Money

P&G sees strong sales trends extending beyond pandemic

Procter & Gamble reported another quarter of strong sales growth Wednesday and expressed confidence it would keep up the good run after the coronavirus pandemic has waned. P&G, which makes Mr. Clean, Tide, Pampers and other household goods, lifted its full-year profit and sales targets after scoring an eight percent sales jump in the second quarter.

Biden logs best stock-market rally from Election to Inauguration Day in history

Supporters might point to President-elect Joe Biden's bullish impact on the stock market since the Nov. election as an early accomplishment, even if it's hard to pin all of the recent gains on the change in regime from Donald Trump to Biden.

'Absolute carnage': EU hauliers reject UK jobs over Brexit rules

A British freight company director with more than over 20 years experience has told how EU hauliers and transport companies are turning their backs on UK business because they are being asked to provide tens of thousands of pounds in guarantees to cover VAT or potential tariffs on arrival in Britain. The financial guarantee requirement did not exist before Brexit and EU transport companies who previously provided a shipping service for small and...

World Bank, IMF agree to hold April meetings online due to COVID-19 risks

World Bank, IMF agree to hold April meetings online due to COVID-19 risks

Private equity asset strippers must save Debenhams pensioners

Former Debenhams boss Rob Templeman (pictured) organised the chain's private equity takeover in 2003 which involved Texas Pacific Group, CVC Capital and Merrill Lynch.

AstraZeneca PLC ADR underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitors

Strong gains for sterling against the Dollar and the euro

The pound touched $1.3720 against the Dollar, its highest level since May 2018, and €1.1314 against the euro, a rate last seen in May 2020. Inflation jumped to 0.6 per cent in December.

Don't read too much into the fall in Australia's payroll jobs, at least not yet

The latest release of the payroll jobs index showing a 6% fall in jobs in the past month might suggest that unemployment is about to rise. But closer inspection reveals that despite the usual drop in work in January, employment overall is holding up well. However, full-time work still has a way to go. Since the pandemic, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has, in association with the ATO, begun releasing a weekly payroll job index that has...

United Airlines posts fourth straight quarterly loss and pledges more cost cuts

United Airlines posts fourth straight quarterly loss and pledges more cost cuts

The Guardian view on Brexit and bureaucracy: the cost of absurdity

Among the various grievances that led to Britain’s departure from the European Union, resentment of worker protections was not dominant for most voters. But it was a point of urgency among many Conservative MPs, for whom freedom to deregulate was the purpose of Brexit. That is what they meant by regaining sovereignty: emancipation from rules that, in Eurosceptic demonology, suffocate enterprise and limit prosperity. In that ideological...

Aust shares higher before Biden era begins

Australia's share market has closed higher, as attention turns to the swearing in of US president-elect Joe Biden and his economic stimulus plan.

Banks pressuring customers to make unrealistic loan repayments as deferrals end

As a pause on home loan repayments begins to lift, banks are asking customers to make large lump sums or add $1,000 a month to their repayments to clear up what they owe in arrears.

Departing U.S. FCC chair warns of threats to telecomms from China

Departing U.S. FCC chair warns of threats to telecomms from China

The federal government is singing praises for its $2 billion HomeBuilder scheme as data shows a boom for the construction industry

The commencement of new private sector housing projects jumped 4% over the September quarter of 2020, with the value of major home alterations and additions climbing by 6.4%.

Brazil's Bolsonaro says he wants free trade agreement with U.S. in letter to Biden

Brazil's Bolsonaro says he wants free trade agreement with U.S. in letter to Biden

Saga requires all cruise passengers to have coronavirus vaccine

Saga has become the first UK tour operator to tell cruise and holiday customers that they must be vaccinated to travel with them this summer. The over-50s travel firm, which has reported a surge in bookings since the vaccination programme was announced, is taking reservations on condition that customers are fully inoculated, with two shots where necessary, at least 14 days before departure. Passengers will also need to take a Covid test at the...

Amazon offers to help with Covid-19 vaccine effort

Tech colossus Amazon on Wednesday offered to put its vast operation to work helping President Joe Biden get 100 million Americans vaccinated against Covid-19 in the next 100 days. Chief of Amazon's worldwide consumer business Dave Clark sent a letter to Biden urging that its workers get vaccinated as early as possible and offering to put the company's resources to work in the broader vaccination effort.

A new generation of digital payday lenders are springing up in Australia as demand for short-term loans surges

A new breed of digital payday lenders are popping up in Australia, with the lending niche growing five times larger in just 12 months. Joining an array of app-based competitors, the Commonwealth Bank is offering its own pay advance feature to customers.

Netflix keeps growing in pandemic, tops 200 mn subscribers

Netflix on Tuesday topped subscriber growth expectations in the past quarter, keeping ahead of new streaming rivals competing for viewers stuck in their homes during the coronavirus pandemic. The streaming television leader added some 8.5 million paid subscribers in the quarter to reach 203 million, topping 200 million despite recent price hikes, its quarterly earning update showed. "Covid-19 has accelerated that big shift from linear to...

Stock market posts best Inauguration Day rise in 36 years as Biden takes office

Wall Street appeared to be cheering the change of leadership under way in the White House, producing one of its best returns in nearly four decades on the day of a new president's inauguration.

SA to launch its own satellite in 2022

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has announced plans for the state to launch its own satellite into a low-earth orbit next year.

Australia shares set to open higher on Biden inauguration, rising commodity prices

Australia shares set to open higher on Biden inauguration, rising commodity prices

‘Harmful outcomes’: The US has urged Australia to ditch its plan to force Facebook and Google to pay for news

US trade representatives say Australia's draft media bargaining code is "fundamentally unbalanced", with consequences that could "significantly harm Australian consumers".

