Business

Prediction markets let people wager on anything from a basketball game to the outcome of a presidential election — and recently, the downfall of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The booming GLP-1 space was built on weekly injections. In 2026, new obesity pills will push the market into its next chapter.

After a stronger than expected month for consumer spending, pre-Christmas sales could see that trend continue.

Australian consumers are feeling increasingly stressed about their finances amid renewed cost-of-living-pressures, yet new bank data suggests they are unwilling to tighten belts further.

THE ECONOMIST: It’s a masterclass in the hidden complexity of everyday economic life and the terrifying efficiency of a world without private property.

Rio Tinto and Glencore are back in negotiations for a merger that would create the world’s biggest mining company.

Major bank economists will keep a close eye on Australia’s giant iron ore sales amid a pricing dispute with China and a fall in the national trade balance.

Coles and Woolworths have hired extra trucks to keep WA supplied while repairs get underway following a train derailment in South Australia that has blocked a vital rail route.

Listed glove manufacturer Ansell has found an unlikely new chief executive in the former boss of a Finnish group behind Wedgwood, Georg Jensen and Waterford. 

If you’ve ever wondered what exactly is in a McDonald’s McRib, you could be about to find out by order of the court.

Andrew Hauser has hinted a rate hike was more likely than a rate cut, despite inflation moderating sharply in November.

It’s been the hottest trade of the decade, but is bitcoin’s run finally over? Australia’s top economists weigh in on what 2026 holds for the world’s largest cryptocurrency.

THE ECONOMIST: Artificial intelligence promises to transform how and where things are made.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s 37th year as supreme leader could yet prove as climactic as that of the last shah — toppled after 37 years on the throne. 

Warner Bros has spoken out against a takeover bid from Paramount, urging shareholders to instead support a Netflix offer.