Can earnings support Wall St fervour?
The initial reads on US earnings have been mixed, and yet stocks on Wall Street are hovering near all-time highs. This week, investors will see whether the first companies out of the gate were a harbinger of what's to come. The reports will also give the fullest picture yet of how corporations are faring and whether the market can advance further as Fed stimulus begins to recede.
Wind and solar can’t handle heat
More than $2 billion of subsidised investment in over 2 million rooftop solar systems contributed less than 5 per cent of peak power demand in Victoria and South Australia during the worst of this week’s heatwave.
China No.1 risk factor for global growth
China’s foreign currency reserves increased at nearly $US10 billion a week last year, a fact which many saw as further evidence of Beijing’s growing economic muscle. This is only partly true.
‘Don’t worry mate, there’s bigger crooks than us’
The distraught wife of the Australian being pursued by the US Department of Justice over the global Libor-rigging scandal had this plea on behalf of her husband: “Don’t believe everything they say.”
Wealth management heavyweights court SMSF trustees
Tired of trying to fight the rising tide of do it yourself superannuation investors, wealth management giants are trying to befriend SMSF trustees through a range of new products and services.
Morgan Stanley profit drops on legal costs
Not even Morgan Stanley’s growing wealth management operations could prevent a decline in fourth-quarter earnings, the firm’s results were dragged down by $US1.2 billion in legal expenses.
Cashed-up Telstra looks to next move
Back in the day, any Telstra executive wishing to sell a business would be summoned up to the CFO’s office on the gleaming level 40 executive floor of Telstra’s Exhibition Street HQ in Melbourne for “the chat”.
HSBC, Citi suspend traders as FX probe deepens
HSBC and Citigroup both suspended foreign exchange traders on Friday, following similar moves at other banks, as a global probe into possible currency market manipulation intensified.
Finding Australia’s next tennis hero
Meet mathematician Michael Bane, one of the people who could save Australian tennis and help restore it to its glory days of champion players and grand slam wins.
How to cope with high-risk suburbs
As fires sweep through the country, planning and disaster management experts are calling for a radical policy overhaul to combat our curious desire to build and rebuild in known risk areas.
Rupert Murdoch’s reality show
Amid all the headlines, candid News sources and erroneous reportage, the circumstances under which Rupert Murdoch divorced Wendi Deng, his wife of 13 years, remain unknown.
The real wives of Wall Street
For a growing number of New York’s high-powered female financiers, success only comes with a radical change to how they run their lives.
Big, brash houses selling at a discount
The nation’s biggest, boldest and brassiest suburban palaces selling for more than $10 million are lingering the longest on estate agents’ books, waiting for a buyer.
Arrium cut to ‘underperform’ by Merrill Lynch
Bank of America Merrill Lynch says miner and steel manufacturer Arrium is overvalued and has downgraded its rating on the stock to ‘underperform’.
Winery dreams can soon turn sour
Holidays can do weird things to people, such as filling them with romantic notions of owning a winery. But it’s a lot harder than it looks.
Why Africa’s lion kings are under threat
As the savannah shrinks and hunting grows in popularity, the future for Africa’s lions becomes more uncertain.
Chinese millionaires head Down Under
A survey of Chinese millionaires has found Australia is the most popular destination for luxury travel – and many want to move here too.
Samsung unveils Tab3 Lite (7”) tablet
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Tab3 Lite (7”), a slimmed-down version of its tablet that is actually 10 grams heavier despite its name.
Why you may get more sleep than you claim
When asked how much sleep they “usually” get, Americans estimate just 6.8 hours. When asked to document it the night before, it’s 8.7 hours.
Cloud computing’s worth is up in the air
Cloud software is turning into a battleground between wildly bullish brokers pushing new listings and young savvy and sceptical short sellers.
‘Wolf’ snares five Oscar nominations
Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street has garnered five Academy Award nominations, including for best picture.
Gayet sues over claims of affair with Hollande
French actress Julie Gayet is charging a magazine over claims she’s President François Hollande’s mistress.
