Retail sales miss lends support to likely rate cuts
Despite heavy discounting during the Black Friday sales, consumers remain cautious amid elevated interest rates and above-target inflation.
Economics
Albanese passes the buck on rates
As investors moved to bolster their bets of a February rate cut, Anthony Albanese has given his most strident defence yet of the recent surge in government spending.
Are we there yet? Howard Marks revisits bubble.com warning
A quarter of a century after predicting the dot.com crash, influential US billionaire investor Howard Marks sees some worrying signs returning to shares.
February cut possible, but don’t bet the house on it
One of the key issues is whether or not these figures, both the good and the bad aspects, will make any difference to the deliberations of the Reserve Bank next month. Is there enough in the data to affect their thinking?
English teachers wanted: LinkedIn
Love to travel? Have a passion for the English language? How about wine? Some of the most in-demand jobs in the country are English teachers, travel agents and sommeliers.
Albanese refuses to reveal tax plans
Anthony Albanese has refused to reveal if he will be taking new tax changes to this year’s federal election, as workers are predicted to fund a greater share of government spending despite the early benefits of the stage three tax cuts.
Nine faces its make or break-up moment
The under-pressure broadcaster was prepared to bet big on television and lost. Now it has a fight on its hands to prove it should stay together.
Shares lose polish as bond yields rise and economic surprise fades
The near-term outlook for stocks appears to be challenging as US economic data ceases to exceed expectations and bond yields rise on Donald Trump’s policy promises.
AI, inflation, cyber threats keep CEOs awake at night
Artificial intelligence, cyber security risks and high inflation are the red flag issues keeping Australian business leaders awake at night, according to KPMG.
Trump’s tariffs already rattling world trade
The mere spectre of higher rates is already warping supply chains, as firms scramble to import goods – and even Brompton Bikes is eyeing its first US factory.
Expect a deals bonanza as rates decline, say investment bankers
Rate cuts and post-federal election policy stability should trigger a greater number of deals in 2025 after the highest volume of withdrawn transactions in 14 years, industry experts say.
Australian businesses ‘need policy support to take on US’
Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott has warned Australia must lift its performance in the face of competitive pressure from the new pro-business Trump administration.
Want a high paying job in AI? Things aren’t looking good
Competition for jobs in artificial intelligence has grown fierce as more than 1000 advertised roles have disappeared from jobs boards over the past two years, a fall of 35 per cent.
Annuities competitor needed for retirees, says Challenger
Retirement income giant Challenger monopolises the annuities sector and yet its chief executive says it desperately needs more competition to provide retirees with better options.
ATO told to go easy on SMEs’ tax debts
While the ATO faces a $35.6bn tax bill from small business, the industry boss warned the agency against ‘biting off the hand that feeds it’.
Australia and India must work for mutual benefit
The sporting rivalry is playing out to packed crowds at the cricket grounds, and politically the past five years have seen relations at an all-time high.
Libs warn 10,000 firms at risk of bankruptcy
The Coalition has forecast an extra 10,000 businesses will go under by the time the next parliament sits as economists say neither Anthony Albanese nor Peter Dutton have credible plans to address the nation’s economic challenges.
Iron ore slump to stay as Xi backs growth
While Xi Jinping urged confidence in China’s economy, experts project the falling value in Australia’s top exports will continue.
Bankers pin their hopes on an end to the IPO drought
What does 2025 have in store for the domestic IPO and capital raisings market? In a roundtable discussion, three top investment bankers explain why they foresee better conditions ahead.
New UAE, Australia trade deal bucks protectionist trend
Against increased talk of tariffs and protectionism, the UAE and Australia are demonstrating the power of co-operation with the UAE-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics/page/6