Featured Opinion
Chalmers’ ‘new growth model’ lacking on the supply side
Jim Chalmers is right to say that Australia cannot draw an “artificial distinction between our prosperity and our security”. It has been a theme of The Australian Financial Review’s since our 2022 Business Summit.
Editorial
The US presidential election is casting a long shadow over the Fed
Lingering inflation has caused hopes for US interest rate cuts to wither. That means the Federal Reserve risks becoming dragged into a divisive election.
Columnist
No safe spaces for Jewish students at universities
Vice chancellors say what’s happening on campuses here is a million miles away from what’s happening in the US. That’s a statement of wishful thinking – not reality.
Columnist
Powell bristles at election influence on rate cuts
The Federal Reserve chairman has taken umbrage at suggestions monetary policy decisions will be influenced by the US presidential election.
United States correspondent
Minimise capability gap while waiting for the new fleet to surface
Ten years from now, Australia will have its most potent navy in decades. In the interim, it will have the least capable in more than half a century.
Defence expert
Quantum a better bet than burning a billion on solar panels
But even if this is the right place to deploy such a huge sum, we know too little about whether this was the best way to spend it.
Editorial
Chalmers came to Sydney, left his humility in Canberra
The treasurer promotes the national security benefits of protectionism, but can’t explain how his government can find better investments than the private sector.
Senior correspondent
Chalmers’ recipe for friendly foreign investment ignores the basics
The treasurer has a grand new take on industrial policy, but there’s little evidence of the reforms that international investors seek.
Columnist
More From Today
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Bonza’s grounding strands airline competition too
Had the government dealt with some of the highly public problems of aviation with more alacrity than it has, the failure of one small player would not have seemed such a blow.
- 25 mins ago
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Wesfarmers sprays growth bets, waiting for payoff
Wesfarmers’ hefty businesses proved their resilience in the pandemic. Now, with shares breaking $65 for the first time, Rob Scott needs us to think about growth.
- 1 hr ago
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Woolies’ reputational crisis has cost it $8b and counting
The supermarket giant has aggressively brought down prices, but its sales are growing far more slowly than its great rival. That’s a serious problem.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The ‘astonishing’ number in NAB’s profit
There’s a very good reason why new boss Andrew Irvine won’t change the bank’s strategy too much.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Investors aren’t falling for Powell’s ‘confidence’ trick
The Fed chairman has made it clear the bar for a rate rise is very high. But while he hasn’t lost faith in disinflation, rate cuts are moving further away, too.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Flat Chat
There’s more trouble coming for apartment owners. Here’s why
The Netstrata insurance scandal rocked the strata management industry in NSW but that’s just the beginning as an independent inquiry starts to dig deeper.
- Jimmy Thomson
- Drinks With Max Allen
- Wine & spirits
Drinking alone? Here’s how to keep it interesting
Finishing the same bottle off over a few evenings can get a little dull. An Australian company has come up with an innovative alternative.
- Max Allen
Yesterday
- Opinion
- Property development
Housing construction is collapsing around Australia. Here’s why
Developers can charge buyers more, or the costs can come down to make apartment developments viable. It’s clear which is better, Robert Harley writes.
- Robert Harley
Tritium collapse a cautionary tale for PsiQuantum support
Readers’ letters on the possible risks and rewards of investing in a quantum computing start-up; the disappointing demise of Bonza; Norway’s leadership on resource taxes; super funds avoiding liability for scammers; and a call for evidence for new gas developments.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Beware big tech’s AI profit gap
Amazon’s stellar earnings underscore big tech’s profit challenge: cost-cutting is done, and the payoff from AI investments are still some way off.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Are we returning to the late ’90s high interest rate era?
I’m starting to wonder whether high interest rates might last a lot longer than many people, including me, have been predicting.
- Paul Krugman
- Opinion
- Australian economy
PM must pick his winners with more care
The Prime Minister has never seen a hi-viz project he didn’t like. But industry policy must be far more discriminating in a labour-short economy.
- John Quiggin
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Bullock must now warn that interest rates may rise again
When the RBA board meets next week, the key question governor Michele Bullock will be grappling with is the future pace of disinflation.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Quantum Computing
Only quantum physics can explain an investment this weird
The federal government has replaced sports rorts with a quantum rort that will not make real revolutions like AI go any faster.
- Toby Walsh
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Down markets draw out the year’s biggest share trades
Big block trades are flying this week, which only ramps up the chase for the next big trade.
- Updated
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Deal makers deeply sceptical about Chalmers’ FIRB reboot
While a clearer approval path for foreign buyers who are “frequent flyers” has been welcomed, bankers and lawyers worry the devil is in the detail.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- National security
Modi mania comes at a price
Revelations that Indian spies were kicked out of Australia is a reminder of the need to be wary when it comes to dealing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Andrew Tillett
- Opinion
- Work/life balance
Americans have more money, Europeans more time. Which is better?
Life expectancy, happiness, sustainability and innovation are among the factors shaping work attitudes. But money matters most to many.
- Simon Kuper
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Star chief’s sacking reveals boardroom exit wounds
“There is a narrative behind every departure,” former Star boss Robbie Cooke says. Unfortunately for Cooke, we’ve been given a rare glimpse into his.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Interest rates
The Fed won’t move on rates, but investors will still hang on Jerome Powell’s every word
If the Fed concludes overnight that US inflation is stuck at around 3 per cent, it’s unlikely to cut rates at all this year and that will weigh on asset prices, including shares.
- Karen Maley
- Opinion
- Melbourne house prices
Melbourne property market is due for a comeback
Oxford Economics predicts the median Melbourne house price will grow 21 per cent over the next three years, outpacing Sydney’s forecast 18 per cent expected growth.
- Sam Tamblyn
