Retirees urged to sell homes
Most retirees could reduce their reliance on the age pension, enjoy a higher standard of living and wipe billions from the budget deficit by tapping into a sliver of the $1 trillion tied up in the family home says a major report for the Coalition government. The Fin
Northern Star spots golden opportunity
Weakness in the US dollar gold price should throw up another wave of acquisition opportunities for Australian goldminers, Northern Star Resources managing director Bill Beament says. The Aus
Iron ore takes a new blow
The Reserve Bank board’s return to Perth today for the first time in four years threatens to be overshadowed by the worsening iron ore crisis. The West
Metcash grocery plan gains traction
Metcash has managed to convince investors there might be life in the independent grocery sector after all, reporting encouraging sales in IGA supermarkets after investing $45 million a year into cutting food and grocery prices. The Fin
BCA slams farmland curbs
Sweeping new government restrictions on foreign investors buying farmland and food processing companies are counter-productive, deter much-needed investment and are sending the wrong signals internationally, according to the Business Council of Australia. The Aus
Hanlong takes new shot at Sundance
The spectre of Hanlong Mining’s long-running takeover saga raised its head again at Sundance Resources’ annual meeting yesterday, with the troubled Chinese group almost forcing a board spill. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Most retirees could reduce their reliance on the age pension, enjoy a higher standard of living and wipe billions from the budget deficit by tapping into a sliver of the $1 trillion tied up in the family home says a major report for the Coalition government.
Page 3: Though residential property prices might fall in 2016, it will be limited to less than 10 per cent with ‘‘little significant downside risk’’ to the housing market, ANZ Bank has said in its latest housing update.
Page 4: Treasurer Scott Morrison has quashed any prospect of a forecast return to surplus in the forthcoming mid-year budget update, saying the document would present a ‘‘very honest and sober view’’ based on realism.
The prudential regulator will put pressure on bank boards to crack down on executive pay, amid claims that Westpac Bank rigged performance targets to pay out more than $10 million in bonuses including to departing chief executive Gail Kelly.
Page 6: The superannuation industry is pushing for a $1 million lifetime limit on contributions attracting generous tax breaks, a sum that would grow to as much as $2.5 million once investment earnings are added. Critics say that’s far too high.
Page 7: Penalties for breaches of consumer laws might have to be increased from $1.1 million to deter listed companies that generate billions in revenue, according to the head of the consumer watchdog.
Page 12: Amazon has unveiled what its unmanned drones for package delivery would look like with a video launched on the prototype of technology it announced two years ago.
Page 13: Metcash has managed to convince investors there might be life in the independent grocery sector after all, reporting encouraging sales in IGA supermarkets after investing $45 million a year into cutting food and grocery prices.
Page 15: Less than a week after entering voluntary administration, adult education and training company Vocation has been closed down, leaving 150 of its 180 employees without a job and more than 10,000 students in limbo.
Page 27: Workers at Alcatel-Lucent Australia, which is one of the national broadband network’s biggest equipment suppliers, are threatening to go on strike and disrupt the $56 billion project in an effort to get better pay and working conditions.
Page 28: Telstra has issued fresh price hikes for its mobile customers travelling overseas just in time for the Christmas holiday season.
The Australian
Page 1: One of Australia’s favourite guilty pleasures, Tim Tam biscuits, has been ensnared in a new grocery price war, pitting the nation’s largest biscuit maker Arnott’s against supermarket giant Coles.
The full and rapidly growing value of retirees’ homes should be part of the eligibility test for the Age Pension, the Productivity Commission has recommended, in a bid to make the social security system fairer and encourage retirees to make better use of their almost $1 trillion in home equity.
Page 3: Australia’s major professional sports believe an “anachronistic’’ prohibition against online betting after a match has started is fuelling the use of illegal, offshore bookmakers and threatening the integrity of their competitions.
Page 19: Sweeping new government restrictions on foreign investors buying farmland and food processing companies are counter-productive, deter much-needed investment and are sending the wrong signals internationally, according to the Business Council of Australia.
Investors have launched a savage attack on Dick Smith after the electronics retailer’s second profit downgrade in a month, sending its share price crashing.
Page 20: Rio Tinto is just weeks away from signing project finance for the $US5 billion ($7bn) Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine expansion in Mongolia, which would pave the way for a second-quarter 2016 approval of the project and create the world’s third-biggest copper mine.
Weakness in the US dollar gold price should throw up another wave of acquisition opportunities for Australian goldminers, Northern Star Resources managing director Bill Beament says.
Page 29: It has been almost two years since Telstra washed its hands of its directory business, Sensis, in a belated move in which the telco sold a 70 per cent controlling stake to US private investment firm Platinum Equity.
The West Australian
Page 1: The biggest consumers of electricity and solar-panel owners will pay more for their power under a planned shake-up of electricity pricing.
Page 4: Opposition Leader Mark McGowan is considering using a “captain’s pick” to install his media adviser and two-time loser in Morley, Reece Whitby, as Labor’s candidate in the new State seat of Baldivis.
Page 9: A 22-year-old woman who was in Fiona Stanley Hospital to have a lap band removed has complained of having to wander into the corridor to get help after she was moved to a “therapy room”.
Page 13: Almost one in 10 trainee teachers across Australia failed the first national test designed to evaluate basic literacy and numeracy skills.
Business: The Reserve Bank board’s return to Perth today for the first time in four years threatens to be overshadowed by the worsening iron ore crisis.
The spectre of Hanlong Mining’s long-running takeover saga raised its head again at Sundance Resources’ annual meeting yesterday, with the troubled Chinese group almost forcing a board spill.
Diploma Group’s minority shareholders have slapped down executive pay in the wake of an abandoned privatisation of the property development and construction company.