10 things you need to know this morning in Australia

Good morning all, and mentally prepare yourself for maybe having the Olympics in 11 years' time.

The ABS has confirmed Australia's mortality rate actually declined in 2020 – and funeral companies like Invocare are feeling the pinch

InvoCare, one of Australia's largest funeral providers, today reported a net loss of $9.2 million over 2020. The group says a downturn in revenue is linked to a drop in the mortality rate, which it attributed to the effectiveness of COVID-19 lockdowns.

Westfield owner Scentre lost $3.7 billion in 6 months as retailers struggled through the pandemic

Scentre profits have swung $5 billion into the red in the space of 12 months after downgrading the value of its Westfield centres. As a result, the retail empire produced a $3.7 billion loss for the full year to December.

Sydney Airport reported a $145 million full-year loss, but is 'cautiously optimistic' this year will look a little better

Sydney Airport has tumbled to a $145 million full-year loss, down from a $403 million profit a year earlier, after the COVID-19 pandemic slowed passenger numbers to a trickle for much of 2020.

TikTok says it faced 32 government requests to remove content in Australia in the second half of 2020 – with only Russia and Pakistan requesting more

Social media platform TikTok says it received 32 government requests to remove content in Australia over the second half of 2020. In a new report, TikTok said those requests led to 74 user accounts being banned or restricted.

Australia's buy now, pay later titans are reportedly days away from signing a new code of conduct, capping late fees and forcing credit checks on large transactions

Market leaders in Australia's buy now, pay later sector are set to follow a new, self-regulatory code of practice from Monday. Players like Afterpay and Zip will reportedly pledge to cap customer transactions at $2,000 and install limits on fees

GameStop spikes 104% in late-day surge as buying frenzy resumes

GameStop shares more than doubled in the final 30 minutes of trading on Wednesday, suggesting a new buying spree may be at hand.

What you need to know about NFTs, the collectible digital tokens that are selling for millions online

Non-fungible tokens or NFTs have grown to encompass a $250 million market and operate on the same principles as cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

These are the Australian suburbs where it's much cheaper to buy than to rent

New Domain analysis has shown that almost 37% of Australian suburbs are cheaper to buy a home than to rent one. The figures found that while premium suburbs are still more affordable to rent, peripheral suburbs and regional areas offer far greater savings for homebuyers.

Sales of tequila were up by 46% in 2020. Here's why the spirit is finally having its 'whisky moment'

Tequila has become ubiquitous in pop culture over the past few decades — from cameos in Hollywood productions to Nicki Minaj's nod to Patron in her 2012 hit "Starships" — which has begun to reflect in its overall market share in the alcohol industry.

Unsubscribe • Email to a Friend • Privacy Policy

Business Outsider