Mortgage rates hit record lows
Concerns about slowing global growth are driving down the cost of borrowing to record lows and allowing Australia’s big banks to offer their lowest-ever fixed-rate home loans. The Fin
Iron ore veteran rises in Rio rejig
Rio Tinto chief Sam Walsh has centralised the company’s global expansion projects into one unit, creating another global role at the company’s Perth iron ore headquarters he used to head and putting one of his former iron ore employees in the role. The Aus
Qantas split not a political problem
A decision by Qantas Airways to split its domestic and international business to attract more foreign investment could avoid any major political opposition. The Fin
BHP surge sets stage for buyback
BHP Billiton is expected to launch a buyback programme worth at least $3 billion in August, with cash flows at the world’s largest miner set to surge due to stronger than expected new production forecasts. The Fin
No peace after Antares vote
The battle between Antares Energy and activist fund Lone Star Value Investors might be over, but the war between the two parties rolls on, with fierce attacks from both sides continuing. The Fin
Woodside cools buyback hopes
Woodside Petroleum chairman Michael Chaney has warned investors not to expect automatically a broader share buyback should its proposed $US2.68 billion deal with Royal Dutch Shell be voted down. The Aus
Premier wants Buswell to pay
Colin Barnett has for the first time said he believes Troy Buswell should pay for the damage done to his ministerial vehicle after the former treasurer crashed into several parked cars, Telstra pole and his own front gate on his way home from a wedding five months ago. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Concerns about slowing global growth are driving down the cost of borrowing to record lows and allowing Australia’s big banks to offer their lowest-ever fixed-rate home loans.
Tony Abbott gave media proprietor Rupert Murdoch a detailed briefing on his controversial $5.5 billion paid parental leave scheme before he announced it without consulting his shadow cabinet or MPs.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott wants an urgent new search of the eastern Ukraine debris field to find missing bodies from flight MH17.
Page 3: Superannuation funds will collapse and the retirement savings of millions will be in turmoil unless the federal government aborts a review of the default super award system, the Financial Services Council claims.
Page 5: Leading company chairman Michael Chaney has added to the business community’s complaints that the political impasse in the Senate could undermine the economy.
Page 6: A decision by Qantas Airways to split its domestic and international business to attract more foreign investment could avoid any major political opposition.
Page 8: Business urgently needs to catch up to the digital revolution or risk losing out to international competitors, says the new Australian chief executive of Boston Consulting Group, Andrew Clark.
Page 18: The government will spend nearly $80 billion this year on goods and services, according to the budget.
Page 19: BHP Billiton is expected to launch a buyback programme worth at least $3 billion in August, with cash flows at the world’s largest miner set to surge due to stronger than expected new production forecasts.
Page 21: Aurizon chief executive Lance Hockridge claimed the expansion of a coal export terminal at Queensland’s Abbot Point will be done in an “environmentally sensitive manner” as he reiterated confidence in Asian demand for Australian resources.
Page 25: The battle between Antares Energy and activist fund Lone Star Value Investors might be over, but the war between the two parties rolls on, with fierce attacks from both sides continuing.
The Australian
Page 1: Up to 100 Australian Federal Police officers and military personnel could be sent to help secure the MH17 crash site in Ukraine, under one of a range of options the Abbott government is considering to bring home the bodies of Australian citizens and residents killed in the disaster.
Page 2: The Greens are prepared to vote down Tony Abbott’s flagship parental leave policy out of dismay that key details of the scheme have been kept out of the budget despite the $9.8 billion cost of the payments.
Page 4: Three of the nation’s biggest banks have slashed interest rates on their fixed-rate mortgages to below 5 per cent for the first time in a move that will save homebuyers thousands of dollars.
Page 5: Women must work twice as hard as men to be regarded as “half as good’’, Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells declared yesterday as she denounced sexism in politics.
Page 7: The Attorney-General, George Brandis, has warned those opposed to changing the constitution to recognise indigenous Australians to hold their fire and vowed that his government would not shelve a national vote despite low levels of awareness.
Page 19: Australian company boards are more prepared to pursue growth initiatives than they have been for many years, encouraged by the support of shareholders who are ready to back new spending on acquisitions and new projects instead of simply pushing for higher dividends.
Page 19: Netflix has emerged as the latest media player to run its ruler over local television and movie streaming business Quickflix in a potential play that could be used as a stepping stone for the US streaming giant’s launch in the Australian market.
BHP Billiton chief executive Andrew Mackenzie’s productivity push at the world’s biggest miner is hitting all the right notes, with another expectation-beating quarter from its iron ore and coking coal operations on the nation’s east and west coasts.
Page 20: Rio Tinto chief Sam Walsh has centralised the company’s global expansion projects into one unit, creating another global role at the company’s Perth iron ore headquarters he used to head and putting one of his former iron ore employees in the role.
Sirius Resources is striking while the iron is hot, pulling in $189 million from an institutional share placement to cover the equity component of its planned $473m development of its Nova nickel project in Western Australia’s remote Fraser Range.
Page 21: Telstra has announced plans to slash more than 600 jobs from its business as the telco shifts large chunks of its workforce overseas to support its growth in the Asian region.
Page 22: Woodside Petroleum chairman Michael Chaney has warned investors not to expect automatically a broader share buyback should its proposed $US2.68 billion deal with Royal Dutch Shell be voted down.
The West Australian
Page 3: Colin Barnett has for the first time said he believes Troy Buswell should pay for the damage done to his ministerial vehicle after the former treasurer crashed into several parked cars, Telstra pole and his own front gate on his way home from a wedding five months ago.
Page 9: Resigned Synergy chairman Michael Smith says Energy Minister Mike Nahan told him he had offered the job of executive chairman to another WA business person — a conversation that contributed to his decision to quit.
Page 13: Increased height limits for Cottesloe would not clear the way for high-rise or Gold Coast-style development, Colin Barnett said yesterday as he suggested the Government could turn its attention to redeveloping the beachfront.
Business: Finbar will return to South Perth, the scene of its first apartment projects, to develop a landmark for the city on the 7200sqm mixed-use Civic Triangle.
After a decade at the coalface of mining services, MACA’s Ross Williams is coming up for air.
BHP Billiton expects to achieve a 15th consecutive year of record iron ore production after smashing expectations with a 20 per cent boost to full-year output.
Mineral Resources chairman Peter Wade says the company still hopes to win work on development of the West Pilbara project despite losing out in its surprise tilt for Aquila Resources.