Coal prices tipped to fall 20pc
The government’s leading resources forecaster predicts prices for coal, Australia’s second largest export, will fall by almost a fifth this financial year, while total minerals export earnings will peak in 2013-14.
US Treasury reassures Hockey over shutdown
Treasurer Joe Hockey has downplayed the prospect of any negative fallout for Australia from the US federal government’s shutdown, following a telephone call from US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew.
Linc Energy to quit ASX for Singapore
Updated | Queensland-based Linc Energy plans to delist from the Australian Securities Exchange in favour of a listing in Singapore to broaden its investor base and benefit from increasing Asian demand for oil and gas.
ASX steady, $A drops on disappointing data
Updated | The ASX was up 7 points on Wednesday, but the Australian dollar dropped after disappointing economic data, while the market shrugged off any impact of the US government shutdown.
Qantas market share hurt amid ‘challenging conditions’
Qantas Airways has lost market share to Virgin Australia as “challenging market conditions” since the start of the financial year drive yields lower across its business.
Hadgkiss to be Abbott’s building ‘cop on the beat’
The Coalition is poised to announce Nigel Hadgkiss as the new chief of Fair Work Building and Construction as part of its crack down on unions and unlawfulness in the construction sector.
James Packer’s $450m movie bet
Exclusive | Billionaire James Packer is behind investment vehicle Ratpac-Dune Entertainment, which has struck a $450 million financing deal with Warner Brothers to cover the production of 75 movies over four years.
SMSFs reject property investment concerns
Self-managed superannuation fund advisers have rejected suggestions that trustees in the fast-growing sector are gullible and falling prey to unscrupulous estate agents.
CEOs welcome Abbott’s cattle trade barbs
Top business leaders welcomed Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s denunciation of the previous government’s suspension of the cattle trade as a broader guarantee of newfound stability in relations with Indonesia.
Europeans turning anti-immigrant
Conservative forces are on the rise in Europe, fuelled by rising hostility towards the euro zone and growing anti-immigrant sentiment, although extremist views are a concern to some voters.
Microsoft investors lobby for chairman Bill Gates to step down
Three of the top 20 investors in Microsoft are lobbying the board to press for Bill Gates to step down as chairman of the company he founded 38 years ago.
How to turn your iPhone into a Gameboy
Images of Logitech’s long-rumoured controller case for the iPhone have emerged, suggesting it’s getting pretty close to readiness.
Superannuation thrown a curve ball
The election of a new government has given rise to old tensions within the superannuation system.
Emeco’s Indonesia exit would be a “significant” catalyst
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Emeco is priced for an equity raising, though ‘an exit from the loss-making Indonesian business could prove a significant catalyst, pushing net debt/EBITDA back within covenant levels’, Bell Potter warns.
Australia’s growing taste for champagne
Australia is now the seventh-biggest market in the world for French bubbly and is one of the few markets for champagne that has been growing.
Apple iPad next in line for colour change?
Space grey iPad? The dust has barely settled on the 2013 iPhone launch and the Apple rumour mill is back in full swing.
Sweden is best for old age
Sweden is the best country in which to grow old and Afghanistan the worst, according to a study by the United Nations.
Icahn tells Apple he wants $150bn buyback
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has met with Apple chief executive Tim Cook and “pushed hard” for a $US150 billion share buyback at the iPhone maker.
Oatley looks for cheaper punt at America’s Cup
Australian wine billionaire Bob Oatley and son Sandy have cast their hat into the ring for the richest contest in world sailing, the America’s Cup.
Blessed are the meek, sitting in the hot seat
Introversion needn’t be a hindrance to ambition, as Quiet author Susan Cain points out.
Science unveils sinister side to tattoo craze
As tattoos have become more fashionable they have attracted more scientific research and concern is now emerging about a possible long-term health risk.
Science and Christianity meet in outer space
The eternal debate between science and blind faith is played out in a new book “Science, Religion and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence”, by David Wilkinson.
BlackBerry hits back at Gartner decline advice
BlackBerry has hit back at analyst firm Gartner, which reportedly advised enterprises to rethink their use of BlackBerry’s devices and platform.
Move to relax in-flight use of electronics in US
US airline passengers should be allowed to use electronic devices to read, play or enjoy movies and music, even when planes are on the ground.
National
Coal prices tipped to fall 20pc
The government’s leading resources forecaster predicts prices for coal, Australia’s second largest export, will fall by almost a fifth this financial year, while total minerals export earnings will peak in 2013-14.
- Hadgkiss to be Abbott’s building ‘cop on the beat’
- No ‘blank cheque’ for Holden: Xenophon
- Labor targets Abbott over softer asylum policies
- De Bruyn attacks Howes over gay marriage call
- Third time lucky for Devereaux Farm?
- Infrastructure ‘gold plating’ is blowing out costs: Qld
- ASIC to restart RBA probe
- CEOs welcome Abbott’s cattle trade barbs
- Million-dollar contract awarded without tender
Ferguson lays down CSG challenge to NSW to avoid gas crisis
Former federal resources minister Martin Ferguson has directly challenged NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell to show political leadership and break the stalemate on coal seam gas development in NSW.
Opinion
It pays to heed history before hopping into a heating property market
Investors tend to be attracted to gearing into risk assets like property or shares when markets heat up, which is not necessarily the smartest approach.
