ASX 200 little changed after RBA minutes; St Barbara tanks
The sharemarket is continuing to trade flat after the release of minutes from the last meeting of the RBA, which received some support from the IMF overnight. SBM hit with PNG tax bill.
Business
Wages growth cooling faster than expected: RBA
The central bank says wages growth is slowing, with labour supply more abundant than anticipated, as it becomes more optimistic a rate cut could be on the horizon.
Howzat! Behind DAZN’s quest to become Netflix of sport
The UK sports streaming operator has big plans for the way the world watches sport – and Foxtel is set to become a key part of this.
Rio Tinto closes in on $10bn lithium mega-deal
Arcadium Lithium shareholders have voted in favour of the all-cash takeover, but hurdles around its Chinese significant shareholder remain.
IMF backs RBA, warns against govt spending spree
The UN-linked agency has warned against expansionary government policies that could thwart the RBA’s management of ‘the final descent of inflation to target’ as external challenges loom.
ASX clears settlements backlog but not the anger
The accident-prone ASX has fixed its tech glitches that last week held up the settlement of trades, but market participants and investors remain worried about future mishaps.
Cashed-up state twists the knife
WA’s government says it can afford to invest in roads, ports and infrastructure even as it maintained a conservative position on iron ore price projections that boost its bottom line.
Breakthrough Victoria-funded med-tech enters administration
A Melbourne med-tech start-up at the centre of a court fight has fallen into administration, as the company’s co-founder lobbed a shot at Victoria’s $2bn venture capital fund.
Commentary
Retailers face tough times but consumers are starting to spend
Retail performance has long been a bellwether for our economy, and this year’s Christmas and peak trading period have never been more crucial for Australian retailers.
Nation’s banks must do much more for small businesses
Running a small business in Australia is tough, fraught with risk and close to half of them fail within the first three years. So what can be done to help them?
‘Laughing stock’: ASX jumping from one crisis to the next
Problems of this magnitude – threats to the operation and integrity of our financial markets – require leadership and an understanding of the knock-on effects for stockbrokers and end investors.
Spotlight
Skin in the game: PolyNovo soars on monthly sales rise
Shares in biotech PolyNovo, which supplies artificial skin to treat burns and other injuries across the globe, climbed after it announced record monthly sales.
Less ham on menu this Christmas: Primo Foods
Ham is the centrepiece of the Christmas dinner table, but the high cost of living is leading to families cutting back this season, according to Primo Foods.
Bondi Ponzi scheme promoter avoids jail time
David Sipina, who promoted the fraudulent Courtenay House Ponzi scheme which left creditors owed more than $50m, has avoided jail time after pleading guilty.
AI start-up saving firms money by changing the message
Sydney start-up Traffyk says its AI-powered platform has saved a big four consulting firm more than $100m a year by eradicating productivity-sapping employee communications.
Streamlined AMP ready to grow after tough times: CEO
After more than three years of slimming down its business, financial services company AMP is set for growth, including possible acquisitions in 2025, according to CEO Alexis George.
WiseTech founder’s ex-lover snaps up $2.65m Bondi unit
The WiseTech imbroglio has faded from the headlines, but last week saw the whisper-quiet purchase of a Bondi Beach apartment by one of the drama’s key players, beauty entrepreneur Linda Rogan.
More wrongs than rights at the AHRC?
A case of curious priorities over at the Australian Human Rights Commission where hand-picked appointee Giridharan Sivaraman seems to prefer playing politics over action on anti-Semitism.
Freehills partner given notice over synagogue tweet
Herbert Smith Freehills leaders have voted to remove one of its longstanding partners, Damien Hazard, over a ‘deeply offensive’ tweet targeting Jeremy Leibler.
ATO claims Perth Glory owes $1m in unpaid taxes
New Perth Glory owner Ross Pelligra will need to pay close to $1m to the tax office if he wants to fend off the court-ordered liquidation of the A-League club.
Freehills lawyers implore action as ‘anti-Zionist’ partner told to stay away
Jewish lawyers at Herbert Smith Freehills have submitted a letter of complaint about Damien Hazard, who’s been directed to not attend the office pending an investigation of his social media.
The Australian’s 50 Best Photos of 2024
From the US election to the Paris Olympics, from natural disasters to wars, and from tragedies to triumphs, as well as the 60th Anniversary of The Australian, 2024 was the best of times and worst of times.
Are these the best Christmas ads of the year?
Christmas is coming and the festive ads are flowing, but with so many brands fighting for our attention, is there a formula for nailing the great Christmas campaign?
Canva teams with Pinterest to champion design trends
Under Armour chases next gen athletes in battle for sportswear dominance
Nine’s sales boss suddenly calls it quits
Expert stock pickers reveal their end-of-year tips
It’s been a rocky December for investors so we asked four expert stock pickers what they would buy, sell and hold to get their portfolios into shape.
Barefoot Investor: ‘How I took on the fake Scott Pape scammers’
Barefoot Investor tried to uncover Facebook’s fake Scott Pape scammers but it all descended into chaos with his wife away, the kids sick and German backpackers running his farm.
Money Puzzle Podcast: What top CEOs are expecting in 2025
The personality of the CEO is crucial to the operation of most top stocks on the ASX – here’s what the bosses are saying about the year ahead.
‘Evil loop of dopamine’: HMD vows to make a better phone
As Australia bans kids from using social media, the company that revived Nokia says it is taking cues from Lego to develop a new device to stop young people becoming glued to their screens.
Google Street View catches man ‘stuffing body into his car’
A Google maps image of a man loading a large white plastic bag into the boot of his car has led to the arrest of two people on suspicion of murder.
Mobile Tyre Shop hopes to raise $6m as demand for EVs revs up
Growing demand for electric vehicles, which wear out tyres more than internal combustion engine cars, is set to bode well for Mobile Tyre Shop as it targets a $6m pre-IPO raise.
Amazon’s popstar surprise for last-minute online Christmas shoppers
Amazon says most Australians will be able to shop online until Sunday and still receive their orders in time – and has recruited singer Guy Sebastian to surprise some lucky customers.
Tech giants face big stick on abuse content
Cloud storage services and messaging platforms will be required to ‘take meaningful steps’ to tackle sexual abuse material and terror content.
Meet the team
Perry Williams
With 20 years’ experience analysing global economic trends, Perry is a recognised authority in business journalism, having reported on business news across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the Middle East.
Amber Plum
A longstanding member of The Australian and The Australian Business Network, Amber joined the masthead as Deputy Business Editor in 2016 and was promoted in 2023.
Louise Brannelly
Louise has over 20 years of experience as a national content editor and business journalist. Louise is skilled in identifying and analysing audience trends with keen insight to deliver compelling journalism.
2025’s hottest resources stocks: Pt 1
In the first part of our end-of-year special, seven fundies and analysts give their commodity and resources stock picks for 2025.
2025’s hottest resources stocks: Pt 2
In the second part of our end-of-year special, seven more fundies and analysts give their commodity and resources stock picks for 2025.
3 key megatrends to shape investing
Key investment ‘megatrends’ to watch out for in 2025? Geopolitical tensions/rising defence spending, energy demand and AI growth.
More lithium M&As on the cards in 2025
Research firm Allens says more M&A activity is expected in 2025, confirming lithium’s positive long-term outlook.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business