Abbott urges BHP to revisit Olympic Dam expansion
Updated | Prime Minister Tony Abbott believes BHP Billiton could soon reverse its decision to shelve the Olympic Dam expansion, a move he said would alleviate significantly the impact on South Australia of the departure of General Motors Holden.
US recovery bodes well for global REITs
Australian-based global property securities funds received a shot in the arm after Westfield Group announced that it may pursue a listing in the United States or Britain – or both – for its proposed international mall business, Westfield Corporation.
Crown shares dip as Victorian unveils $184m pokie levy
Updated | Victoria will slug Crown for $184 million additional tax from its pokie machines and hit commercial property owners for additional parking charges as it tries to buttress the state’s finances.
John Fahey predicts several charges against Essendon by ASADA
World Anti-Doping Agency President John Fahey expects that there will be several charges by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority against AFL club Essendon over its drug supplement program.
Senex Energy linked to AWE proposal
Brisbane-based Senex Energy is believed to be behind AWE Limited’s takeover offer, with sources suggesting the two parties were in negotiations on Friday after Senex earlier presented its merger proposal.
Late rebound sparks hopes for Christmas rally
Despite a relief rally on Friday, local shares fell over the past week as fears grew the United States Federal Reserve might start its highly anticipated “taper” of stimulus as early as next week.
Don’t overdo talk on $A, experts tell RBA
With a credible jawboning strategy that has helped bring the Australian dollar down below US90¢, the Reserve Bank of Australia needs to time its rhetorical exit equally well to preserve the sharpness of its verbal policy tool.
Martin Ferguson joins global board of BG Group
Former Labor federal resources minister Martin Ferguson has been appointed to the global board of UK-based gas giant BG Group in his most high-profile international role since stepping down as minister in March this year.
Shares head for worst December in 40 years
Australian shares are in the midst of their worst December in 40 years, as investors lock in profits amid doubts over the potential for an end of year rally.
Paul Rayson named CommSec chief
Commonwealth Bank of Australia has announced that Paul Rayson from its insurance arm will replace Stephen Karpin as chief of its online trading arm, CommSec, in February.
Property: proceed with caution
Reflecting low interest rates, better affordability, strong population growth and increased foreign interest, housing demand and house prices have been on a decent upswing over the past year – particularly in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
The slow work of saving endangered food
Across Italy proponents of the Slow Food movement are rescuing products of gastronomic excellence on the brink, and supporting small-scale producers. John Irving tours the country to taste their bounty.
Miss Limousines founder is driven to make a difference
Faced with the prospect of no job and with her career at a crossroads, Georgia Ebsary decided to return to a teenage passion – cars.
Senex Energy linked to AWE proposal
Brisbane-based Senex Energy is believed to be behind AWE Limited’s takeover offer, with sources suggesting the two parties were in negotiations on Friday after Senex earlier presented its merger proposal.
Why the best prepaid travel card should be treated like gold
Which prepaid debit cards charge the least fees and offer the best value for your travelling buck? We put them to the test.
The little book that beats the market
An adjunct professor at the Columbia Business School has laid out a simple approach to value investing that has been shown to outpace the market with “striking” results.
Anti-doping warden not going to quietly Fahey away
If you had to choose between giving a young Tony Abbott or a young Barry O’Farrell a job, who would you pick?
YouTube tipped to make $US5.6bn from ads this year
YouTube will rake in about $US5.6bn from ads this year, pocketing nearly $2 billion of that as profit, according to analyst forecasts.
Leibovich aims to be an even bigger fish in 2014
Catch Group co-founder Gabby Leibovich says it’s been a year of consolidation for his sprawling empire – but now he’s fishing for growth.
Venture capital bets big on Bitcoin
San Francisco company Coinbase has raised $US25 million from some prominent venture capitalists in the largest-ever fund-raising round for a Bitcoin company.
Watch wonders never cease
Watch aficionados were treated to a stellar line-up of new and exceptional timepieces at the inaugural Watches & Wonders exhibition in Hong Kong.
Tech trouble flowers in city
Not all those who come to San Francisco are welcomed any more. The neighbourhood tenor is changing, with accommodation at a premium.
High Court strikes down gay marriage laws
The High Court has struck down the marriage equality law passed by the ACT.
Bitcoins could threaten paper currency
The rise of the virtual currency bitcoin is threatening to change the way money is handled on a global scale.
National
Abbott urges BHP to revisit Olympic Dam expansion
Updated | Prime Minister Tony Abbott believes BHP Billiton could soon reverse its decision to shelve the Olympic Dam expansion, a move he said would alleviate significantly the impact on South Australia of the departure of General Motors Holden.
- States back help for Vic, SA to manage Holden exit
- Crown shares dip as Victorian unveils $184m pokie levy
- We need a dollar close to US85¢: Stevens
- Liberal state premiers urge Abbott to address marriage laws
- General Motors wanted extra $80m a year
- Turnbull defends changes to NBN policy
- Strain shows as law firms shrink partnerships
- Former union boss Bruce Wilson denies corruption
- Abbott threatens warfare on policy
How to cope with stress after 40
Andy Sheats | Business people entering 40s may have confidence they didn’t have when they were younger, and yet 40 brings with it a decreased ability to deal with stress.
Opinion
Business is not a matter of patriotism
In the emotionally fraught debate over Holden’s closure, many people forget that the only reason General Motors started manufacturing here was because of government-imposed tariffs.