Shutdown’s bumpy ride may have a positive ending
Anyone in the US under investigation by the Internal Revenue Service has just been given some breathing space with all audits cancelled but they won’t be able to take a walk through a National Park.
Indonesian workers: the next big bilateral issue
After some occasionally noisy and uncivilised foreign policy utterances in the heat of the recent election campaign, Tony Abbott has ticked all the right boxes so far in his Jakarta visit.
World
US government shut amid deadlock
As many as one million federal workers were thrown temporarily out of work as the US government partially shut down for the first time in 17 years.
- World population to rise to 9.7 billion: study
- Instability puts north African oil and gas on shaky ground
- ‘Reckless’ UK bankers could face 7-year jail sentences
- Icahn tells Apple he wants $150bn buyback
- Goldman’s ‘Fabulous Fab’ seeks a new trial
- Toyota may cut 2014 output over sales tax hike: Nikkei
- Ford up, GM down in subdued month for sales
- Berlusconi faces revolt over Italy confidence vote
- China manufacturing activity disappoints
The best US shutdown tweets
The shutdown of the US government has not only closed museums and sent hundreds of thousands of workers home – it’s also led to an avalanche of jokes and comments on Twitter.
Business
Linc Energy to quit ASX for Singapore
Updated | Queensland-based Linc Energy plans to delist from the Australian Securities Exchange in favour of a listing in Singapore to broaden its investor base and benefit from increasing Asian demand for oil and gas.
- Warrnambool flags a surge in 2014 earnings
- UGL extends CEO Leupen’s contract to 2015
- ANZ backs off Wing Hang Bank
- Qantas market share hurt amid ‘challenging conditions’
- James Packer’s $450m movie bet
- Fonterra in talks with Nutricia owners
- Global real estate fund launched for Australian investors
- Boart’s plan: improve operations, cut staff
- Asciano confirms interest in Moorebank terminal
Mick Davis is back, and he means business
The former head of Xstrata is armed with $US1 billion of investment to muscle in on a nervous mining sector.
Technology
Microsoft investors lobby for chairman Bill Gates to step down
Three of the top 20 investors in Microsoft are lobbying the board to press for Bill Gates to step down as chairman of the company he founded 38 years ago.
- Icahn tells Apple he wants $150bn buyback
- Smartphones create a ‘modern sweatshop’
- Intel buys Sydney-based Sensory Networks for $21.5m
- Jeff Bezos acquires Washington Post
- Telstra, Optus and Vodafone all set to launch ‘bucket-style’ mobile plans
- BlackBerry hits back at Gartner decline advice
- SAP cashes in on NSA snooping concerns for new Australian business
- Telstra health spend nears $100m with Fred IT stake
- Google paid $US55m UK tax on $5b sales
Not ‘phoney’ Fuji’s X-M1 camera is the real deal
It’s a shock coming back to review a real camera after reviewing nothing but fake cameras for what seems like an eternity.
Markets
ASX steady, $A drops on disappointing data
Updated | The ASX was up 7 points on Wednesday, but the Australian dollar dropped after disappointing economic data, while the market shrugged off any impact of the US government shutdown.
- Coal prices tipped to fall 20pc
- $A drops on economic data
- Markets untroubled by US shutdown – so far
- Wall St rises as investors see short-lived shutdown
- Warren Buffett’s investment strategy cracked: researchers
- US Treasuries slip as safe-haven status dented
- Gold tumbles, rattled by fund trade, shutdown
- Icahn tells Apple he wants $150bn buyback
- European shares rise as Italian govt crisis threat recedes
Personal finance
Investor caution advised on IPOs as market heats up
Investors have been told to regard coming IPOs with a healthy degree of scepticism as private-equity-owned businesses return to the market at record speeds and prices.
- RBA rate expected to remain steady
- More mortgagee sales in the Sunshine State
- Strong housing demand drives REITs in September
- Desperately seeking women: Westpac’s new adviser network
- Drop in the ocean: Peter Drake’s $30m home sells for $7m
- Crackdown looms on property superannuation spruikers
- Mortgage broker charged over home loans
- Home loan arrears will rise, warns Moody’s
Superannuation thrown a curve ball
The election of a new government has given rise to old tensions within the superannuation system.
Lifestyle
Hotel review | Sails in the Desert
If you ignore the jail chic exterior, Sails in the Desert is friendly and a luxurious place from which to view The Rock.
Short, wide and super chic
The best Jaguars have combined pace with a compliant ride, and the new F-Type puts the brand back where it should be.
Odyssey for the appetite
French cuisine takes on a beguiling Asian dimension at a handful of restaurants in Japan.
Rymill creates purist cabernets worth seeking out
Rymill Coonawarra has refined its winemaking and put the bad-smelling brettanomyce years behind it.
Latest TV
RBA on hold as US shuts down
Commonwealth Bank senior economist John Peters says the Reserve Bank’s decision to keep the cash rate on hold is likely to be repeated, while the shutdown of the US government could have a heavy market impact if it lingers. More AFR TV
‘Of course they should’ve investigated’
A former top lawyer says ASIC should have investigated former RBA banknote company directors. More AFR TV
Big cities drive home prices
Australian homes are more expensive than ever before as surging activity in Sydney and Melbourne again raise the spectre of a property bubble. More AFR TV
Market Outlook | RBA comments
The market doesn’t expect a surprise decision by the RBA on Tuesday, but will be focused on the central bank’s comments. More AFR TV
