US funds keen on local start-up deals
A Silicon Valley investor in Facebook and Netflix has poured $33 million into Australian hotel bookings company SiteMinder, in a move experts say signals greater interest from US funds in local companies.
Dow, S&P 500 rebound on retail sales
Before the Bell | A report showing strong US retail sales in December helped calm investors’ nerves frayed a day earlier about the prospect of weak corporate earnings ■ Dow up 0.4pc ■ S&P 500 up 0.5pc ■ SPI futures up 13 pts.
Super funds’ spending under watch by Coalition
The Coalition government will closely monitor whether superannuation funds inappropriately spend member money on “marketing services” to attract new members, says Assistant Treasurer Arthur Sinodinos.
Crunch time for pay demands
Union demands for above inflation pay rises will collide with a tougher line from employers as workplace agreements governing the employment of almost one million Australians are renegotiated this year.
Qantas frequent flyer float almost on the runway
As Qantas Airways’ management continues to work through a strategic review, a partial float of its lucrative frequent flyer division would seem increasingly likely.
Fonterra pulls contaminated cream from shelves
New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra is facing another contamination scare as it recalls almost 9,000 bottles of fresh cream over fears they may be contaminated with E coli.
Fiery debate rages in background of Senate inquiry
A Senate inquiry set to grill the Abbott government’s audit commissioners on Wednesday has been called “political mischief” by one opponent and a “Trojan Horse” for the BCA’s corporate agenda by another.
Fed probes banks over forex manipulation
The US Federal Reserve is investigating whether traders at the world’s biggest banks rigged benchmark currency rates, raising the risk that firms will be penalised for lax controls as regulators look for wrongdoing.
Telstra war chest worries rivals
Telstra’s rivals are worried the telco giant could use its multibillion-dollar war chest to ramp up the expansion of its mobile network while boosting sales and marketing activities.
Emissions policy needs manpower: experts
The Coalition’s Direct Action plan will require an army of staff to set and track emission baselines and reductions to ensure its $1.5 billion emissions reduction fund is not wasted, some experts say.
Melco dividend to Crown could hit $1bn
James Packer’s Crown Resorts could earn $1 billion in dividends over the next five years from its 33.7 per cent stake in Macau casino operator Melco Crown, new research from Morgan Stanley analyst Andrew McLeod has found.
Holding a stock that’s tumbling
Value investors can weigh all the historical data they want against the counterbalance of their clear-eyed vision of a company’s prospects, but the truth is all of them see a portion of their portfolio go into the red.
Toyota shifts gear in effort to pep up image
There could hardly be a stronger contrast between the low-slung, bright-red sports car that Toyota introduced to the public on Monday in Detroit and the vehicles that have made the Japanese car maker’s name in America.
ANZ’s Asian ambitions
ANZ is reviewing its ‘super-regional’ push as the Asian Financial Forum meets in Hong Kong. As Asia’s business elite filed through the arrivals halls at Hong Kong airport this week on their way to the forum, they would have been left in no doubt about ANZ Banking Group’s ambitions in the region.
How sexual perversion became the norm
In 2007 a wedding took place between a 37-year-old US former soldier called Erika and the Eiffel Tower.
Delays as Qantas terminal evacuated
Hundreds of Qantas passengers have been evacuated from its Sydney terminal and flights delayed after a group exited the wrong gate.
Little cheer in banker bonuses
Local investment bankers hoping for a beefier bonus this year will likely be disappointed.
Google buys smoke alarm company for $3.5bn
Google has announced plans to acquire Nest Labs, a maker of smart thermostats and smoke alarms, for $US3.2 billion ($3.5 billion).
Lleyton’s flaws just downside of his merits
Perhaps now might be the time for Lleyton Hewitt’s many critics to acknowledge what he has achieved.
Murdoch sells $29.7m super yacht Rosehearty
Billionaire Rupert Murdoch has reportedly offloaded his 184-foot yacht Rosehearty, after putting the luxurious craft on the market in September.
Will UBS issue more golden tickets in 2014?
There are plenty of events in 2013 that we are happy to see the back of, but we’re really hoping for a re-run of UBS’s invite-only “offsite”.
Cate Blanchett wins Golden Globe
Updated | Cate Blanchett has won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama for her role in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine.
McKinsey’s question of trust
Two high-profile scandals have McKinsey’s global managing director, Dominic Barton, attempting to change the culture of the firm that shaped him.
National
Crunch time for pay demands
Union demands for above inflation pay rises will collide with a tougher line from employers as workplace agreements governing the employment of almost one million Australians are renegotiated this year.
- Fiery debate rages in background of Senate inquiry
- Emissions policy needs manpower: experts
- Kyrgios shines in the first round
- WA charge secures Lanco debt
- Low prices put the heat on grape growers
- Super funds’ spending under watch by Coalition
- Coalition’s cuts ‘won’t be popular’: Truss
- Pyne attacks Weatherill over Holden as SA election heats up
- Senator criticises ASIC chairman’s $250,000 travel bill
Drought handouts back to the bad old days
Exclusive | Paul McClymont is gradually accepting that his property, an hour’s drive from Longreach in western Queensland, will probably miss out on rain for the second year running.
