Lithium leader doubles down on WA spend
Battery materials giant Albemarle says there is potential to expand its lithium mines in Western Australia and to acquire others as it considers plans to use the state to supply a downstream processing plant in Europe. The Fin
St Barbara slump casts shadow on Genesis plans
St Barbara’s disastrous $780 million acquisition of Atlantic Gold is casting a big shadow over plans by Kerry Stokes-backed Genesis Minerals to consolidate gold assets in Western Australia and create a major new player known as Hoover House. The Fin
New threats force Home Affairs restructure: O’Neil
Clare O’Neil has ordered a restructure of the massive Home Affairs department’s work, part of efforts to better respond to a deteriorating global geopolitical outlook and threats from foreign interference and cyber crime. The Fin
Nationals’ live-export ultimatum
Nationals leader David Littleproud says the party’s commitment to any future Coalition government will be contingent on the reinstatement of the live sheep export trade set to be axed by the Albanese government. The Aus
Rare earths draw $370m in new finance
ASX-listed exploration companies raised more than $3 billion in the December quarter with a flood of money directed to rare earths as the US and its western allies aim to shore up their non-China supply. The Fin
Clock ticks for teens on TikTok
Social media app TikTok has introduced new screen-time limits for its under-18 users, restricting them to an hour of use each day until they change their settings, amid growing concerns of social media addiction. The Aus
Strike uses $136m windfall to ramp up gas acceleration plan
Strike Energy has launched its gas acceleration strategy following receipt of $136m in proceeds from the sale of its Warrego Energy shares. The Aus
WA mining supplier in $635m sale to Malaysia
Onsite Rental Group, a major supplier of equipment to WA’s mining industry, is being sold to Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby Berhad for $635 million. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Investors and experts have criticised the government’s proposal to tax unrealised gains in $3 million-plus super accounts as ‘‘highly discriminatory’’, warning that the move could force retirees to sell shares at a loss.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Beijing yesterday to play a bigger role in ending the war in Ukraine during talks with her new Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of a G20 meeting dominated by acrimony over the conflict.
Page 2: Clare O’Neil has ordered a restructure of the massive Home Affairs department’s work, part of efforts to better respond to a deteriorating global geopolitical outlook and threats from foreign interference and cyber crime.
Page 10: A Republican bill to prevent super funds from basing investment decisions on climate change and social factors passed US Congress on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), setting up a confrontation with President Joe Biden.
Page 12: Visa’s decision to terminate its partnership with iSignthis in April 2020 would not have damaged the share price if it had been disclosed to investors at the time, the Federal Court heard yesterday.
Page 15: The $1 billion craft beer segment in cans and bottles at liquor retailers went backwards for the first time in calendar 2022 as people returned to pubs and bars, leaving many craft brewers feeling the pinch from sharp rises in costs and a jump in interest rates.
Page 16: Battery materials giant Albemarle says there is potential to expand its lithium mines in Western Australia and to acquire others as it considers plans to use the state to supply a downstream processing plant in Europe.
St Barbara’s disastrous $780 million acquisition of Atlantic Gold is casting a big shadow over plans by Kerry Stokes-backed Genesis Minerals to consolidate gold assets in Western Australia and create a major new player known as Hoover House.
Page 18: ASX-listed exploration companies raised more than $3 billion in the December quarter with a flood of money directed to rare earths as the US and its western allies aim to shore up their non-China supply.
The Australian
Page 1: Cheap Australian drones made of cardboard and rubber bands are helping Ukrainian troops fight off Russian invaders, as part of a $33m commitment to supply the country with an array of unmanned systems.
Page 3: Social media app TikTok has introduced new screen-time limits for its under-18 users, restricting them to an hour of use each day until they change their settings, amid growing concerns of social media addiction.
Page 4: Nationals leader David Littleproud says the party’s commitment to any future Coalition government will be contingent on the reinstatement of the live sheep export trade set to be axed by the Albanese government.
Page 13: Commonwealth Bank-backed mortgage broker Lendi has kicked off a sweeping restructure of its business, including axing up to 100 roles as the home loan market continues to slow.
A two-year freeze on coal and cotton exports to China appears to have thawed with a lift in the volume of goods being sent to Australia’s biggest trading partner, but the Albanese government remains cautious about proclaiming an end to Beijing’s unofficial ban.
Page 15: The residential property sector is coming under greater pressure on several fronts as homes take longer to sell, builders pull back and the big dip in prices is forecast to continue despite some respite last month.
Page 16: Strike Energy has launched its gas acceleration strategy following receipt of $136m in proceeds from the sale of its Warrego Energy shares.
Page 20: Iron ore miners surged in their best session since November, extending recent share prices gains over the past few months on optimism that China’s reopening was a win for steel demand.
The West Australian
Page 6: Anthony Albanese is charging ahead with Labor’s plan to phase out live sheep exports, setting up a panel to determine how and when the industry will be shut down — despite the Premier and farmers refusing to support the policy.
Page 8: Premier Mark McGowan has conceded WA was “more aggressive” than other States in its COVID-era efforts to stimulate the residential building sector, but continues to defiantly stick by his generous grants program even as new housing approvals plummet back to the depths reached during the pandemic.
Page 45: Taking daily vitamin D lowers the risk of developing dementia, especially in women, a study suggests.
Business: Australian explorers have more than recovered from a brief stumble in financing to raise just over $3.02 billion in the December quarter, supported by booming demand for lithium and rare earth metals to power the energy transition.
Onsite Rental Group, a major supplier of equipment to WA’s mining industry, is being sold to Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby Berhad for $635 million.
Elon Musk’s much-ballyhooed third Master Plan for Tesla fell flat with investors after failing to offer any firm detail on the company’s long-awaited next generation of electric cars.
Australia’s corporate regulator has vowed to stamp out greenwashing and is warning companies it will use the full force of the law against directors who fail to properly disclose net-zero targets.
AustralianSuper, the nation’s biggest superannuation fund, is on a hiring spree to add staff in New York and London, driving the expansion of its global footprint with recruits in equities and private markets.
The Insurance Commission of WA, one of the State’s biggest Government investors, has turned in an unexpectedly good first-half profit on lower than expected cumulative claims for motor vehicle injury and workers compensation.