Fixing our runaway spending must be more profound than cuts
Abolishing the debt ceiling reveals how much we need to change the national and political culture about government and its fiscal responsibility.
NBN strategy just beating around the bush
Access to decent broadband remains a defining city/bush divide issue if you live in regional Australia. Nowhere was the idea of an NBN greeted more enthusiastically.
World
US Congress passes two-year bipartisan budget deal
The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a two-year, bipartisan budget deal, possibly signalling a truce in the spending showdowns that have paralysed Washington for the past three years.
- Mexico prises open Pemex, the state oil monopoly
- Euro zone industrial output drops sharply
- Solid US retail sales boost economic outlook
- JPMorgan pays $US2bn to settle Madoff claims: report
- Spain's slow recovery yet to be felt in Madrid
- US carriers, FCC reach accord on ‘unlocking’ cellphones
- Fitch ‘comfortable’ with Ukraine rating despite unrest
- Fracking boom pushes US oil output to 25-year high
North Korea’s Kim executes his uncle for corruption
Updated | North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s once-powerful uncle, Jang Song-thaek, has been executed after being purged for corruption, the official news agency said.
Business
Crown shares dip as Victorian unveils $184m pokie levy
Updated | Victoria will slug Crown for $184 million additional tax from its pokie machines and hit commercial property owners for additional parking charges as it tries to buttress the state’s finances.
- Westpac’s Maxsted upbeat on global outlook
- Martin Ferguson joins global board of BG Group
- Paul Rayson named CommSec chief
- APN chief says $50m accounting error one-off ‘error
- Yancoal locks in $US250m debt funding from parent
- Buffett adviser resigns from UGL board
- Adelaide Brighton’s Chellew to resign in May
- Grounding raises Brindabella Air finance concerns
- AWE halts shares amid merger proposal
Brett Blundy goes global
After building a $1 billion empire out of Australia, Brett Blundy has headed to Singapore to conquer the world.
Technology
ACCC backs NBN access rules – for now
Updated | A proposal from NBN Co to purchase Telstra and Optus’ existing cable broadband networks would not significantly change key regulations for the network, ACCC chairman Rod Sims says.
- Turnbull defends changes to NBN policy
- IBM accused of hiding China risks in NSA spy scandal
- Celebrity deaths the most popular Tweets of the year
- YouTube tipped to make $US5.6bn from ads this year
- Instagram unveils private photo-sharing, messaging
- Venture capital bets big on Bitcoin
- Cisco cuts long-term revenue growth target
- US carriers, FCC reach accord on ‘unlocking’ cellphones
- CBA joins Westpac to launch smartphone tap and pay
Christmas gadget guide fit for her
From the Sony Xperia Tablet Z to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, there’s a gadget here to make her smile.
Markets
$A weakens with Stevens’ comments, US data
Updated | The Australian dollar has fallen to a four-month low after the Reserve Bank of Australia governor said he wanted the currency closer to US85¢ and after encouraging US economic data.
- Late rebound sparks hopes for Christmas rally
- Shares head for worst December in 40 years
- Asian demand for gold bullion wanes
- Don’t overdo talk on $A, experts tell RBA
- We need a dollar close to US85¢: Stevens
- Forex strategists run ruler over $A
- Markets Live | ASX gains as $A falls
- IPO fizzers were ‘overpriced’
- Venture capital bets big on Bitcoin
Is US market forming dangerous triple top?
Some analysts warn that the US share market could be forming a dangerous triple top as the current level of the Dow, when adjusted for inflation, moves toward peaks in 2000 and 2007.
Personal finance
Magellan vs Platinum: star funds at odds
Two of Australia’s best performing and most respected international fund managers are taking wildly different bets on the global outlook.
- Exchange-traded funds offer a broader, cheaper choice
- Beware a season of floats ending in regrets
- A little vision goes a long way for Darwin optometrist
- Extended low rates boost market appeal
- Landscaper’s resourceful approach a blooming success
- GFC no handicap for growth in billionaires
- Heads or tails bet on bitcoin
- Festive pressure doubles the heat in housing market
Why 2014 will be different for investors
Australian investors are sitting pretty as the year draws to a close thanks to stellar returns from residential property and shares.
Lifestyle
The best gadget gifts this Christmas
Take a look at the latest gadgets sure to bring joy to the technology-obsessed this Christmas.
Home is where the designer collaboration is
Fans of art and fashion are loving the trend by big labels to expand into home decor and kitchenware.
The perfect gift for the wine lover in your life
Finding something special for the wine connoisseur in your life just got a little easier.
Gifts for him
Travel | For maximum wow factor and bragging rights, you can’t go wrong with one of these experiences.
Latest TV
Westpac begs off regulation
Westpac's chairman has told shareholders at its AGM it hopes the Abbott government will reassess the wave of global regulation washing over the banking sector. Chanticleer columnist Mike Smith says Lindsay Maxsted is worried about the burden of importing global rules.
Watch review: Bremont Martin Baker MBII
If you've ever ejected from your plunging aircraft, Bremont has a special flourish in its latest Martin Baker timepiece. It's a cult watch for pilots.
Watch review: Frédérique Constant Slimline Moonphase
A thin bezel ensures this classic moon phase stands out. Watch editor Bani McSpedden says it's a bargain compared to similar IWC and Patek Phillipe pieces.
Turnbull's odd choice for NBN boss
The cost blowout of the National Broadband Network is bad news for both major parties, says technology reporter James Hutchinson. Columnist Tony Boyd is puzzled by the appointment of Vodafone's Bill Morrow.
