Full interview: ACCC’s Rod Sims
ACCC chairman Rod Sims is stepping up his campaign against the supermarket giants, which he says is in the long-term interest of consumers, as he urges Coles and Woolworths to cut grocery prices instead of spending money on promotions such a petrol shopper dockets.
Full interview: Meriton Group’s Harry Triguboff
Meriton Group founder Harry Triguboff says the Reserve Bank has been to slow to cut interest rates and should continue cutting rates to keep Australia moving and support the property and building sectors.
Diggers and Dealers
With commodity prices down, mining jobs being shed and projects shelved, the mood at this year’s Diggers and Dealers mining forum will be more subdued than in recent years.
Full interview: Adelaide Brighton’s Mark Chellew
Adelaide Brighton boss Mark Chellew says recovery in the property sector is taking longer than in previous cycles, partly because people are still concerned about the global financial crisis.
Building business
As the Reserve Bank of Australia prepares to meet on Tuesday, Meriton founder Harry Triguboff and Adelaide Brighton boss Mark Chellew are calling for further interest rate cuts to support the property sector.
Property play
Street Talk reports that Dexus Property Group is expected to pull the trigger shortly on its much-anticipated $2.7 billion tilt for Commonwealth Bank’s office fund.
Rear Window on Sunday
The Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston reveals how Qantas is playing cupid for some of its more amorous passengers.
Featured story
Years of volatility ahead: Kelly
Westpac boss Gail Kelly says years of volatility in wholesale funding markets are ahead as funding costs spike and offshore borrowing remains anaemic.
July 28
Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blanfein
Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein is upbeat about the Australian economy and says China’s slowing growth means more sustainability.
July 21
The battle for Billabong, broadband TV
Whoever wins the battle to own Billabong faces a tough job turning the company around, and we look at the broadband future of free-to-air TV.
July 14
July 14: Harold Mitchell, Graincorp’s foreign takeover
Media buyer Harold Mitchell explains why he’s optimistic about Australia’s economy, while multinational ADM manoeuvres for Graincorp.
July 7
Crown’s James Packer and Westpac’s Gail Kelly
Crown Ltd chairman James Packer lashes rival Echo’s Queensland casinos, while Westpac’s Gail Kelly talks women of influence.
June 30
What business wants from Canberra
Mirvac’s James MacKenzie and AACo’s Donald McGauchie on what they want to see from the Labor and Liberal parties this election season.
June 23
Graham Turner on $A, WA outlook
The falling Aussie dollar could aid some sectors in Australia, while Western Australia is left to confront the mining boom.
June 16
Hot property and the Labor leadership
Across Australia property prices are on the rise, but is Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s leadership star starting to wane?
June 9
BHP’s Andrew Mackenzie, Suncorp loan sale
BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie says Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has reassured him about the country’s demand for commodities. Major contenders eye Suncorp loans.
June 2
Ross Garnaut, Echo’s John Redmond
Economist Ross Garnaut says living standards are on the brink of a dramatic shift and it’s time for everyone to take some pain. Echo Entertainment’s Sydney throw-down with Crown.
May 26
Origin’s Grant King, Coates Hire
Origin Energy’s Grant King discusses LNG. McKinsey says liquified natural gas projects will cost 30 per cent more to build in Australia than in rival countries. Malaysia’s UMW Holdings is among the bidders for Coates Hire.
May 19
$A relief, world first IPO
Grange Resources CEO Richard Mehan discusses the 40 per cent boost to his business has received from the falling dollar. Virtus Health chief Sue Channon eyes expansion in Asia and mulls local acquisitions.
May 12
DJ’s Paul Zahra, NAB’s Cameron Clyne
David Jones chief Paul Zahra explains why he’s putting the screws to landlords. National Australia Bank CEO Cameron Clyne explains why he may cut mortgage rates out of step with the Reserve Bank of Australia.
May 5
Rio Tinto’s Sam Walsh, Coles’ Ian McLeod
Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh called on the federal government to maintain a stable fiscal regime for businesses in the federal budget. Coles boss Ian McLeod issues a threat to big suppliers: justify your prices or cut them.
