"Like going to the casino" - ASIC moves to ban risky binary options and to restrict CFDs. I speak with ASIC commissioners Cathie Armour.

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission is moving to ban two complex financial products where 80 percent of the time mum and dad investors end up losing. 

Binary options are legitimately offered to consumers as "all or nothing" bets but experts say it's like going to the casino where the house almost always wins. 

Read the ASIC consultation here

In addition to binary options, ASIC wants to ban CFDs - another exotic product where investors bet on movements in a share price even though the odds are stacked against them. 

ASIC commissioner Cathie Armour speaks with ABC's Peter Ryan.

Hong Kong protests rattle Qantas as travellers change plans; 6.5pc fall in full year profit; CEO Alan Joyce unveils test non-stop flights to London and New York

Qantas has confirmed that escalating protests in Hong Kong are starting to hurt its business. 

The national carrier is now looking at sending smaller planes to Hong Kong as tourists and business travellers consider staying away. 

Qantas has reported a six percent fall in full year profit to 891 million dollars after its fuel bill surged by more than 600 million dollars. 

Chief executive Alan Joyce is also planning to trial non stop flights to New York and London as the airline navigates growing geopolitical turbulence. 

Mr Joyce speaks with ABC's Peter Ryan.

Gender discrimination on the rise as pay gap narrows. I speak with KPMG Australia chairman Alison Kitchen.

Rising gender discrimination is now the single biggest factor in driving a pay wedge between men and women, according to a report out today. 

Research by the advisory firm KPMG has found that "stubborn gender stereotypes" continue to harm the careers of women especially those who opt to care for children and elderly family members.

Read the online story

The study, conducted for the Diversity Council of Australia and the Workplace Gender Equality Agency suggests targets or quotas could be required to boost the number of women in leadership positions.

KPMG Australia chairman Alison Kitchen speaks with ABC's Peter Ryan.

BHP boss Andrew Mackenzie says US China trade tensions not hurting commodities "just yet"; Seven West Media chief executive James Warburton inherits $444.5 million full year loss

BHP chief executive Andrew Mackenzie says the US China trade war is not yet hurting demand for its commodities. 

But Mr Mackenzie says a prolonged trade dispute could have an impact, warning that nationalism was getting in the way of capitalism. 

Also today, Seven West Media post a loss of $444.5 million in the full year with writedowns the value of its TV licence and newspaper mastheads. 

Chief executive James Warburton said all options were on the table and did not rule out a merger with a major player such as News Corporation.

Here's my coverage from The World Today

Hong Kong on brink of recession as protests hit economy. I speak with Enda Curran, Bloomberg chief Asia economics correspondent in Hong Kong.

The escalating protests in Hong Kong - in addition to fallout from the US China trade war - are likely to take the special administrative region to the brink of recession. 

Hong Kong's economic growth contracted in the most recent quarter and the government has announced a US$2 billion stimulus package to keep consumers and businesses spending. 

With fears rising that China will intervene to break up the protests, Hong Kong businesses are making contingency plans raising the prospect that money could exit the local economy most likely to Asia's other financial hub of Singapore. 

Enda Curran, chief Asia economics correspondent with Bloomberg in Hong Kong , speaks with ABC's Peter Ryan.