Cabinet fears precedent in SPC’s $50m cry for help
SPC Ardmona’s plea for $50 million in funding to keep its doors open appears to be falling on deaf ears, with members of cabinet reluctant to set a public precedent in providing industry assistance so early in the government’s first term.
Europe, UK hold rates amid recovery hopes
The Bank of England and the European Central Bank on Thursday left their benchmark interest rates unchanged at record lows to maintain economic stimulus across Europe.
Fears minimum wage increase will hurt competitiveness
Restaurant and Catering Australia chief executive John Hart said successive rises in the minimum wage meant it was now “totally uncompetitive”.
Concerns linger around economy’s mining hangover
The outlook for the Australian economy is still inextricably linked to China’s fortunes, experts say, and its ability to transition away from mining-led growth will be one of the key focal points for overseas investors this year.
Better UK bodes well for NAB sale
Improving economic conditions in the United Kingdom are boosting the prospects that National Australia Bank could finally offload its British business this year, analysts believe.
Lisa Ho sues former friend for $850,000
Embattled fashion guru Lisa Ho has hit yet another financial snag, suing her former friend and one-time lender Hamish McLaren for $850,000 after she was promised a return that turned out to be too good to be true.
US Fed officials support slow rollback
The US Federal Reserve’s decision in December to taper its bond-buying campaign reflected increased confidence in the economy and continued uneasiness about the stimulus effort, according to an official account of the December meeting.
NAB could sacrifice MLC for bottom line
National Australia Bank could consider selling parts of its underperforming wealth management arm, MLC, as the division continues to drag group profits, industry observers argue.
Mobile revenues likely to grow by $500m
Australia’s listed telecommunications companies will enjoy strong growth in 2014 with mobile revenues set to rise by $500 million, according to senior industry analysts and executives.
SG Fleet, Burson Auto first to test investor appetite for IPOs
Fund managers have been booked in for the first initial public offering roadshows of the new year, with private equity backed SG Fleet and Burson Auto Parts preparing to meeting investors next week.
Familiar risks alarm experts
Foreign economies – the experts deliver their verdicts, beginning with answers to: Will this year deliver another bailout candidate for the euro zone and are you worried about the impact of the higher euro on EU exporters?
Menswear a cut above in retail fashion
They’ve got edgy websites, Facebook pages and clever publicity: welcome to a new crop of Australian men’s fashion brands, which are on the rise and defying a generally downward trend in retail.
The dawning of the Age of Transformation
It is that time of year when Chanticleer trawls through the eclectic work of selected local and global gurus to find some of the more interesting predictions, forecasts and investment themes for 2014.
SG Fleet, Burson Auto first to test investor appetite for IPOs
Fund managers have been booked in for the first initial public offering roadshows of the new year, with private equity backed SG Fleet and Burson Auto Parts preparing to meeting investors next week.
Big chill could cost $US5 billion
The American big freeze has put an icy chill on business, as flights are cancelled and people cocoon themselves at home instead of going to the shops or to work.
Radical economics back at the Vatican
Unfettered global capitalism has met its match at last: Pope Francis.
Optus monitors satellites for solar flare impact
SingTel Optus says its satellites are safe from being sizzled by one of the biggest solar flares to erupt from the sun in the past 10 years.
Sony makes a racquet at CES
From tennis racquet monitors to high-definition digital audio products that make quite the racket, Sony has a fair bit of cool new kit on show.
Fed message matters more than ever
The Federal Reserve committee is aware of the financial risks of loose monetary policy. Communication will be a key weapon in 2014.
Wallabies captain Mowen quits for family
Wallabies captain Ben Mowen is to quit Australian rugby at the end of the 2014 season, saying he wants to put his family first.
China’s Alibaba cracks down on Bitcoin
China's biggest online marketplace, Alibaba's Taobao, will ban the sale of Bitcoins on the heels of a government crackdown on the virtual currency.
Triguboff eyes Melbourne serviced apartments
Billionaire Harry Triguboff is planning to open serviced apartments in Melbourne for the first time.
We need to move it, move it
There’s a free wonder drug called exercise but not many are swallowing it.
National
Robb plays hardball on handouts
Exclusive | Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb has issued a blunt warning to companies and colleagues lobbying for taxpayer subsidies to struggling businesses, saying people had to embrace industry change and the government should not stand in the way of the economy restructuring.
- Fears minimum wage increase will hurt competitiveness
- Tasmania’s Premier fends off early polls
- Robb spruiks tourism industry to US investors
- Abbott takes aim at ‘green power’
- Dip forecast for industrial property yields
- Concerns linger around economy’s mining hangover
- Local retail lobby insists we are buying overseas
PM firm with Indonesia on boats
The Coalition’s continued tough stance on asylum seekers is fuelling tensions with Indonesia.
