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KPMG has faced a parliamentary inquiry into allegations staff shared confidential client information to help colleagues win audit contracts. 

FinancePremiumANZ dumps scandal-plagued KPMG as auditor after 57 years

ANZ has shut KPMG out of bidding to keep its audit work, announcing plans to replace the firm that has checked its books since 1969.

Ryan Johnson

Fewer than one per cent of households are in negative equity, the review said, but those who bought recently or who had a low-deposit mortgage were more likely to be in that situation.

RBAPremium5pc deposit buyers most likely now in negative equity: RBA

Recent first-homebuyers who participated in the Federal Government’s 5 per cent deposit scheme are those most likely to have fallen into negative equity, according to Reserve Bank of Australia research.

Adrian Lowe and Stephen Johnson

CBA boss Matt Comyn.

BankingPremiumBig-four bank pledges no regional branch closures until 2030

Another big four bank has vowed not to shut any of its branches in regional Australia until at least 2030 amid ongoing criticism of the nation’s biggest lenders over widespread closures.

Cheyanne Enciso

Australians who brought their first home using the federal government’s 5 per cent deposit scheme are more likely to owe more than their house is worth, a new report from the RBA says. NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

UPDATEDPremiumHuge blow for homebuyers on Albo’s scheme

Aussies who bought their first house with the government 5% deposit scheme have been given bad news, following a new RBA report.

Blair Jackson

Thousands of smaller businesses now face a dilemma - absorb the cost of customers tapping their cards, squeezing already-thin margins, or build it into prices and risk driving away cash-strapped consumers. 

RetailPremiumIt’s lose-lose for small businesses as surcharge ban starts

Thousands of smaller businesses now face a dilemma - absorb the cost of customers tapping their cards, squeezing already-thin margins, or build it into prices and risk driving away cash-strapped consumers. 

Karen Leigh and Joe Flynn

Australians are promised $1.6 billion in surcharge savings but rewards cardholders face higher rates, fewer perks and weaker insurance.

Your MoneyPremiumThe card perks you'll lose tomorrow as surcharging axed

Paying those extra couple of cents when tapping your card will be a thing of the past from Thursday thanks to a major change to the card system. Here’s the perk the banks are gutting.

Ryan Johnson

Michele Bullock warned on Tuesday that it could take a recession to control inflation.

RBAPremiumAlarming call on how much further interest rates will rise

Two of the nation’s biggest lenders have warned homeowners to brace for another bruising interest rate rise when the Reserve Bank next meets again in November.

Daniel Newell

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MARKET WRAPPremiumASX up despite 15-year high interest rates

The Australian sharemarket has risen despite interest rates being hiked to a 15-year high.

Blair Jackson

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UPDATEDPremium‘Brutal’ detail in banks’ RBA rate rise call

Australia’s biggest banks have moved in lockstep after the Reserve Bank lifted the cash rate to its highest point since 2011 – in a “brutal” move for mortgage holders.

Cameron Micallef, Paige Fryer

Homeowners have been dealt another blow after the RBA hiked rates to a 15-year high.

RBABullock warns of recession risk following fourth RBA hike

Homeowners will bear the brunt of the Reserve Bank’s fight against inflation as it hits mortgage holders with a fourth rate hike this year.

Stephen Johnson

Homeowners are again facing rising interest rates.

RBARBA RECAP: Bullock concedes war has ‘made us all poorer’

Australian households have been hit with a fourth interest rate hike, adding further pressure to budgets already buckling under the strain of sky-high fuel prices.

Daniel Newell

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MARKET WRAPPremiumRate hike fears smash ASX, banks tumble

Australia’s benchmark index has fallen after unemployment hit its highest level since 2021, all but sealing the Reserve Bank’s next interest rate move.

Cameron Micallef

Deputy Premier and Sports Minister Rita Saffioti is pinning hopes on a Dockers win on Saturday.

