Overseas trips and hotel stays funded through credit reward schemes could be in trouble as Australia’s central bank cuts fees on card transactions. The Reserve Bank has revamped card usage by banning surcharge payments and cutting interchange fees, in a move experts said has levelled the...
US President Donald Trump’s threat to send Iran “back to the Stone Ages” has rattled equity markets. If he follows through, Australia is at risk of entering a recession. In a prolonged war scenario, modelled by Oxford Economics Australia, the nation’s gross domestic product would contract 0.3...
The war in the Middle East will lead to higher inflation and slower global growth, says the head of the International Monetary Fund ahead of next week’s global forecast for the world economy. The war has triggered the worst-ever disruption in global energy supply, with millions...
An annual fee for driving electric vehicles could put the brakes on their record sales in Australia, with almost one in three households saying it would change their purchase intentions. Working families in outer suburbs were most likely to be deterred from buying an EV by...
Australians have raced to secure electric vehicles during the Middle East war-driven fuel crisis, near-doubling sales to set a national record. Motorists bought more than 15,800 new electric cars during March, according to figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries on Tuesday, while sales...
Living within walking distance of the shops might seem trivial but for regional Australians, it could be the path to a longer, healthier life. Residents in well-connected regional towns walk about 75 minutes more a week than those in less walkable areas, research by the Menzies...
Purchasing an investment property is a major financial decision. For many Australians, it involves committing significant capital, taking on long-term debt, and relying on the property to help build wealth over time. Investment properties can generate rental income and potentially deliver capital growth, but they...
There may come a time in life when you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself—whether due to illness, injury, or cognitive decline. It’s not an easy topic to think about, but it is one of the most important conversations you can have....
You made it. After decades of early mornings, long days, financial discipline, and countless sacrifices, you’ve reached retirement. The mortgage is under control, the superannuation balance looks solid, and the calendar is finally your own. For many, this is the dream. And yet, standing on the deck of...
They had done Europe. Twice. Cruised Alaska, crossed Route 66, wandered through Tuscany, chased sunsets in Santorini, and sipped their way through the Barossa and Bordeaux alike. Their passports told a story of a life well-travelled. So when they spun the globe again, half expecting to...