Rate cut stands out amid a sea of gloom
Peter Martin THE Reserve Bank is considered certain to cut interest rates after a last-minute deluge of data showed spending had stalled, profits had collapsed, the job market had shrunk and inflation had turned...
Short odds on rates cut
Peter Martin As the Reserve Bank makes its monthly interest rates decision, the betting on what it will do could hardly be clearer.
Free trade talks to avoid legal hurdle
Peter Martin Negotiations over what's set to be the world's biggest free trade agreement set to resume.
Two interest rate cuts coming, says OECD
Peter Martin THE Reserve Bank is set to cut interest rates twice more - next month and near the start of next year - taking its cash rate to 2.75 per cent, an all-time low.
RBA aims to restrict taxi cards surcharge
Peter Martin, Clancy Yeates THE detested 10 per cent surcharge whacked onto taxi fares for the privilege of paying by a card won't survive the new year if the Reserve Bank gets its way.
Tax Office wary of 'Double Irish Dutch Sandwich' ploy
Peter Martin The government prepares for an assault on companies funneling their income through low-tax countries.
Mining to blame for costs: Henry
Peter Martin Mining AUSTRALIA'S big mining companies have created the high-cost culture to which they are now objecting, former Treasury secretary Ken Henry says.
Coalition to cut public bond issues
Peter Martin The Coalition will ask investors to prepare for a world with far fewer government bonds.
Inside information doesn't have to be true: court
Peter Martin Information doesn’t need to be correct in order to be inside information, and anyone who trades on the basis of it can be guilty of insider trading even if they’ve beeen fed lies, court finds.
High dollar drilling a $15b-a-year hole in Australia's rural exports
Peter Martin If it were not for the high dollar Australia's rural exports would be bringing in an extra $15 billion a year, a study says.
RBA holds rates but with a loose grip
Peter Martin Central bank prepared to cut interest rates in December, but it will be no pushover.
Westpac urges rate cut to lift confidence
Peter Martin THE Reserve Bank is expected to leave rates on hold, making this the first Melbourne Cup day in six years it will have done so.
China our best customer despite a dip in exports
Peter Martin China remains Australia's biggest export market, notwithstanding sliding prices and lower demand.
Garnaut hits out at 'wasteful' investment
Peter Martin CLIMATE change adviser Ross Garnaut has lambasted Australian executives for destroying shareholder funds in the blind belief China's demand for Australia's big three mining exports would continue to...
Workers have never had it so good
Peter Martin FAR from being squeezed, working people are better off than ever, according to the latest figures, with lower costs from interest rates counteracting the higher costs imposed by the carbon tax.
Swan empties bag of tricks to save his skinny surplus
Peter Martin THE government needs export prices to stop falling if it is to have any hope of painlessly delivering its promised budget surplus.
Price slides worry Treasury
Peter Martin, Clancy Yeates Since May budget spot prices of three main exports have fallen 15 to 35 per cent.
Jones to run ad-free
Peter Martin Alan Jones will broadcast ad-free from Monday after his own radio network pulled the remaining ads of the sponsors who have stuck with him.
The big banks take with one hand - and the other
Peter Martin Australian banks have form when it comes to failing to pass on rate cuts in full and over-egging rate rises, study finds.
Banks dudding customers for years - study
Peter Martin AUSTRALIA'S banks have been shortchanging home loan customers for years, and especially since the onset of the global financial crisis, a landmark study has found.
