Economy

Australia has a "distinctive strength" when it comes to early trading, but more knowledge is needed for businesses to fully capitalise on it.

Labor's capital gains tax changes have set off a firestorm of debate about the implications for small businesses, start-ups, share owners and plenty more. Here's who will really pay more. 

Australian Bureau of Statistics figure show the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 4.5 per cent in April, up from 4.3 per cent in March. 

The local share market rebounded Monday's heavy selling, as shares in Tuas made back some of their heavy losses. Look back on the day's events and insights from our business reporters on the ABC News markets blog.

The Coalition's plan to index tax brackets could cost $35 billion in the first four years, more than has been suggested, and $44 billion in one year alone in 2035-36.

Labor and the Liberals are offering imperfect but undeniably bold alternative visions for the tax system. It's nice to have something to talk about.

The Coalition wants to limit Australia's net migration intake to only one person per new home built, but businesses say the economy needs a "sustainable" migration program.

In good news for travellers, the Australian dollar is now sitting comfortably above a four-year high as investors see the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates and the RBA hiking them.

Just like it did in 2019, Labor is making an argument about wealth in Australia when it proposes negative gearing and capital gains tax changes.

Answers to all your questions about the federal budget's changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax.

For once, the budget won't be a dull one. Jim Chalmers's tax reforms will create a stir and some question whether they will close the generation gap, but the treasurer is projecting a relaxed figure.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Australia's productivity problem will take a long time to fix, but a $10 billion annual saving on business compliance costs is a start.

Tuesday's federal budget is set to contain changes to the rules for trust funds, which economists say are a popular vehicle for tax planning. 

Some entrepreneurs argue any changes to reduce the capital gains tax discount should carve out the startup sector. However, tax experts warn this would create too much complexity in an already complicated tax system.

Next week's budget will have the generation gap at its heart. But nailing down exactly what that gap is can be difficult. Here's what the evidence says.

As the average mortgage borrower confronts another $100 a month on top of their already inflated repayments, lots of people are asking if there is a better way to contain inflation than simply raising interest rates. It turns out there might be.

Fuel prices in Australia have started to moderate just as costs have reached an almost four-year high in the United States.

The government is poised to make changes to negative gearing, the capital gains tax discount, and the tax treatment of trusts in next week's federal budget. So how do they work, and what could the changes look like?

Monetary policy trade-offs are getting worse. The Reserve Bank of Australia is confronting rising inflation and downgraded growth forecasts. And there's nothing it can really do about it. 

The government is still finalising the details of its budget, but several sources say three tax policies that featured in Labor's 2019 election campaign will be revived and rethought.