into whether Italian groups are dumping products sold as Coles, Woolworths and Aldi home brands.
- Simon Evans
- Opinion
- Opinion
After half a century, a new era of competition law begins
Fifty years of the Trades Practices Act should be celebrated by adapting to changing times, with competitive and efficient markets in front of mind.
- Gina Cass-Gottlieb
AMP eyes February for long-planned expansion into business banking
The company, which already has a major mortgage loan book, will target start-ups and sole traders as it attempts to find higher margins.
- James Eyers
Suppliers, pollies reject supermarket bid to shift blame
Both major parties have hit back at Coles and Woolworths while suppliers say shoppers are only paying a fraction of cost rises.
- Ronald Mizen and Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Howard Marks, Taylor Swift and why investors should fear populism
Wall Street legend Howard Marks says populist government intervention is on the rise, and big companies are often the enemy. But investors remain convinced size matters.
- Updated
- James Thomson
Coles chief Leah Weckert says its promotions are genuine
The retail giant expects more shoppers to stay home at Christmas as they face stretched budgets, and says it is working on keeping its products affordable.
- Carrie LaFrenz
Private markets scrutiny at odds with ‘faster, targeted’ mergers
Changes to merger laws aimed at giving the ACCC power to scrutinise share purchases that don’t result in outright ownership have raised concerns among competition lawyers.
- Ronald Mizen
Chemist Warehouse goes to war with card fees – using QR codes
The pharmacy and retailing giant pays $15 million in transaction costs every year. Now it has signed on to a new NAB-backed system that circumvents them.
- James Eyers
- Opinion
- Opinion
Government has listened to concerns on merger law reform
The targeted and balanced merger bill will see most mergers approved faster, with more time to consider the contentious ones.
- Jim Chalmers
Google targeted for break-up in landmark US case
The US Department of Justice could seek “structural remedies” such as forced product sales after a judge’s ruling of illegal monopoly in searches.
- Stefania Palma and Stephen Morris
Mortgage brokers go to war with NSW over tax grab
Moves by the state to levy payroll tax on aggregators connecting mortgage brokers with lenders will force some of them to quit the industry.
- James Eyers
Manager to pay $500k for stealing clients and mowing his phone
Craig Martin faces the rare damages order over his move to a rival firm after his phones were immersed in water or “met with the unhappy fate of being run over by a lawn mower”.
- David Marin-Guzman
September
Open banking limps to life with ANZ customers seeking full picture
ANZ is the first major bank to use open banking to aggregate multiple accounts through its app. Ultimately, it will be used as a tool to lure new customers.
- James Eyers
US to sue Visa over debit card fees
The US Justice Department is preparing to file a lawsuit against the payments giant over alleged anticompetitive behaviour.
- Lauren Hirsch and David McCabe