Fresh data to shed light on retail, housing strength
Australians are expected to have pulled back on retail spending after major sales, with the latest data unlikely to shift the dial for the Reserve Bank.
economy, business and finance
US could feel ‘pain’ in China, Mexico trade war: Trump
US President Donald Trump has defended his decision to impose sweeping tariffs on products from Mexico, China and Canada as financial markets react.
Jobs on a string in major energy grid expansion project
A transmission project in one of the most rugged parts of the world is a "litmus test" for whether a state government can stop jobs going offshore, an MP says.
Big bank clips rates as RBA mulls next move
Strong retail spending figures are not expected to deter the Reserve Bank from cutting rates at its next meeting as one big bank lowers fixed-rate loans.
China’s new tariffs seen as ‘measured response’ to US
China has retaliated swiftly with tariffs on US goods after President Donald Trump reignited the trade war between the two superpowers.
Trump says new US sovereign wealth fund may buy TikTok
An executive order signed by US President Donald Trump is set to create a sovereign wealth fund for the United States.
More than $15bn a year to save threatened species
Climate change and other threats have 16 species headed for extinction no matter how much money is spent, new research shows.
Selloff eases as China’s DeepSeek triggers AI rethink
Chinese startup DeepSeek is making waves after launching a free AI assistant it says uses less data at a fraction of the cost of incumbent firms' models.
Top clothing chains to close, shedding hundreds of jobs
More than 250 outlets of two leading retail chains will close, costing nearly 1000 jobs, after receivers failed to find a buyer for the stores.
Last big bank holdout against February rate cut folds
With the stars aligned for a February interest rate cut, borrowers are now concerned with how many cuts the Reserve Bank will hand down.
Record renewables share in grid as power demand climbs
Emissions fell to record lows in the three months to December as renewables notched a record share and coal's contribution dipped below half for the first time.
‘Year of the unit’: cost squeeze drives homebuyer shift
Rising unaffordability and changing lifestyles are driving an unusual turnaround in real estate dynamics as unit prices grow faster than houses in some areas.
US central bank holds interest rates steady
The US central bank has left its benchmark interest rate unchanged after cutting it three times in a row last year.
The ‘existential’ threat facing the corporate watchdog
Corporations and regulators are struggling to adapt to modern business conditions and regular Australians are suffering as a result, says ASIC boss Joe Longo.
Crucial inflation readout to determine RBA rate call
Mortgage relief could be just around the corner if predictions of a faster-than-expected fall in price growth are borne out in ABS data released on Wednesday.
Chalmers buoyant about 2025, ahead of inflation data
Treasurer Jim Chalmers remains confident 2025 will be better economically for Australians after struggles with the cost of living.
Trump stirs tariff pot, toying with fresh threats on EU
A day after taking office, US President Donald Trump has reiterated tariff threats without immediately imposing the taxes he threatened during his campaign.
‘Mum guilt’: parents battle growing school costs
As Australian parents deal with the ballooning cost of school supplies amid other cost-of-living pressures, a minor party is promising relief.
Home construction rises but target remains out of reach
High costs, labour shortages and low productivity are limiting the sector's ability to build new homes as construction activity remains below required levels.
Europe extends hand to US, warns of ‘race to bottom’
The EU is taking a "wait and see" approach to relations with the newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump in an attempt to avoid a trade conflict.
Ballooning capital works blamed for budget blowout
A state will be in the red for some years as its government flags swelling infrastructure costs, as the opposition warns of the risk of potential spending cuts.
I’d rather not use tariffs against China: Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump has presented tariffs as a kind of silver bullet against China during an interview on Fox News.
Australia warned to get productive or be left behind
Fault lines are widening between economic performance of nations and a global body warns Australia risks being left behind if it fails to improve productivity.
TikTok stops working for US users as ban takes effect
A TikTok ban imposed on 170 million American users has taken effect as app stores pull the popular social video platform from their offerings in the US.
Star shares hit the skids as survival odds take a blow
Shares are down seven per cent at Star after the embattled casino company warned of "material uncertainty" about its ability to continue.
Tax breaks for clean aluminium to foil carbon emissions
Australia's aluminium industry is set to share in billions of dollars of tax credits to help emissions-intensive smelters convert to cleaner sources of energy.
Housing affordability blow as construction costs go up
The cost of building a home continues to rise, making it harder for builders to meet supply targets and alleviate housing affordability.
Buyer’s market: 2025 to bring relief to home buyers
A major pullback in house price rises has not stopped the market from extending its growth streak to eight consecutive quarters.
Strong jobs growth data deflates February rate cut hope
A very healthy jobs market is not adding to the case for a February interest rate cut, with all eyes turning to inflation data due in coming weeks.
Why the RBA should rethink key inflation assumption
The strength of Australia's labour market has kept the Reserve Bank from cutting interest rates but growing evidence suggests it's not as crucial as thought.
As dollar dips towards 60c, tariff threat may Trump all
The Aussie dollar is edging closer to the psychologically significant 60 US cents barrier and Donald Trump could determine whether it crashes through in 2025.