Sea of green as Aussie shares notch highest-ever close
Investors have shrugged off the previous week's gloom to send Australian equities to their best-ever close as rate-sensitive stocks led the bourse higher.
Economy, Business and Finance
Price floor sends rare earths shares through the roof
Shares in rare earths miners are soaring as the federal government indicates its support for a taxpayer-funded minimum price for the electronics ingredients.
Fast approvals only add to housing construction logjam
Hastening development approvals without increasing building capacity will only add to the bottleneck in housing construction, researchers warn.
Australia shouldn’t try to reinvent the AI wheel
Australian companies should boost productivity by using existing artificial intelligence tools rather than trying to create sovereign models, a US expert says.
Banks, miners lead Aussie share market to record highs
Continued strength in the mining sector and hopes of incoming interest rate relief have helped lift the Australian stock market to fresh highs.
Glencore scraps plan for New York listing, flags cuts
Glencore says it will keep its primary listing in London, shelving a possible move to New York.
Novo Nordisk warns of layoffs as pressure mounts
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, Europe's most valuable company, is eyeing potential cost-cutting measures.
Life-saving tech for kids absent at under-fire hospital
An inquiry has found a purportedly world-class hospital lacks essential technology, duplicates training and operates in isolation from a state health network.
‘Struggling more than ever’: Debt reaches six-year high
The number of Australians seeking help with debt has reached a record high as housing stress and utility costs weigh on budgets.
Electric goes large: low-emission utes, vans get a show
Utes that can be plugged in and vans that run on batteries have gone on show in Australia for the first time, which experts say is proof the market has moved.
Rates take back seat to affordability for home buyers
Interest rates might be weighing less on Australians' decision to buy or sell a property, with affordability now ranked as the leading influence.
‘Great friends’ Australia, NZ vow closer defence ties
Australia and New Zealand are chasing stronger military and economic ties, with the latter open to following its neighbour's lead on frigate procurement.
Mortgage holders ready for relief after past rates blow
The Reserve Bank of Australia board is expected to deliver mortgage holders more hip-pocket relief in its upcoming interest rates decision.
Smelter rescue bolsters nation’s critical metals future
Catastrophe has been avoided with the bailout of two smelters, says a union that now urges governments to safeguard the nation's metal manufacturing capability.
Australia to argue for tariff removal after US reprieve
Australia has been granted a rare reprieve from higher US tariffs on its goods but officials haven't given up hope of the levies being removed entirely.
Fading Star: casino group loses shine with record fall
Embattled casino operator Star Entertainment's shares have sunk to an all-time low after months of negotiations to sell a riverfront mega-project collapsed.
1400 batteries in a day: Aussies soak up solar subsidy
Australia could double the number of household solar batteries installed in a year, figures reveal, as consumers rush to take advantage of a subsidy.
Depth of US-Australia ties on show in tariff reprieve
While face-to-face talks with Donald Trump remain elusive, a US decision to spare Australia from increased tariffs highlights the strength of the partnership.
Prefab house ferried to island by night wins top award
A house built in a factory and ferried to one of the nation's favourite holiday islands has won Australian House of the Year at the 2025 Houses Awards.
Green hydrogen hype fades but future hopes are bright
Two major Australian green hydrogen projects have been abandoned within weeks but experts say it will give investors time to rethink the future of the fuel.
Upward spending trend unlikely to shift needle on rates
Splurging shoppers are unlikely to dent the chances of an August interest rate cut, with consumer data tipped to deliver an upward spending trend.
Rivers of gold pour into Kalgoorlie for mining forum
Goldminers were beaming while uranium diggers ran for cover as mining's winners and losers took centre stage at a leading industry conference.
Airbnb hosts say caps won’t shift them to rental market
Short-term rental hosts would be more likely to leave their properties empty than list them on the long-term rental market to aid supply, a survey shows.
House price growth spurt shows no signs of easing
Further interest rate cuts on the horizon have stirred the nation's housing market with prices rising for a sixth straight month alongside demand.
Bundoora to Host Melbourne’s Largest Electric Bus Depot in Major Clean Transport Milestone
Melbourne’s north is set to lead Australia in clean public transport with the construction of the country’s largest electric bus depot in Bundoora, enabling 188 zero-emissions buses to service the region under a fully integrated, state-backed initiative.
‘Economic death spiral’ fear over ailing copper smelter
A delegation is visiting Canberra to plead for a bailout for the copper industry to prevent an "economic death spiral" in north Queensland.
Star’s sale of Queens Wharf entertainment hub stalled
Star Entertainment Group says it is unlikely to finalise an deal to sell its half-stake in a Brisbane entertainment complex by Thursday's deadline.
Rio Tinto profits slip as prices weigh on performance
One of the world's biggest iron ore miners has posted its weakest first-half profit in years as lower global demand continues to drag on the commodity's price.
Jigsaw coming together for further interest rate relief
A soft inflation print and surprisingly strong retail sales paint a rosy picture of the Australian economy ahead of a key Reserve Bank rate meeting.
Surprise gas guzzlers identified in vehicle road tests
Several popular cars consume more petrol than their manufacturers promise, tests show, and hybrid vehicles are among some of the worst offenders.
‘Gaping hole’ in social media ban as YouTube plugged in
YouTube will be included in a social media ban for children under 16, but uncertainty surrounds how the world-first laws will be enforced.