Dixons Carphone boss says company is 'winning online'

The retail giant said the share of digital purchases doubled year-on-year in the ten weeks to January 9 to constitute more than half (53 per cent) of its overall electricals sales.

ALEX BRUMMER :The future inflation threat

One common theme for Britain, and for newly-installed President Joe Biden and his team in the US, is that the tolerance of fiscal promiscuity and monetary looseness has changed dramatically.

These are the 15 jobs on the rise in Australia in 2021, according to data from LinkedIn

LinkedIn has revealed the jobs on the rise in Australia in 2021. These include mental health specialist roles and jobs in cybersecurity. It comes as the coronavirus pandemic has shifted the employment landscape in Australia, causing a drop in demand across tourism but a spike across digital content.

Shoppers rave about this £7 posture corrector for back pain

While there are many products on the market claiming to help improve posture and relieve back pain, shoppers have crowned the Gearari Posture Corrector the best at preventing poor sitting...

Wild lynx could be reintroduced into Scottish Highlands

A consortium of conservationists that hopes to release wild lynx into the Scottish Highlands has launched a year-long study to see whether the public supports their reintroduction. The study, part-funded by two billionaire Danish estate owners in the Highlands, Anders Povlsen and Lisbet Rausing, will test whether farmers, landowners and rural communities will agree to a pilot project in a remote area of Scotland. The lynx, Europe’s largest...

United Airlines posts nearly $2 billion in quarterly losses

United loses nearly $2 billion in its fourth straight quarter of losses amid pandemic-related travel restrictions and fears.

Pfizer Inc. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitors

BioNTech SE ADR falls Wednesday, underperforms market

Liberal MP Warren Entsch says many businesses will need government aid after JobKeeper

Federal Government backbencher Warren Entsch says many businesses will need financial assistance beyond March when JobKeeper ends and is confident more support measures will be announced.

Workers in demand as home building blooms

Skilled vacancies advertised on the internet have grown for eight consecutive months after hitting a record low last April.

People's Choice Credit Union customers angered by outages and slow online banking

A system upgrade is being blamed for leaving tens of thousands of Australians without access to their online bank accounts.

Trump pardons engineer who stole Google trade secrets

A former Google engineer who pleaded guilty to stealing secrets from its self-driving car program was among those pardoned by Donald Trump on his last day in the White House. Several years later Levandowski began thinking of leaving Google for another self-driving endeavor that was eventually named "Otto," the plea deal said.

Barley finds a home in Mexico as CBH sends first shipment from WA

Despite the trade tensions with China and the massive tariff imposed on barley exports there, there are some good signs for grain growers on international markets.

How President Biden’s stimulus checks could be different from Trump’s payments and Black Americans are getting vaccinated for COVID-19 at lower rates

Wednesday's top personal finance stories

Vocational training needs reform: report

The Productivity Commission has released its final report into the national skills agreement, with fresh calls to overhaul vocational education and training.

GM teams up with Microsoft as electric car market revs

General Motors announced an alliance Tuesday with Microsoft on its Cruise autonomous driving venture, combining forces to challenge Tesla and others in an electric car market expected to rev with Joe Biden's environment-friendly administration in the White House. The companies have established "a long-term strategic relationship," and Microsoft will join GM, Honda and institutional investors in a new $2 billion equity investment round, GM and...

McKesson to replace some Moderna COVID-19 vaccines due to low temperature

McKesson to replace some Moderna COVID-19 vaccines due to low temperature

UK government rejects 'musician passports' as stars attack 'shameful' touring deal

The UK government will not pursue a waiver scheme that would allow British musicians to tour the EU without the need for visas, customs waivers and work permits for each individual member state. The announcement comes as more than 100 artists including Sting, Bob Geldof and Elton John have signed an open letter published in the Times on Wednesday, calling on the government to negotiate paperwork-free travel for British musicians touring in...

Surge in summer holiday bookings thanks to the over-50s

Holiday bookings from the over-50s, who are likely anticipating being able to travel after having the coronavirus vaccine, is giving a much-needed boost to the industry.

BHP raises iron ore production estimate

BHP has increased the quantity of iron ore it expects to produce this fiscal year, following the restart of an operation in Brazil.

South Australia's recycling industry to be bolstered by up to $45 million

South Australia's "circular economy" of recycled waste is set to receive a $45 million infrastructure injection following a joint announcement by the Federal and State governments today.

Burberry's sales in China surge as lockdown restrictions are eased

The luxury chain fared well in China and Korea, and the Asia Pacific region saw sales climb 11 per cent as lockdown restrictions in these areas were eased.

'Australia's largest energy class action' filed against Queensland power companies accused of driving up prices illegally

The law firm leading a major class action involving more than 47,000 people is looking for more people to register for reimbursement as it alleges two of the state's biggest power players artificially created a lack of supply to drive up prices.

Global markets gain ground as Biden is inaugurated

World stock markets rose Wednesday as Joe Biden took the oath of office, in part owing to the new US president's coronavirus stimulus proposal. - 'Trump, Brexit in rear view mirror' - "European markets... (are) looking forward with optimism, with Joe Biden's inauguration marking the end of a four-year period that married up both Brexit and global trade uncertainty," commented IG analyst Joshua Mahony.

Economists predict further jobless drop

Economists expect 50,000 people gained employment in December, pushing the jobless rate down further to 6.7 per cent from 6.8 per cent.

v2food has launched the next iteration of its plant-based meat product: sausages

v2food has released the next iteration of plant-based meat products. The company is rolling out v2sausages in Coles supermarkets this week for a limited time.

Australia's Woodside Petroleum posts near 35% fall in fourth quarter revenue

Australia's Woodside Petroleum posts near 35% fall in fourth quarter revenue