The Morrison government’s pandemic-era policy to grant cash-strapped workers early access to their superannuation did little to improve the wellbeing or financial stress experienced by those who withdrew from their savings, new research suggests.
Where the trend in business is to slim down, spin-off and simplify, Ryan Stokes has been going in the other direction.
The US imported about $US400m worth of Australian steel and $439m of aluminium in 2024. So what effect will Donald Trump’s latest move have on business and the Albanese government?
The promise of sweeping steep steel tariffs is set to deliver the first big test for Anthony Albanese’s relationship with the White House in the Trump 2.0 era.
Australians returned more than $11m in gifts, or 88,600 items, in the fortnight after Christmas and it could be down to people cashing in what they can to make ends meet, a data collector says.
ASX ends flat as markets await key US jobs numbers. CBA and Westpac hit record highs and NAB an 18-year high. Domino’s jumps 21 per cent, as Collins Foods and Nick Scali also gain. Amazon falls after earnings disappoint.
Businesses are delaying or cancelling investment decisions due to rising uncertainty in the economy, due to an unclear policy outlook.
Albanese is anxious to remind the Trump administration that the US has long enjoyed a current account surplus with Australia. But if feels like fighting the last war.
Australian businesses are fed up with the high cost of labour, which could be bad news for your next pay rise.
Woodside Energy chief executive Meg O’Neill says it will be a major government policy failure if Australia cannot deliver cheap and reliable energy.
While the financial strain continued to ease in the December quarter, new figures reveal that workers faced the sharpest rise in their living costs of all household cohorts.
Australia’s Future Fund is significantly different to the politically charged model Donald Trump wants for the US, but maintaining its strength in our national interest will be closely watched.
Strategists expect some optimism in corporate outlook statements as the economy appears to have troughed and consumers are turning positive as interest rate cuts loom.
ASX 200 gains 0.5 per cent, led by resources, tech, property, industrials and communications. Macquarie weighs on financial sector. Google owner Alphabet’s earnings disappoint. Brookfield lobs new offer to takeover target Insignia. Amcor lifts on reaffirmed guidance, estimates win. Former Star CFO cops ban.
An erosion of financial discipline by big-spending state governments is hamstringing planned budget improvements and is raising the risk of credit rating downgrades.
Canada and Mexico are writing the playbook in real time over how to navigate Donald Trump’s trade threats.
Donald Trump sees his threat of tariffs as a powerful lever to use in negotiations with other countries. It’s all about parleying, not economics.
Australian stocks end flat, Aussie dollar dives 0.9 per cent as rebounds halted after US tariffs on China go ahead and China retaliates. Woolworths, Westpac announce leadership changes. Nine remains in ‘difficult position’: UBS.
KPMG has warned Australia’s tight labour market is still placing upwards pressure on inflation and the Reserve Bank cannot risk lowering the interest rate later this month.
The President’s trade assault, which makes no distinction between ally and adversary, is an assertion of US dominance with significant risks.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics