AUNS — Australian News Syndicate — Business https://auns.com.au/category/business Business news from AUNS — Breaking news, sport, politics, world and weather from across Australia. en-au editorial@auns.com.au (AUNS Editorial) https://auns.com.au/static/publisher-logo.png AUNS — Australian News Syndicate — Business https://auns.com.au/category/business Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:45:00 GMT Petrol relief ends August 2 and oil is not waiting https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-petrol-excise-ends-august-oil-holds-high Petrol is at $1.68 a litre, Brent settled at US$84.73, and the 16 cent excise discount ends on August 2. A call on extending it is due within weeks. Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:45:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260715-petrol-excise-ends-august-oil-holds-high Business Oil tops US$83 and the bowser is next https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-oil-tops-us83-bowser-next Brent crude jumped 9.5 per cent to US$83.25 after Washington demanded a 20 per cent charge on Hormuz cargoes. Petrol was already up 16 cents in nine days. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:45:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260714-oil-tops-us83-bowser-next Business Hormuz closure upends Canberra's $416b export forecast https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-hormuz-closure-export-forecast The Commonwealth's forecast of record $416 billion resources and energy exports assumed the Strait of Hormuz reopened in late June. Nine days after it was published, Iran declared the strait closed. Australian gas producers gain from the shock. Motorists and airlines pay for it. Mon, 13 Jul 2026 02:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260713-hormuz-closure-export-forecast Business FDC shares up 16pc since $969m ASX debut https://auns.com.au/article/20260712-fdc-consolidated-asx-debut FDC Consolidated Holdings shares closed at $3.48 on Friday, up 16 per cent on the $3.00 offer price, three days after the construction and fitout company's ASX debut, the biggest Australian float of 2026 so far. The $400 million IPO valued FDC at $969 million on listing day, when the stock touched $3.50 in early trade before closing 12.3 per cent higher at $3.37. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 21:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260712-fdc-consolidated-asx-debut Business Westpac tips two more hikes before 2027 rate cuts https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-westpac-two-hikes-before-2027-cuts Westpac has pulled its first rate cut forward to August 2027. The catch is what comes first: two more hikes, and about $229 a month added to an average mortgage. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260711-westpac-two-hikes-before-2027-cuts Business NEXTDC signs $2.3bn debt deal to fund AI data centres https://auns.com.au/article/20260710-nextdc-senior-debt-upsize NEXTDC has signed $2.3 billion in new senior debt, taking total facilities to $8.7 billion to fund its AI-driven data centre build-out. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 03:10:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260710-nextdc-senior-debt-upsize Business Wharfies demand 28-hour week as DP World automates https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-mua-28-hour-week-dp-world-automation The Maritime Union of Australia wants a 28-hour week on full pay for wharfies affected by DP World's rollout of remote cranes, driverless vehicles and AI rostering across four terminals. Thu, 09 Jul 2026 01:15:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260709-mua-28-hour-week-dp-world-automation Business WiseTech's Richard White quits chair, shares jump https://auns.com.au/article/20260708-wisetech-white-steps-down-chair WiseTech Global co-founder Richard White stepped down as executive chair on Tuesday, handing the role to independent director Raelene Murphy. Shares in the logistics software company rose as much as 10.6 per cent. Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260708-wisetech-white-steps-down-chair Business Genesis lobs $5.6b rival bid for gold miner Vault https://auns.com.au/article/20260707-genesis-bid-vault-minerals-gold Genesis Minerals' binding $5.6 billion bid for Vault Minerals tops the agreed Regis merger and gives Regis until Friday night to match. Tue, 07 Jul 2026 04:50:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260707-genesis-bid-vault-minerals-gold Business Petrol climbs as fuel excise discount halves https://auns.com.au/article/20260706-petrol-prices-rise-excise-discount-halves Capital-city petrol jumped 6.6 cents a litre the day the fuel excise discount was halved, ACCC monitoring shows, and with wholesale prices up 15 cents, more of the increase lands at the pump this week. Mon, 06 Jul 2026 01:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260706-petrol-prices-rise-excise-discount-halves Business Australia posts first goods trade deficit since 2018 as exports drop https://auns.com.au/article/20260703-may-goods-trade-deficit Australia's goods exports fell $3.2 billion in May and the trade balance swung into a $3 billion deficit, the first on the Bureau of Statistics' original measure since January 2018, as sales of gold and iron ore dropped away. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 01:45:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260703-may-goods-trade-deficit Business Dwelling approvals fall as apartments drop and houses hit four-year high https://auns.com.au/article/20260702-building-approvals-fall-may-2026 Total dwelling approvals fell 1.1 per cent in May to 17,019, the ABS said, as a 10.4 per cent slide in apartment and unit approvals outweighed a rise in detached houses to their highest level since September 2021. The mix keeps the National Housing Accord target of 240,000 homes a year out of reach. Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260702-building-approvals-fall-may-2026 Business Earnings above $3m in super to be taxed at 30% as new financial year lands https://auns.com.au/article/20260630-super-tax-changes-1-july-2026 From July 1, earnings on the part of a superannuation balance above $3 million will be taxed at about 30 per cent under the Division 296 law passed in March. The same day brings higher contribution caps, an income tax cut, and a requirement that employers pay super on every payday. Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260630-super-tax-changes-1-july-2026 Business Negative gearing restricted to new builds as parliament returns to tax reform standoff https://auns.com.au/article/20260628-negative-gearing-cgt-reform-greens-deal-june-28 The Albanese government has returned to parliament with legislation limiting negative gearing to new residential builds from 2027-28, scrapping the 50 per cent CGT discount in favour of an inflation-adjusted equivalent, and imposing a minimum 30 per cent tax on investment gains. The Greens are withholding support over grandfathering that shields existing investors entirely from all three changes. Sun, 28 Jun 2026 02:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260628-negative-gearing-cgt-reform-greens-deal-june-28 Business Unemployment falls to 4.4% in May as 40,000 jobs added, complicating RBA's rate outlook https://auns.com.au/article/20260625-unemployment-falls-44-percent-may-2026 The ABS released May labour force data showing the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.4 per cent, down from 4.5 per cent in April, with 40,000 jobs added. The resilient result keeps alive the possibility of a further RBA rate rise. Thu, 25 Jun 2026 01:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260625-unemployment-falls-44-percent-may-2026 Business ASX 200 slides to two-week low of 8,749 as inflation data and rate caution weigh on sentiment https://auns.com.au/article/20260623-asx-200-falls-rate-inflation-caution The benchmark index fell 60 points on June 23, its worst session in three weeks, dragged by healthcare and technology stocks. Miners provided the only support as BHP and Rio Tinto gained on rising copper prices. Tue, 23 Jun 2026 06:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260623-asx-200-falls-rate-inflation-caution Business RBA holds at 4.35% in unanimous decision after three consecutive rate rises this year https://auns.com.au/article/20260616-rba-cash-rate-hold-4-35-june-2026 The Reserve Bank board paused its 2026 hiking cycle at its June meeting, keeping the cash rate at 4.35% after increases in February, March, and May. Governor Michele Bullock said the decision does not rule out further tightening. Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:30:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260616-rba-cash-rate-hold-4-35-june-2026 Business Sydney and Melbourne home values slide as national market records first monthly stall of the cycle https://auns.com.au/article/20260603-housing-market-stalls-sydney-melbourne The national home value index recorded zero growth in May, the first stall in the current cycle, as three RBA rate rises in 2026 compound affordability pressures. Sydney is down 2.1 per cent from its November 2025 peak; Melbourne is down 3.2 per cent. Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT editorial@auns.com.au (Marcus Hale) https://auns.com.au/article/20260603-housing-market-stalls-sydney-melbourne Business