Super boost for house downsizers
Retirees who downsize by selling the family home are likely to be offered exemptions from new limits to be placed on superannuation, but it is unlikely the sale proceeds will also be quarantined from the age pension assets test, sources say. The Fin
Lenders squeeze borrowers and savers
Westpac Group, Adelaide Bank and major lending networks continue to pile on the pain for property buyers with a new round of rate rises by up to 30 basis points and tougher terms and conditions. The Fin
Everybody’s losing money in Asia gas slide
A further slide in LNG spot prices in Asia next year will increase the pressure on the Queensland export ventures to cut production as the gap with soaring local gas prices on the east coast grows, according to a leading energy forecaster. The Fin
Budget in black by 2020: IMF
The International Monetary Fund expects a $27 billion surge in federal and state tax revenue over the next four years to bring the combined budget position back to surplus by 2020, two years earlier than it predicted six months ago. The Aus
Bernardi, Family First join forces for conservative vote
Family First will cease to exist from today after secret talks with Cory Bernardi led the party to merge with his Australian Conservatives. The Aus
WA minister slams gas pipeline
New West Australian Mines Minister Bill Johnston has rubbished the proposal put forward by former premier Colin Barnett for a $5 billion transcontinental pipeline between WA and the east coast, arguing that the project would fail without the introduction of gas reservation policies in other states. The Aus
Cook’s admission puts the heat on McGowan
Premier Mark McGowan was dragged into the Perth Children’s Hospital lead scandal yesterday after his Health Minister revealed he learnt when he came into Government that external water pipes were to blame for the contamination. The West
Morrison eyes Trump tax cut
Scott Morrison has jumped on plans by Donald Trump to slash America’s corporate tax rate to warn a failure to cut taxes here will push jobs overseas. The West
Super Pit slumps at sale time
Kalgoorlie’s Super Pit has been hit by a production slump just as half-owner Barrick Gold weighs its options for the sale of WA’s most important gold mine. The West
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: Australia’s most successful and wellknown stock pickers are under pressure as active managers fail to perform and investors opt for the safety and certainty of passively managed index funds.
Retirees who downsize by selling the family home are likely to be offered exemptions from new limits to be placed on superannuation, but it is unlikely the sale proceeds will also be quarantined from the age pension assets test, sources say.
Page 5: Malcolm Turnbull has held talks with US defence secretary James Mattis during a surprise visit to Afghanistan and the Middle East ahead of what is an expected meeting with President Donald Trump in New York next week.
Page 7: Westpac Group, Adelaide Bank and major lending networks continue to pile on the pain for property buyers with a new round of rate rises by up to 30 basis points and tougher terms and conditions.
Allowing property purchasers to choose between paying stamp duties up front or land tax in smaller instalments could be the solution to improving affordability and mobility, PwC says.
Page 13: A further slide in LNG spot prices in Asia next year will increase the pressure on the Queensland export ventures to cut production as the gap with soaring local gas prices on the east coast grows, according to a leading energy forecaster.
Page 16: Allan Gray managing director and Downer EDI shareholder Simon Mawhinney has warned Downer not to increase its $1.2 billion takeover bid for Spotless Group, saying the target is not a ‘‘trophy asset’’ and has too much debt for the profit it makes.
The Australian
Page 1: On the day she joined the Australian Olympic Committee, Nicole Livingstone was offered blunt advice by an experienced member about how to get along inside John Coates’s board room: keep your mouth closed.
The International Monetary Fund expects a $27 billion surge in federal and state tax revenue over the next four years to bring the combined budget position back to surplus by 2020, two years earlier than it predicted six months ago.
Page 5: The federal government is closely examining the extension of its proposed ban on gambling advertisements during live sporting events, as Communications Minister Mitch Fifield prepares to take his final policy on the ads to cabinet.
Family First will cease to exist from today after secret talks with Cory Bernardi led the party to merge with his Australian Conservatives.
Page 17: New West Australian Mines Minister Bill Johnston has rubbished the proposal put forward by former premier Colin Barnett for a $5 billion transcontinental pipeline between WA and the east coast, arguing that the project would fail without the introduction of gas reservation policies in other states.
Page 19: Goldman Sachs has turned increasingly negative on the mining sector, downgrading BHP Billiton to “sell” and slashing its target price for Rio Tinto in the face of falling iron ore prices and what it sees as China’s potential to restrict credit.
Page 20: US aluminium heavyweight Alcoa has delivered a strong first-quarter profit and upgraded its forecasts for metal demand as China looks to curtail production.
The West Australian
Page 3: The Federal Government is set to quash plans for a “lemon law” which would give shoppers an automatic right to reject goods that fail within 30 days of purchase.
Page 10: Premier Mark McGowan was dragged into the Perth Children’s Hospital lead scandal yesterday after his Health Minister revealed he learnt when he came into Government that external water pipes were to blame for the contamination.
Page 12: Scott Morrison has jumped on plans by Donald Trump to slash America’s corporate tax rate to warn a failure to cut taxes here will push jobs overseas.
Page 22: Carbohydrates are good and so is starvation, if you want to live longer.
After years of rumours, Google co-founder Larry Page has unveiled his flying car — and it is a bit of a shock.
Page 24: A WA uranium mining company backed by Andrew Forrest says it would be “flabbergasted” if its plans to develop one of Australia’s biggest yellowcake mines were blocked by the State Government.
Page 27: An assessor has been suspended indefinitely after an investigation of the training and examination of recreational boat skippers.
Page 73: Kalgoorlie’s Super Pit has been hit by a production slump just as half-owner Barrick Gold weighs its options for the sale of WA’s most important gold mine.
The rebound in commodity prices over the past year increased the wealth of the 10 richest West Australians more than $10 billion, this year’s WA Rich List shows.
Page 75: A Perth-founded online flower seller facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in payment claims from florists across Australia and overseas has been put into administration.
Page 78: QV1’s owners are confident about future demand for office space, as commercial tenants continue to take an interest in the partly redeveloped tower.
Page 80: Linc Property has already notched up $25 million in sales of lots in the first stage of its newest industrial estate, Tonkin Highway Industrial Estate, in Bayswater.