Opinion
Labor deficits handcuff future generations
Labor and the Greens have failed to dent the fundamental justification for the National Commission of Audit.
What Say’s Law has to say about the financial crisis
The inability of economists to chart a path to recovery may itself be behind the lack of demand for economists.
Britain and Poland bust-up masks a welfare problem
Lurking behind a dispute between British Prime Minister David Cameron and Polish Foreign Secretary Radoslaw Sikorski about child welfare payments lies a more fundamental debate about how to handle free movement of people in a European Union of 500 million.
World
JPMorgan's profit drops 7.3pc on legal costs
JPMorgan Chase reported a 7.3 per cent slump in fourth-quarter earnings, as billions of dollars in legal costs from a series of government settlements continued to weigh on profit at the nation’s largest bank.|
- China braces itself for holiday season
- Fed probes banks over forex manipulation
- Russia halts FX prying as rouble set for free float
- Hong Kong’s race against clock to service China’s capital
- Charter seeks to shake up US cable industry
- Brussels rethinks 2030 renewables targets
- Qatar to receive first Airbus A350 in fourth quarter
- Three former Rabobank traders charged over Libor case
- Regulators ease bank leverage rule to aid economy
Toyota shifts gear in effort to pep up image
There could hardly be a stronger contrast between the low-slung, bright-red sports car that Toyota introduced to the public on Monday in Detroit and the vehicles that have made the Japanese car maker’s name in America.
Business
US funds keen on local start-up deals
A Silicon Valley investor in Facebook and Netflix has poured $33 million into Australian hotel bookings company SiteMinder, in a move experts say signals greater interest from US funds in local companies.
- WA charge secures Lanco debt
- IFM backs ex-Xstrata boss Davis
- Qantas frequent flyer float almost on the runway
- Telstra war chest worries rivals
- WCB dismisses Murray Goulburn push for consolidation
- KEPCO says more projects in store if Bylong a success
- Fonterra pulls contaminated cream from shelves
- Melco dividend to Crown could hit $1bn
CPA bidding war results in carve up of sought-after office towers
No chief executive likes being outbid on an acquisition. Investors like to believe that the best interests of shareholders will outweigh ego at the end of the day.
Technology
US funds keen on local start-up deals
A Silicon Valley investor in Facebook and Netflix has poured $33 million into Australian hotel bookings company SiteMinder, in a move experts say signals greater interest from US funds in local companies.
- Telstra war chest worries rivals
- Aussies shun two-year smartphone contracts
- Telstra analysts drop Sensis valuations after cheap sale
- Google buys smoke alarm company for $3.5bn
- New Acer CEO light on detail with future plans
- Who dares to lead Vodafone will struggle to win
- #boredatwork means #yourefired
- BlackBerry chief drops ‘interim’ label
- Increase in cyber attacks on US retailers
The disciplined man behind the world’s biggest IPO
It is Joe Tsai, a Taiwanese-born former lawyer who was educated at Yale, and not Alibaba’s more famous founder, Jack Ma, who is making the big decisions on its IPO. And that has made him Mr Popularity among the investment banking elite.
Markets
Dow, S&P 500 rebound on retail sales
Before the Bell | A report showing strong US retail sales in December helped calm investors’ nerves frayed a day earlier about the prospect of weak corporate earnings ■ Dow up 0.4pc ■ S&P 500 up 0.5pc ■ SPI futures up 13 pts.
- US funds keen on local start-up deals
- Super funds’ spending under watch by Coalition
- CS goes wild with investment ideas
- Demand for chocolate will bolster cocoa processing
- Fed probes banks over forex manipulation
- Russia halts FX prying as rouble set for free float
- Central banks boost $US holdings to highest in years
- ASX sheds $24bn on US fears
- Super industry infighting the theme for 2014
Balanced funds fight back
Balanced funds offering a mix of growth and defensive assets were once the perfect answer for investors seeking an appropriate blend of risk and returns. As markets were crunched by the global financial crisis they fell out of vogue, but now they’re back.
Personal finance
How your kids can get a home of their own
For first-home buyers, the property ladder’s first rung has never seemed so far out of reach. But parents can help bridge the gap – not just with financial assistance, but with solid advice.
- Why the big banks will still rule
- How to find the right holiday insurance
- Resources, banks key for investors seeking gains
- Putting on the ritz is corporate money well spent
- Adopt the right attitude to stay ahead in social media
- Household wealth hits new record
- Mixed sharemarket signals for year ahead
- Super funds reap best returns in 13 years
Holding a stock that’s tumbling
Value investors can weigh all the historical data they want against the counterbalance of their clear-eyed vision of a company’s prospects, but the truth is all of them see a portion of their portfolio go into the red.
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
All eyes on US
Fresh data on US retail sales, industrial production and housing will be the focus for investors as they consider how the Fed's thinking may be affected, says associate editor Phil Baker.
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.
CBA on 2014 rates, dollar direction
Forget about rate cuts and instead get ready for a rate rise this year, says Commonwealth Bank's Diana Mousina. He also says there's more room for the Aussie dollar to drop.
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.