Opinion
Asian democracy must serve the common man
After last week’s violence-marred contest in Bangladesh, elections will follow in Thailand, Afghanistan, Indonesia and India.
Bernanke and the era of the Fed
US Fed chair Ben Bernanke’s final press conference on Thursday was fittingly to talk about the central bank’s decision to “taper”.
Ageing road network badly in need of attention
Australia’s hundred of thousands of kilometres of road were built a generation ago and are starting to look the worse for wear.
World
Europe, UK hold rates amid recovery hopes
The Bank of England and the European Central Bank on Thursday left their benchmark interest rates unchanged at record lows to maintain economic stimulus across Europe.
- US Fed officials support slow rollback
- Big chill could cost $US5 billion
- China inflation slows more sharply than expected
- No need for more bond buying, Fed minutes show
- US retailer Macy's to cut 2500 jobs
- US private sector adds more jobs than expected: ADP
- Bank of America ramps up credit card loans
- Obama allies hit back at Gates over Afghanistan
- German exports rise for fourth month in November
Unforeseen US oil boom upends markets as drilling spreads
The US oil boom has put European refineries out of business and undercut West African crude suppliers. Now domestic drillers threaten to roil Asian markets and challenge producers in the Middle East and South America.
Business
Concerns linger around economy’s mining hangover
The outlook for the Australian economy is still inextricably linked to China’s fortunes, experts say, and its ability to transition away from mining-led growth will be one of the key focal points for overseas investors this year.
- Robb plays hardball on handouts
- Lisa Ho sues former friend for $850,000
- Cabinet fears precedent in SPC’s $50m cry for help
- SG Fleet, Burson Auto first to test investor appetite for IPOs
- Tasmanian poppy producer TPI Enterprises raises $20 million
- Dip forecast for industrial property yields
- 21st Century Fox seeks removal of ASX listing
Shell moves leave petrol stations at dawn of a new era
The humble petrol station has gone through a lot of change in the past decade. Most Australians stopping to top up their tank could be forgiven for thinking they had driven into their local Coles, Woolworths or 7-Eleven outlet.
Technology
Essential privacy tips for Facebook, Google+, Twitter users
Consider this a resolution for the new year: Do a regular check on how much information you reveal about yourself on social media.
- Westpac CTO Jacobs out in exec reshuffle
- Optus monitors satellites for solar flare impact
- Defence scraps IT consolidation plans
- Apple, Samsung agree to mediation in US patent fight
- Facebook buys Little Eye Labs of India
- Fairfax ups investment in BlackBerry
- New Microsoft CEO could come from the inside
- Coalition undecided on tax rule changes for start-ups
- China’s Alibaba cracks down on Bitcoin
The dawning of the Age of Transformation
It is that time of year when Chanticleer trawls through the eclectic work of selected local and global gurus to find some of the more interesting predictions, forecasts and investment themes for 2014.
Markets
Europe, UK hold rates amid recovery hopes
The Bank of England and the European Central Bank on Thursday left their benchmark interest rates unchanged at record lows to maintain economic stimulus across Europe.
Familiar risks alarm experts
Foreign economies – the experts deliver their verdicts, beginning with answers to: Will this year deliver another bailout candidate for the euro zone and are you worried about the impact of the higher euro on EU exporters?
Personal finance
Household wealth hits new record
A combination of rising house prices, surging equity markets and an entrenched savings culture pushed average Australian household wealth to a record $872,000 in 2013, according to Outlook Economics.
You’re not the only one hiding money from loved ones
If you are married or in a de facto relationship and you have a hideaway stash of your own cash, you’re not alone, but there are far healthier ways to do things. You’re part of about 3 per cent of those in a live-in relationship who quietly say they have a bank account their partner knows nothing about.
Lifestyle
Summer food series 5 | Shane Delia
In this final instalment of our stunning series, Shane Delia of Maha restaurant in Melbourne creates a Middle Eastern feast
Animal spirits hold sway in a sparkling menagerie
From elephants and pandas to frogs and bees, luxury houses are reviving an ancient tradition in precious baubles.
Beachside glamour in Rio
Some say a Rio hotel is just for cleaning off the sand. For those who prefer to do so with a marble soaking tub, there’s the Palace.
Cars: the very best of 2013
A few impressive machines for reasons of space and timing didn’t secure a full road test. This is the best of them.
Latest TV
Property outlook
Australian Property Monitors' Dr Andrew Wilson and Belle Property's Matthew Smythe look at what 2014 will bring for the property sector.
Qantas downgraded again
Moody's has downgraded Qantas to junk status, with the airline's decreasing cash reserves sure to worry investors. Columnist Mike Smith says the move by the ratings agency was no surprise.
Why Atlassian won't float here
Software developer Atlassian has plenty of reasons to float in the US rather than the Australian bourse.
Newspapers move markets
New research on the links between financial news and market movements shows why investors should read the newspaper each day, says Chanticleer's Tony Boyd.
