Elizabeth Knight

Qatar Airways’ big stake in Virgin Australia is unlikely to spark price wars.

The unofficial banking system known as the bank of mum and dad appears to be growing more crucial as younger people are squeezed by high costs.

Investors are looking through the retail gloom and anticipating how cyclical companies will fare when inflation is a memory and interest rates start to fall.

While Premier Investments’ profits held up better than most discretionary retailers, not even his well-oiled business can escape the economic backdrop.

Gaming and pub king Bruce Mathieson didn’t get rich overpaying for assets, and clearly thinks there is money to be made in Australians’ love of a punt and a drink.

Over the past year, passengers have shifted their attention from fury at the level of Qantas’ service to anger about its elevated fares – but people are still willing to fly.

Having dug a financial hole for itself, Star Entertainment is now asking everyone to take pity on it.

The low-hanging fruit for the family budget is what NAB describes as micro treats – the most vulnerable are the daily takeaway coffee and buying lunch.

Even if billionaire Solomon Lew hasn’t the appetite for a Myer takeover his stake has given him gatekeeper status if anyone else wants to have a try.

How to reconcile consumer confidence being so weak that it barely has a pulse with shoppers spending enough to push JB Hi-Fi sales up almost 11 per cent in the past three months.