Turner talks up CBA’s Asia opportunities
Commonwealth Bank chairman David Turner has indicated that the bank might accelerate the pace at which it is developing its Asian operations, saying the region offers plenty of opportunities for Australian companies.
Take care with privatisation: Asciano’s Mullen
Asciano chief John Mullen has warned state governments on the consequences of privatising ports, saying new owners are driving up prices for consumers and exporters in a bid to extract greater returns.
Cover-More on the road
Making a late play for the last listing before Christmas is travel insurance business Cover-More, which is weighing a $600 million to $700 million float by the end of the year.
Europe closer to deal to break bank ‘doom loop’
German conservatives and Social Democrats have struck a deal on the contours of a European banking union under which a body attached to finance ministers would decide when to close failing banks.
China inflation reaches nine-month high
Consumer prices in China rose at an annual rate of 3.1 per cent in October, the fastest pace in nine months and in line with market expectations.
Sydney apartment boom will be biggest ever
Sydney’s skyline is set for a redesign as the city’s biggest apartment boom arrives, with listed developers and cashed-up offshore developers primed to deliver new off-the-plan apartment stock.
Coalition has hurt relations with Indonesia: Shorten
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has accused the Coalition government of damaging Australia’s diplomatic relationship with Indonesia through its hardline asylum seeker policies.
CBA listening to talk of a share split
Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares are hovering around the $79 mark after an extraordinary rise and the merits of a future share split are now occupying the minds of the upper echelons of the bank.
The only way for interest rates to go is up
With signs of a recovery emerging, it’s no surprise financial markets are convinced the Reserve Bank of Australia has finished cutting interest rates and the economic landscape is about to change.
Men vital in the battle for gender equity
Soon after her appointment as Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick realised that she needed to get the blokes on board.
10,000 feared dead in Philippines typhoon
One of the most powerful storms ever recorded has killed at least 10,000 people in the central Philippines province of Leyte, a senior police official says, with coastal towns and the regional capital devastated by huge waves.
Sydney market on track for ‘extraordinary’ $3bn month
All auction property records are expected to be broken in Sydney over November, but the top end markets in both Sydney and Melbourne are not as strong, analysts say.
Australian economy all topsy-turvy
Investors could be forgiven for feeling confused about the state of the Australian economy.
Nine flags potential to pounce on juniors
--90x60.jpg)
Initial public offer-hopeful Nine Entertainment Co has told prospective investors it would consider acquisitions should the audience reach rule be changed or scrapped.
Youth may find there’s no app for happiness
Young people’s self-realisation is taking place, not through the pages of great literature or shared experiences of popular films, but via applications on smartphones and tablet devices.
Food’s great Dane: eating out with René Redzepi
Lunch with one of the world’s most famous chefs becomes a lesson in foraging. – and success.
Budding graffitists paint up Melbourne
Melbourne’s most influential street artists have come together to give the iconic Hosier Lane a makeover.
Rachel Griffiths takes on Gillard role
Rachel Griffiths is to play Julia Gillard in a new Australian television drama.
Top Chinese IMF official to speak in Sydney
The IMF’s top Chinese official, Min Zhu, will speak at this month’s Australian Business Economists conference, supported by the Financial Review.
ACCC puts free education modules online
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has put 12 free education modules online for lecturers and for individuals to use.
Philippines’s worst-ever typhoon hits east coast
The world’s strongest typhoon of the year has slammed into the Philippines and forecasters predict the damage will be the worst in the nation’s history.
Jenny Craig sold as Nestle loses dead weight
The international weight loss consultancy was likely sold for less than the $US600 million Nestle bought it for in 2006, say analysts, who see it as a good move for the global food leader.
How LinkedIn exploits our need to network
With market penetration of 75 per cent, employers and employees can’t afford to ignore the knowledge worker network.
Owners turn to dual occupancy developments
--90x60.jpg)
Building a dual-occupancy residence is a way to unlock equity in prime real estate or help to build a nest egg,
National
Coalition has hurt relations with Indonesia: Shorten
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has accused the Coalition government of damaging Australia’s diplomatic relationship with Indonesia through its hardline asylum seeker policies.
- Abbott starts cuts to shrink public service
- Tax scheme promoter found guilty
- Bureaucrat suspended after Obeid argument
- RBA sees slower growth, rising unemployment
- Victoria: the nation’s only ‘stable’ AAA state
- ACCC puts free education modules online
- Queensland signals $5bn tollroad sale
- Fed stimulus victims told to ‘suck it up’: Debelle
Uni takes on majors with free commerce degree and half-price MBA
Australia’s newest university, which begins classes next year, is offering up to 40 free places in its $57,600 bachelor of commerce degree, and a half-price MBA for only $13,500.
Opinion
Channelling Reagan smart, but the day of reckoning will come
Opinion | Cutting taxes quietly for business and the wealthy and hoping for jobs and growth is good politics, but there will be a price for fiscal profligacy.
Hedge funds keen to hire as banks tighten belts
As bankers’ bonuses come under threat, US hedge funds are scouting for talent, and offering lucrative salaries to new recruits.
Banks boosted by equity tide
Editorial | The big four banks posted combined record profits of $27.3 billion the last financial year but it is the how, rather than the how much, that is more illuminating in that it shines a light on forces now playing out in the domestic and global economy that are taking us into some unchartered waters.
World
China inflation reaches nine-month high
Consumer prices in China rose at an annual rate of 3.1 per cent in October, the fastest pace in nine months and in line with market expectations.
