Australian economy stories

Ant International and Citi are targeting Australian export SMEs with a real-time PayTo option, aiming to ease cash flow and speed cross-border top-ups.

FinTech Australia's 2026 Finnies shortlist spans payments, AI and web3, with 160 finalists and sector value touted at AUD $13.8 billion.

CommBank's new FX Barometer finds Australian companies and superannuation funds are hedging heavily, with exporters covering 86 per cent of exposure.

MYOB data shows Australian SMEs using AI are expanding 2.8 times faster, as the software firm flags a widening adoption gap and skills shortage.

Australian small business owners nearing retirement are rushing to shore up branding and exit plans, with many lacking any documented handover.

NAB finds AI is moving beyond big business, with small firms using it to cut admin, boost productivity and reshape everyday operations.

Australian employers are increasingly rewarding office presence with higher pay, bonuses and career opportunities, a Robert Half survey finds.

Australian fintech Zeller enters Britain as small merchants face rising card costs, betting on faster onboarding and lower fees to win market share.

Australia's energy shock deepens pressure on sole traders and smaller firms, with CreditorWatch flagging higher tax defaults and insolvency risk.

MachShip says fuel surcharges have lifted Australian freight costs as same-day and next-day deliveries miss deadlines more often than standard services.

Australian business and household sentiment slumped after fuel costs jumped, with CreditorWatch warning of rising insolvency risks if oil markets stay strained.

AI mentions surge in Australian job ads as employers broaden use, but public sector hiring still lags private firms by months.

RMS adds direct bank payments through GoCardless as Australian hotels brace for Reserve Bank reforms that could ban card surcharges and lift merchant costs.

Australia urged to back sustainable AI infrastructure, with Logicalis saying renewable power, land and cooling could turn the nation into a global export hub.

FinTech Australia has named Xero policy chief Grace Gown to its board as the industry body steps up its push for fintech-friendly regulation.

Visa study finds Australian SMBs are relying on personal credit to plug cashflow gaps, with many short on formal credit and bogged down by admin.

Australia's commercial property market is diverging, with office vacancies and tenant stress rising while industrial assets stay buoyed by tight supply.

Zeller rolls out Terminal 1x for Australian merchants, bundling POS and payments in one device to tackle rising fixed costs.

Australian residential building approvals surged in February, driven by a volatile apartment rebound, but higher rates and energy costs threaten builders.

Australia's central bank will outlaw card surcharges and squeeze interchange fees, forcing merchants, banks and payment firms to rethink costs.