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There's a high stakes political showdown underway in Washington at the moment over Donald Trump's proposals for more tax cuts in the United States. Some congressional repubicans - who'd normally back Mr Trump - are nervous about how to pay for the additional tax breaks in the face of concerns the proposal could add trillions to Amerca's already massive debt pile. ABC's Peter Ryan explains.

The Reserve Bank board is highly likely to cut its official cash rate by 0.25 percentage points later today down to 3.85 percent. The big question is whether there'll be followup rate cuts later this year with consumer inflation now back in the middle of the RBA's 2 to 3 percent target band. Economist Warren Hogan says there's a risk inflation could make a comeback given the tight jobs market. Rep...

Borrowers paying down steep mortgages are likely to get some extra relief with the Reserve Bank poised to cut official interest rates at tomorrow's board meeting. That would make the second rate cut this year after 13 rate hikes since May 2022 to tame inflation. But economic jury's out on how many more cuts we'll see later this year. Reporter: Peter Ryan, Senior Business Correspondent Featured: Be...

Title: Caption: Borrowers hoping to pay down a mortgage a bit faster will be paying close attention to next week's meeting of the Reserve Bank board and the near certainty of an interest rate cut to 3.85 per cent. While economists think the second rate cut this year is locked in, a surging jobs market could see fewer-than-expected rate cuts later this year. ABC's Peter Ryan explains. Reporter: Pet...

Title: Investors with more than $3 million in their superannuation accounts at the moment are increasingly nervous about a proposed new tax that will eat into some super earnings that are yet to be sold or realised. There are concerns that more Australians might be hit in the future given that the proposed levy isn't indexed for inflation if it passes into law. Also, the Telecommunications Industr...

There's been a critical truce in the tariff war between the United States and China after the world's two biggest economies agreed tom slash their tariffs on each other for at least 90 days. But the big question is whether this is just a "pause", did Donald Trump "blink" and could economic hostilities emerge again?

US Treasury secretary claims "substantial progress" has been made on brokering a tariff deal with China after Donald Trump imposed a 145 percent tariff on Chinese exports coming into the US and China hit back in kind. Also in Australia, key economic data out this week is likely to lock in anticipated interest rate cut and more to come later this year.

US claims "substantial progress” tariff talks with China by Peter Ryan

Title: Donald Trump, Keir Starmer hail limited US-UK trade deal to resolve global tarrif shock Caption: While the big focus is on white smoke in the Vatican where a new pope has been announced,there's encourging economic white smoke with a new trade deal between Britain and the United States. The important breakthrough is the first trade deal the US has signed after Donald Trump paused his global...

Title: US interest rates on hold despite Trump demands to cut Caption: There's more evidence that Donald Trump's campaign of tariffs is clouding the economic outlook in the United States. The US Federal Reserve has once again defied Mr Trump by not cutting interest rates worried the tariffs war could stoke inflation and hurt the US labour market at the same time..

Journalist and humanitarian Iain Finlay died on Tuesday, aged 89, choosing voluntary assisted dying. Mr Finlay, who had amyloidosis, was an accomplished TV and radio journalist and worked for the ABC on This Day Tonight and Beyond 2000.

As Donald Trump's tariffs rock confidence around the world, one of Australia's banking bosses says our economy can weather the storm .. as long as China's economy remains strong. National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Irvine thinks Australia would be exposed if a tdamaged China cuts back lucrative commodities.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney meets Donald Trump in the the White House for his first talks since becoming Canada's prime minister last week. Mr Carney bluntly told Mr Trump - who wants to make Canada the 51st US state - that Canada will "never be for sale". ABC's Peter Ryan with this analysis.

Donald Trump planning 100pc tariff on US films made offshore; Liberal donors to hold back cash after election rout Caption: The US entertainment industry has reacted with a mixture of alarm and bewilderment after Donald Trump said he'd impose a 100 per cent tariff on all movies produced outside the United States. Also, liberal party donors threaten to end cash lifeline after Labor's landslide win...

Having secured a powerful historic majority, does Anthony Albanese now have a clear mandate to tackle major economic reforms with a focus on lifting productivity? ABC's Peter Ryan speaks with AMP chief economist Shane Oliver and Westpac chief executive Anthony Miller. Both agree Labor's landslide is an opportunity to take hard decisions.

Having secured a powerful historic majority, does Anthony Albanese now have a clear mandate to tackle major economic reforms that both Labor and the Coalition have put in the too hard basket for years? AMP chief economist Shane Oliver discusses the options with ABC’ Peter Ryan.

Will albo tackle hard economic reform? by Peter Ryan

It's six weeks to go before Donald Trump is inaugurated as US president and big global investors are scrambling to prepare for his economic policies that include hefty tariffs in what's likely to be a new era of protectionism for the world's biggest economy. The ABC's senior business correspondent Peter Ryan speaks with Juan Delgado, co-chief executive Hamilton Lane Hamilton Lane - a private marke...

With Australia's economy teetering on the brink of recession, business groups are warning that "chickens are coming home to roost' because successive governments have shyed away from major economic reforms. While the focus is on data showing an economy propped up for by government spending, there's a warning that big investors are staying away from Australia because of policies perceived to be ant...

With Australia's economy close to flatlining, the heat is turning up on the Reserve Bank to bring forward interest rate cuts to avoid a recession. Official figures show barely any economic growth in the most recent quarter and just 0.8 percent over the year. The outcome is bad news for the federal government with next year's federal election to be fought on the theme of strong economic management....

Australia's economy is limping along on at its slowest pace since the 1990s recession excluding the pandemic and only held up by government spending, according the latest GDP figures out this lunchtime. The National Accounts reveal an economy on life support as aggressive interest rate rises and the high cost of living bite into business and consumer spending.

The board of the $94 billion CBUS industry superannuation fund has been told to improve its governance and to demonstrate its "partnership" payments to the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union are in the best interests of its members. The investigation was triggered after serious allegations about misconduct by board members, who are affiliated with the rogue construction union.

Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has warned underlying inflation is still too high to consider interest rate cuts. Also, insurance giant IAG has swallowed up the insurance arm of Queensland icon RACQ in a deal worth $855 million. But IAG boss Nick Hawkins tells ABC’s Peter Ryan the RACQ brand will be maintained and there’ll be no job cuts.

Inflation remains stubborn in the United States, with a monthly indicator showing consumer prices rose slightly in October. With inflation still above the US Federal Reserve’s inflation target of 2 per cent, economists are betting the pace of US rate cuts in 2025 will be slower than expected. Also, Donald Trump nominates China hawk Jamieson Greer to be US Trade Secretary to enforce his planned tar...

The Albanese government is being warned to resist a pre-election cash splash amid forecasts that the budget bottom line is facing its worst deterioration on record - excluding the pandemic. The latest budget monitor from Deloitte Access Economics warns the federal government can no longer rely on previous windfalls from the commodities boom to protect the budget bottom line. Reporter: Peter Ryan,...