-137--318x212.jpg)
I’ve never asked a PM for anything: Murdoch
Updated | News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch has insisted he is oblivious to the commercial benefits of any political party winning power and keeps his newspaper empire because he “loves” papers, even though shareholders want him to get rid of them.
Greece facing worse than expected recession
The Bank of Greece has warned that the financial stricken country faces a worse-than-expected recession in 2012, with the economy set to shrink five per cent.
US comfortable with Afghan timetable: Carr
Senior American officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, had found no difficulty with the Australian government’s timetable for the withdrawal of fighting forces from Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Bob Carr says.
Slipper takes Abbott to task
Former Liberal turned independent MP Peter Slipper has taken a swipe at Tony Abbott on social media, saying he was previously close to him and had delivered the key vote needed to make him Leader of the Opposition.
Apple profit rises on higher iPhone and iPad sales
Apple has said that soaring sales of its iPhone, especially in Asia, nearly doubled its profit in the company’s fiscal second quarter.
Dow, S&P rise on earnings, Apple jumps late
The Dow and the S&P 500 rose on Tuesday after strong earnings and upbeat outlooks from big manufacturers like 3M Co, but Apple's slide ahead of its results drove the Nasdaq down.
Benign inflation lifts rate cut hopes
Consumer prices rose in the first quarter at the weakest annual pace in 2 ½ years, led by a slump in food costs, boosting the central bank’s scope to cut borrowing costs as early as next week.
Petrobras, Vale eye rare earths deal to replace China
Brazil's Petrobras and mining giant Vale are in talks over a rare earths deal that would allow Vale to replace China as Petrobras' supplier of lanthanum oxide for oil refining, sources have said.
MF Global suits combined over customer objections
A slew of lawsuits by investors and customers of MF Global Holdings Ltd who sued over the futures brokerage's collapse have been consolidated into one case in Manhattan federal court.
Lew loses bid to keep family dispute out of media
Updated | Retailing billionaire Solomon Lew has lost his bid for an order suppressing media coverage of a multimillion-dollar family trust dispute.
Aussies honour diggers
Thousands of Australians have stood shoulder to shoulder at Anzac Day dawn services, united in remembrance and respect for the nation's generations of diggers.
Facebook logins off-limits in job interviews
Professional attire? Check. Cover letter and resume? Check. Passwords to your Facebook and Twitter accounts? Not so fast.
Mess, Prime Minister
Hewett | No-one could make up the Peter Slipper story. It’s too absurd – especially when downright tacky becomes major political drama.
Vision behind Biota’s US shift
Stevens - Biota’s planned US migration is just the latest twist in a 25-year odyssey to translate some remarkable thinking into serious shareholder wealth.
Remove Labor from soiled hands
Latham | Peter Slipper is one of the most egregious Good-Time Charlies to ever prance around the edges of Australian politics.
Australia ignoring hidden resource
Fox - Fox | When it comes down to basics, Australia simply can’t afford to let women go to waste as the demand for skilled workers escalates.
Instability and crisis all round
Wyatt - China is the great, and the last, remaining pillar of support for commodity markets as Europe stumbles along.
Tough test for independents
Editorial | Among the questions raised by the mounting difficulties besetting Julia Gillard’s minority government is just what it would take for the independent MPs to withdraw their support for the Labor government.
Complacency not an option
Editorial | Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan’s take on the annual meeting of the IMF was that Australia was in a “league of our own”. But there was perhaps a more important message Mr Swan should have brought home.
Couple discussed art ten times a day, court hears
A lawyer for Sotheby’s Australia chairman Geoffrey Smith has argued Mr Smith made a “remarkable” contribution to his former lover’s gallery business.
Apple may lose iPad name in China: official
A senior official says Apple risks losing the right to use the iPad trademark in China, as a Chinese court seeks to mediate between the technology giant and a local company.
Sotheby's to sell 400-year-old diamond
The 400-year-old Beau Sancy, one of the world's oldest and most storied diamonds in private hands, is up sale at Sotheby's auction house.
$625 to come home with Grange
Penfolds Grange aficionados brace yourselves. One of Australia’s most expensive wines just got more pricey.
Old-fashioned yes, but it’s your media
The dark forces of commercial interest are finding ways of shaping the media message and, instead of sneaking in the side, they’re barging in the front.
Roar retain A-League crown
Brisbane Roar produced a second straight dramatic comeback to become the first club to successfully defend A-League grand final crown.
