BUSINESS

French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies said Wednesday it would reduce its low-carbon energy investments while Norwegian peer Equinor scaled back its renewables ambitions as the companies reported sharp drops in annual profits.

The European Commission announced Wednesday it would seek to impose new fees on e-commerce imports, as part of efforts to tackle a surge of "harmful" products into the bloc -- the bulk of them from China.

Equity markets stumbled Wednesday and gold hit a new record as investors kept tabs on China and the United States after they exchanged tariffs, sparking fears of another debilitating trade war between the economic superpowers.

Swiss banking giant UBS said it remained on track to substantially wrap up its mega-merger with Credit Suisse by the end of 2026, after once again posting better-than-expected quarterly results on Tuesday.

The sale covers nearly 30 international destinations, including popular spots in Asia, the Americas, the United Kingdom, and the Pacific. In addition, two new routes -- Darwin to Singapore and Melbourne to Honolulu -- will be launched later this year.

A Coles spokesperson explained that the increase in product variety and duplication was partly a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the stores stocked more items due to global shortages.

Stock markets slumped, the dollar rallied and oil prices rose Monday as US President Donald Trump eyed more tariffs after launching trade wars with Canada, China and Mexico, heaping pressure on the global economy.

Eurozone inflation ticked up slightly in January to 2.5 percent, edging higher for a fourth consecutive month driven by energy price increases, official data showed on Monday.

Sydel Sierra, a digital wealth analyst, cautioned Australian investors against panic selling during the downturn. "Zoom out - literally - is my advice," the Digital Wealth Group founder said.

The store stocks 50 of Adore Beauty's online retailer's 300 plus brands.

A registered trademark provides exclusive rights to a brand's name, logo, or tagline, preventing others from using it without authorisation.

European and Asian stock markets mostly rose Friday, the end of a week beset by volatility after China's DeepSeek unveiled an artificial intelligence model to rival those of US tech giants.

NAB said that the confirmation of weaker-than-forecast price growth and a softer outlook for housing costs indicates a significant shift in economic conditions are the triggers behind the RBA to lower interest rates.

The Australian spirits industry is urging the government to halt planned excise tax increases, citing concerns over affordability for consumers and the impact on producers during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Funds in the accumulation phase are taxed at 15% on investment earnings, while those in the retirement phase are tax-free.

British energy giant Shell on Thursday announced a 17-percent drop in annual net profit owing to weaker oil and gas prices as well as asset write-offs.

Analysts predict that XRP could reach between AU$16.07 ($10) and AU$24.10 ($15) in 2025, depending on how quickly regulatory issues are resolved and how Ripple capitalizes on its expanding global payment network.

Tesla is set to report earnings Wednesday for the first time since President Donald Trump -- a close ally of CEO Elon Musk -- returned to the White House.

After three interest rate cuts in a row, the US Federal Reserve is expected to take a breather on Wednesday and signal it will remain on pause until the data changes, despite pressure to cut from President Donald Trump.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report released on Wednesday, the annual trimmed mean measure of consumer prices, which excludes volatile items, rose by 3.2% in the three months to December, just below the forecasted 3.3%.

As the clock ticks down on TikTok's 75-day reprieve from divesting from its Chinese owners or being banned in the United States, several contenders are in the running.

Starting February, AMP Bank will issue numberless debit cards linked to its mobile app, providing enhanced security and fraud protection for small businesses in Australia, in partnership with Mastercard.

A quick scroll through TikTok reveals a growing number of videos from younger workers who have quit what they label "toxic" jobs. These videos often highlight feelings of dissatisfaction, while some document the exact moments leading up to their resignation.

ATO recently revealed that 178 Australians under 30 reported superannuation balances exceeding AU$2 million in the 2021-2022 financial year, despite taxable incomes starting at just AU$18,200.

Shares of AI-focused companies like Appen, a software firm, and Brainchip, an AI chipmaker, saw significant drops. Appen fell by 3.3%, while Brainchip dropped by 10.3%.

Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company, and streaming behemoth Spotify on Sunday announced a multi-year direct deal that will affect both recording and publishing royalty rates.

The Russian subsidiary of French supermarket chain Auchan quashed rumours of an impending sale on Monday, saying it continued to operate for the benefit of the local population.

"If the trimmed mean inflation rate cools in line with our expectations it will be very hard for the RBA not to cut rates at its February meeting," AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said.

To give more travelers the chance to travel in premium economy, Emirates intends to raise this percentage to 50% of all flights by the end of March, the airline said.