Robb plays hardball on handouts
Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb has issued a blunt warning to companies and his Coalition colleagues lobbying for taxpayer subsidies to struggling businesses, saying people have to embrace industry change and the government should not stand in the way of the economy restructuring.
Equities lower ahead of US jobs report
Before the Bell | Global equities are drifting lower as investors opt for caution ahead of the December US government payrolls report ■ Dow down 0.09pc ■ SPI futures up 1 pt ■ $A at US88.91¢.
Concerns linger around economy’s mining hangover
The outlook for the Australian economy is still tied to China’s fortunes, experts say, and its ability to transition away from mining-led growth will be one of the focal points for overseas investors this year.
Lisa Ho sues former friend for $850,000
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.
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.
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
Experts from Normura, Magellan, Saxo Bank and UBS deliver their verdicts on the euro zone, beginning with the question of whether or not the region will serve up another bailout candidate this year.
Switch to cheap euro debt
As the European debt crisis raged and the continent’s banks suffered from a dangerous shortage of US dollars, its fair to say the continent was not the number one destination for global companies to raise debt.
SG Fleet, Burson Auto first to test investor appetite for IPOs
Fund managers have been booked in for the first IPO roadshows of the new year, with private equity backed SG Fleet and Burson Auto Parts preparing to meeting investors next week.
12 investment gurus and their 2014 tips
Chanticleer | The eclectic work of selected local and global gurus gives some interesting forecasts and investment themes for 2014.
Menswear a cut above in retail fashion
Edgy websites, Facebook pages and clever publicity: welcome to a new crop of Australian men’s fashion brands that are defying a generally downward trend in retail.
Dazzling performer shares the power
On the limit, Porsche’s 911 Carrera 4S generates enough lateral grip to cause bruising.
Wotif fears approach as shares flounder
Wotif.com has caused a few fights over the past few months, but a new year could bring new opportunities.
Big chill could cost $US5 billion
The American big freeze has put an icy chill on business, as flights are cancelled and people stay home from 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
Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb has issued a blunt warning to companies and his Coalition colleagues lobbying for taxpayer subsidies to struggling businesses, saying people have to embrace industry change and the government should not stand in the way of the economy restructuring.
- Fears minimum wage increase will hurt competitiveness
- Local retail lobby insists we are buying overseas
- 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
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.
- Yellen hopeful for 3pc GDP growth in 2014
- France's debt load in ‘danger zone’: national audit office
- US labour market data suggest economy strengthening
- Radical economics back at the Vatican
- McKesson raises bid to salvage €6.2bn Celesio deal
- JPMorgan takes stake in Chi-X Global
- Big chill could cost $US5 billion
- China’s swing to frugality dents Bentley
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 tied to China’s fortunes, experts say, and its ability to transition away from mining-led growth will be one of the 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
12 investment gurus and their 2014 tips
Chanticleer | The eclectic work of selected local and global gurus gives some interesting forecasts and investment themes for 2014.
Markets
Equities lower ahead of US jobs report
Before the Bell | Global equities are drifting lower as investors opt for caution ahead of the December US government payrolls report ■ Dow down 0.09pc ■ SPI futures up 1 pt ■ $A at US88.91¢.
- ECB doesn't foresee Japanese-style deflation
- Wall Street loses steam as retailers, Exxon weigh
- Yellen hopeful for 3pc GDP growth in 2014
- Fall in French market leads European shares lower
- Two Chinese initial share offerings attract heavy demand
- Retailers push ASX into the black
- Local retail lobby insists we are buying overseas
Familiar risks alarm experts
Experts from Normura, Magellan, Saxo Bank and UBS deliver their verdicts on the euro zone, beginning with the question of whether or not the region will serve up another bailout candidate this year.
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
The five most luxurious rail journeys in the world
The best luxury long-distance train journeys allow passengers to travel back in time to a bygone era but don’t forget it’s 2014.
Chef Hirokazu Yano’s quest for perfection
Hirokazu Yano started his chef’s life washing pans, floors, bathrooms. In Japan it is almost the norm.
Indulge in the arts in exquisite places
Culture weekends are a popular way for patrons to experience classical music and dance in gorgeous natural settings.
Porsche’s dazzling performer shares the power
On the limit, Porsche’s 911 Carrera 4S generates enough lateral grip to cause bruising. Yet it is surprisingly forgiving.
Latest TV
Super flows slow
As boomers hit retirement, super funds are being drained at record rates creating the risk a superannuation sector where less money is coming in than is being paid out.
Why Atlassian won't float here
High profile Australian software developer Atlassian has plenty of reasons to float in the United States rather than on the local bourse.
Qantas downgraded again
Moody's has downgraded Qantas to junk status, with the airline's decreasing cash reserves sure to worry investors. Although the move shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Property outlook
Australian Property Monitors' Dr Andrew Wilson and Belle Property's Matthew Smythe look at what 2014 will bring for the property sector.