- Xi’s big moment
- US economy adds 204,000 jobs bolsters taper case
- S&P; downgrades France amid outlook doubts
- JPMorgan consumer bank ahead of plan on job cuts
- Barrick Gold signals Munk to step down in 2014
- Super typhoon whips Philippines, kills at least three
- Big Apple chooses de Blasio’s affable rhetoric
- Ukraine rejects IMF calls to charge more for gas
- John Kerry warns Israel of potential chaos
10,000 feared dead in Philippines typhoon
One of the most powerful storms ever recorded has killed at least 10,000 people in the central Philippines province of Leyte, a senior police official says, with coastal towns and the regional capital devastated by huge waves.
Business
CBA listening to talk of a share split
Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares are hovering around the $79 mark after an extraordinary rise and the merits of a future share split are now occupying the minds of the upper echelons of the bank.
- DJ’s top shareholder wants answers on Zahra exit
- Fortescue: Port Hedland has more capacity
- Little issue of sovereign risk, says ADM’s Woertz
- ASIC clears iSelect over revenue miss
- Night owl’s global share fund soon to launch on ASX
- Former Rio executive wages war on Moreton board
- Queensland confirms $5bn tollroad sale in its sights
- ASIC forces Billabong to pulp expert report
- McAleese targets crash costs in $166.3m float
Gary Helou a man on a mission to build global food brand
Gary Helou doesn’t do things in halves. In the two years since taking the helm of the nation’s biggest dairy exporter, Murray Goulburn, he has shaken up the entire dairy industry.
Technology
Success and betrayal @Twitter
Noah Glass was a driving force in Silicon Valley’s latest IPO success, even coming up with the name, Twitter. Then his colleagues wrote him out of the action, as this extract from a new book reveals.
- BlackBerry new CEO gets bumper package
- Aussie investor holding onto Twitter shares
- Dark web bazaar Silk Road touts its return
- Telstra lawsuit against NBN Co held over
- Chinese PC maker Lenovo profit up 36pc
- Countries will develop private internet ‘segments’, Russian cyber expert warns
- How LinkedIn exploits our need to network
- Groupon to buy LivingSocial’s South Korean arm, Q3 mixed
Twitter’s spectacular debut shows startups how
Local investors and entrepreneurs believe Twitter’s spectacular sharemarket debut will improve the appetite for start-up funding and underpin a run on technology company floats. After its arrival on the New York Stock Exchange shares in the microblogging company soared to almost double the opening price of $US26 before closing about 73 per cent higher $US44.90.
Markets
FX guru says $A appeal won’t fade
One of the world’s most senior foreign exchange strategists believes that the market is too bearish when it comes to the Australian dollar and its yield appeal will keep foreign investors.
- Dow, S&P; 500 end higher for a fifth straight week
- Greenback soars on taper talk, $A drops below US94¢
- Fed’s Lockhart still cautious despite jobs bounce
- European equities close down on French downgrade
- CBA listening to talk of a share split
- ASX ends winning run as bank investors cash in
- Wasiliev | Capital gains play important role in investment returns
- Why love affair with yield stocks could be over
- Night owl’s global share fund soon to launch on ASX
The only way for interest rates to go is up
With signs of a recovery emerging, it’s no surprise financial markets are convinced the Reserve Bank of Australia has finished cutting interest rates and the economic landscape is about to change.
Personal finance
Foodies’ favourite near road to Gundagai
On the banks of the Murrumbidgee River in Jugiong, weary travellers can stop and savour stunning country store flavours at Juliet Robb’s Long Track Pantry.
- Take control of small-business cash flow
- Hockey formally dumps Labor’s retiree wealth tax
- Why love affair with yield stocks could be over
- Housing construction expands for first time in three years
- Spotlight on APRA as finance sector levies soar to $266m
- Trim parental leave for superannuation: AustralianSuper
- Bad debt fears stunt Huishang Bank and Bank of Chongqing floats
- CBA posts $2.1bn quarterly profit
- Minority view holds fast on RBA rate cuts
Strong dollar not all bad
When even importers are complaining about the strong Aussie dollar, what hope is left for investors? That’s the fear of many investors as the local currency remains stubbornly strong, shrugging off the fall in prices of key commodities and the steep drop in local interest rates.
Lifestyle
A passion for Goethe, museums and apple wine
Literary giant Goethe looms over Frankfurt, an ancient city with an enviable arts legacy.
Interactivity hits the arts festival circuit
Perth Festival director Jonathan Holloway is on a mission to make the arts more participatory.
Wine storage out of sight but not out of mind
I love having a place off site to store numerous tasting samples and special wines that deserve not to be too close to hand.
A day with San Sebastian chef Elena Arzak
Elena Arzak was an unexpected recruit to the family restaurant in San Sebastian and her father, Juan Mari, is thrilled.
Latest TV
Hot IPO market
A hot IPO market is a great opportunity for investors to find valuable companies, however they must remain wary of why vendors are selling, says Tim Carleton for Auscap Asset Management.
Murray: gender targets won't work
A goal of 50 per cent of senior executive roles undermine meritocracies and won't work, says former Future Fund chairman and CBA CEO David Murray.
Fairfax Media avoids board spill
Fairfax Media has averted a board spill at its annual meeting in Sydney after Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting abstained from voting on the company’s remuneration report.
Telstra's Autohome IPO
Telstra is expected to bag around $US1bn in the float of its Chinese car sales site, Autohome. Chanticleer’s Mike Smith says the move also shows a shift in the telco’s Asia strategy.
