Business

Business · 1 October 2026

Solar Pioneer Gets Heritage Badge, Sparking a Blazing Property Boom

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The 1980s outback solar farm in Opalville, a forgotten opal mining town, has been granted heritage status, sending a ripple through local real‑estate markets and prompting market participants to weigh the cost of nosta…

Business · 1 October 2026

Caffeine Cutbacks: Aussie Cafés Face Grounds for Concern as Homebrew Trend Cooks Profit Margins

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

With rising living costs nudging Australians to brew at home, cafés find themselves on thin, espresso‑laden margins, prompting market participants to rethink their latte strategy.

Business · 1 October 2026

South African Mining Behemoth Persists in $38 billion Gold Grab, Keeps Negotiating Despite Rejection

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

When its $38 billion bid to take over the country’s biggest gold producer was turned down, the South African group has vowed to keep the conversation alive, hinting that the deal may still be in the offing or that it…

Business · 1 October 2026

Shops Fumble into Card Surcharge Nightmares as Ban Takes Hold

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Despite a government ban on card payment surcharges, retailers across Australia are scrambling to update their systems, leading to a wave of unintended fees that even the most diligent shoppers will spot.

Business · 30 September 2026

Alaska’s Hawaiian Fleet Rewrites Pacific Rules, Eyes Sydney for Europe‑Asia Expansion

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

After a 2024 takeover, Alaska Airlines re‑assigned Hawaiian’s 787s to trans‑Atlantic routes, sparking speculation that Sydney‑bound travellers could soon hop on a Hawaiian‑Alaska hybrid flight to Europe or Asia…

Business · 30 September 2026

Capped by Cost: Aussies Will Keep $5,000 Handsets for Four Years, Says Vodafone

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Vodafone reveals that Australians are extending their mobile contracts to four years, driven by the sky‑high price of some handsets.

Business · 30 September 2026

KFC's 'Bigger, Crispier' Chicken Sparks Market Speculation Over Protein Size

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

KFC is revamping its core menu with larger, crisper chicken pieces, a move that has prompted market participants to weigh the financial implications of a product that may be more about size than taste.

Business · 30 September 2026

Larvotto’s Hillgrove Mine Unveils 32‑Metre Lode of Gold‑Equivalent and 11% Tungsten, Market Participants Rubbing Their Eyes

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Larvotto Mining announced a new 32‑metre lode at its Hillgrove site in New South Wales, delivering 5.68 g/t gold‑equivalent and a sizzling 11.13 % tungsten content, prompting market participants to wonder if the…

Business · 30 September 2026

Forrestania Adds 285,700 Ounces to WA Gold Reserves, Raising Confidence by 43%

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Forrestania Resources announced a new 285,700‑ounce gold resource for its ‘Ladies’ project in Western Australia, boosting high‑confidence ounces by 43% and giving market participants a fresh dose of optimism.