Herd on the TerracePremiumThe six senior WA pollies going to the ’G for Dockers’ D-Day

All aboard the Freo train! The Bull reveals WA’s six cabinet ministers travelling to Melbourne for the Dockers’ big day. Plus: Twiggy rubs shoulders with Hollywood at Dreamforce conference.

Customers for one of Australia’s big four banks have been hit by a major outage affecting its internet and mobile services. NewsWire / David Geraghty

updatedPremiumBig four bank hit by major outage

One of Australia’s big four banks has been struck by a major online outage, leaving many customers in the lurch.

David Hannant

Loan enquiries from the State’s large businesses jumped 25.6 per cent in August compared with a year earlier, well above the national increase of 19.2 per cent.

BankingPremiumWA businesses chase loans to stay afloat

WA’s biggest businesses are scrambling for more credit but holding off buying new equipment, raising concerns companies are borrowing to keep the lights on rather than bankroll expansion.

Ryan Johnson

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EXCLUSIVEPremiumAct Aussies surprisingly happy for AI to do

A new survey has surprisingly found more than half of Australians are happy for an AI agent to do this on their behalf.

Blair Jackson

Euroz Hartleys’ executive chair Andrew McKenzie. left, with managing director Tim Bunney.

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Mergers and AcquisitionsPremium
updated
Euroz Hartleys’ Bank of Montreal sale ‘fair and reasonable’

Lonergan Edwards & Associates said the $145m offer by BoM exceeded its valuation of between $127m and $143m for the capital markets arm.

Sean Smith

Fresh WestpacIQ analysis on Tuesday put the data centre pipeline at about $175b, up from at least $155b when its economists examined the sector earlier this year.

RBAPremiumData centre boom raises rate rise risk as $175b build looms

WestpacIQ says Australia’s $175b data-centre boom could rival the LNG boom of the 2010s and add to rate pressure and inflation, as ANZ warns AI risks are growing.

Ryan Johnson

Across Australia, first homebuyer applications dived by an annual pace of 20.1 per cent in August.

BankingPremiumFirst-homebuyer loan applications, new home sales plunge

Mortgage applications from first homebuyers are in the worst freefall since 2022 and sales of brand new homes have tanked, calling into question Labor’s Budget plans to boost housing supply.

Stephen Johnson

Getting close to retirement and still paying off the mortgage? This hack allows you to use some of you super to help clear the debt while also making sure you can top up your nest egg.

Your MoneyPremiumSuper smart hack to clear your mortgage before you retire

Getting close to retirement and still paying off the mortgage? This hack allows you to use some of you super to help clear the debt while also making sure you can top up your nest egg.

Nick Bruining

Interest rate predictions have shifted amid a higher than expected inflation rate. RBA Governor Michele Bullock and Treasurer Jim Chalmers. (Susie Dodds/AAP PHOTOS)

RBAPremiumBig bank tips two more rate rises to come for 2026

Signals from senior Reserve Bank officials this week that it will not tolerate higher-for-longer inflation has prompted Citi to push out its terminal forecast for the official cash rate.

Daniel Newell

APRA’s stress test remains in place in Australia more than four years after the Bank of England removed an identical rule for UK home lenders.

Housing MarketPremiumThe COVID-era restrictions still hurting first homebuyers

Lending rules introduced during the pandemic five years ago are being blamed for locking out first home-buyers and restricting the supply of new housing.

Stephen Johnson

AFG operates a national network of more than 4200 accredited mortgage brokers with access to 80 lenders and 10,000 finance products.

BankingPremiumLast founder to step down from AFG board

Brett McKeon founded AFG in 1994 alongside Kevin Matthews, Malcolm Watkins and the late Brad McGougan, running the company until transitioning to a non-executive directorship seven years ago.

Sean Smith

National Australia Bank boss Andrew Irvine speaks at the ACAPMA Conference 2026 in Melbourne.

Oil & GasPremiumBank chief pushes for greater domestic energy resources

The big four bank’s boss has called for more investment in Australian oil and gas, declaring that ‘fuel security is economic security’. 

Adrian Rauso