National
GST review: Infrastructure
WA wants a bigger allowance for the costs of hosting a mining boom, such as building new roads and ports.
GST review: Public services
The current system can discourage states from driving down the cost of services such as hospitals or schools.
Sitting on the job shortens lifespans, study finds
Employees who sit for long periods are more likely to die earlier than those who get up and move around, according to a VicHealth study that finds office workers spend as much as 75 per cent of work time seated.
World
Walmart vows to fight bribery claims in Mexico
Allegations of widespread bribery at Walmart’s Mexican subsidiary continued to reverberate on Tuesday, with the company moving into damage control mode as its shares declined further.
Sizzling China sales send Apple profits soaring
Not long after the iPhone came out two years ago, sceptics questioned how much appeal the costly device and related wireless service would have in countries with lower income levels like China. On Tuesday, Apple provided the answer: a lot.
Extremism’s on the march in a declining Europe
The ultimate winner of the first round of the French presidential election is undoubtedly Marine Le Pen.
Business
Pressure on Woolies to catch up
Updated | Supermarket chain Coles has outperformed Woolworths for the 11th consecutive quarter, lifting same-store food and liquor sales by 2.7 per cent in the three months ending in March.
- Seven hoses down earnings expectations
- Newcrest cuts guidance on 2012 gold output
- Spotless halts trade amid takeover expectations
- Still money to be made in aviation: Joyce
- PMP slashes 2012 earnings forecasts
- Mr Beer gives Coopers US home brew domination
- Huawei profit drops and new leadership announced
More seek better deal on mortgages
Mortgage enquiries have increased for the first time since 2009, a trend fuelled by the rapidly growing number of people seeking better home loan deals.
Technology
Mining: the final frontier, robots to dig on asteroids
In a theory straight out of science fiction, plans are afoot to use space-faring robots to mine precious resources like gold, platinum and rocket fuel from asteroids.
- Apple profit rises on higher iPhone and iPad sales
- Facebook logins off-limits in job interviews
- iPhones, iPads infringe Motorola patent: ITC
- Apple may lose iPad name in China: official
- St George app increases its bank ability
- Huawei profit drops and new leadership announced
- Smart TVs getting smarter at last
- iiNet case provokes opposing solutions
- War to deliver digital mail post-haste
Markets
Dow, S&P rise on earnings, Apple jumps late
The Dow and the S&P 500 rose on Tuesday after strong earnings and upbeat outlooks from big manufacturers like 3M Co, but Apple's slide ahead of its results drove the Nasdaq down.
Banks to report declining loan profits
The major banks are expected to report a decline in profit margins on loans when they release their half-year results from next week.
Personal finance
More seek better deal on mortgages
Mortgage enquiries have increased for the first time since 2009, a trend fuelled by the rapidly growing number of people seeking better home loan deals.
- Borrowers slash big four’s satisfaction ratings
- ASIC warns firms on dodgy ads
- Super funds to get CGT relief
- $625 to come home with Grange
- Tax avoidance rules too tough for the UK
- Some investors put it in storage
- MF Global victims see an escape route
- Means test slugs wealthy
- Call for US Fed-style interest rate path
Asset rich hit hard by aged-care reforms
There are winners and losers in most reforms, and the aged-care changes hurt individuals left with substantial sums after selling off their homes.
Opinion
Grit necessary for talent to shine
If failure is essential to success then what are the prospects for our graduates? They have grown up in an age when almost no pupil is ever forced to repeat a year.
Let’s make ‘extra years’ good ones
Last year was a watershed year for Australia. For the first time in our history, more Australians now reach retirement age each year than reach working age.
Lifestyle
Executive property
This three-level waterfront house overlooking Perth’s Swan River is for sale with $12 million - $16 million expectations.
Fabled but less-travelled road
The enchanted cities, exotic mosques and ancient bazaars of the Silk Road beckon the adventurous.
Motoring | F1 rocket for the road
Hit 4500 rpm and suddenly the McLaren MP4-12C feels louder and faster than a rocket ship. And that’s on its “normal” setting.
Loud and proud
International and local buyers at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will be looking for clothes and accessories a little left of centre.
Latest TV
Video | Chanticleer: Newcrest’s woes
Does Newcrest Mining have the management smarts needed to keep the company healthy, following a 40pc drop in share price? More AFR TV
Video | Markets Monday
Central banks in the US, Japan and New Zealand will all meet this week, while data this week will help determine the RBA’s rate cuts decision on May 1. More AFR TV