US POW alive after four years with Taliban
The US has found a “proof of life” video showing a soldier held captive by the Taliban for more than four years is still alive.
National
Wind and solar can’t handle heat
More than $2 billion of subsidised investment in over 2 million rooftop solar systems contributed less than 5 per cent of peak power demand in Victoria and South Australia during the worst of this week’s heatwave.
- Solar-panel subsidies create gravy train as power prices soar
- ‘Don’t worry mate, there’s bigger crooks than us’
- Heatwaves, home design drive air-conditioning sales
- Australia apologises to Indonesia over breach
- One dead as bushfires blaze across Victoria, SA
- Betting agency defends Australian Open ‘courtsider’ employee
- ‘Worrying’ trend in university offers
- Rush of quality films helps indie cinemas
Climate puts heat on Coalition over farm subsidies
Tony Abbott’s prime ministership is beginning where John Howard’s ended in one ominous respect: drought’s brutal grip is again taking hold of agricultural Australia.
Opinion
Coalition’s ‘tow-back’ policy adds insult to injury
Revelations the “stop the boats (at virtually any cost)’’ policy have resulted in serious breaches of Indonesian sovereignty could hardly have come at worse time.
A case for selling Australia Post
The last time I bought a postage stamp was 18 months ago. On the rare occasions I need to post a physical greeting card or postcard I log on to a smartphone application like Touchnote, which lets you mail a card anywhere in the world.
Why the history wars are bunk
As Australia Day approaches, the teaching of history is once more being pitched as a proxy political battle between left and right – wit protagonists who forget that Australia is a centrist country that does not like extreme viewpoints.
World
Obama bans spying on leaders of allies
President Barack Obama banned US eavesdropping on the leaders of close friends and allies and began reining in the vast collection of Americans' phone data in a series of reforms triggered by Edward Snowden's revelations.
- Moody's raises Ireland's credit ratings, outlook positive
- Morgan Stanley profit drops on legal costs
- US industry shows muscle in late 2013
- China No.1 risk factor for global growth
- Greek central bank chief received bullets in mail
- Iran can draw $US4.2bn of $US100bn it holds abroad
- Chinese rights activist prepares for conviction
- Indonesia aims to boost local smelters with ore export ban
Thailand protests are not about democracy
A rich minority fearful of a loss of privilege is orchestrating anti-government protests in Bangkok and demanding rule by an unelected council to protect its members’ own interests.
Business
Super Retail shares dive as sales fall short
Updated | Shares in Super Retail Group have shed almost a quarter of their value after the company reported weaker-than-expected sales for the first-half of the 2013-14 financial year.
- Cashed-up Telstra looks to next move
- Saputo close to two-week extension on cheese bid
- Visitors not worried by Wet‘n’Wild opening woes
- Text-addict Aussies defy trends
- IAG sees end in sight in Wesfarmers insurance deal
- Sun down on epic battle for Warrnambool
- Woodside secures LNG project site in Canada
- Platinum purchase of Telstra share a post-GFC bargain
- Hedge funds not the only culprits in broker info war
Founder’s blues: the dark side of tech start-ups
Tech start-ups seem to be made up largely of youngish white males who are not so much entrepreneurs as new kinds of workers.
Technology
Platinum purchase of Telstra share a post-GFC bargain
When Warren Buffet made a bid to buy a beleaguered American newspaper company in 2012, observers wondered whether the so-called “Sage of Omaha” had finally lost his investment marbles.
- Cashed-up Telstra looks to next move
- Text-addict Aussies defy trends
- Beware, space invaders
- Optus exec appointed Melbourne IT CEO
- Cloud computing’s worth is up in the air
- One in three NBN appointments missed, says iiNet
- NSA scoops up millions of text messages
- Facebook introduces ‘trends’ to rival Twitter
- Intel reports quarterly profit rises but investors still worried
Samsung unveils Tab3 Lite (7”) tablet
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Tab3 Lite (7”), a slimmed-down version of its tablet that is actually 10 grams heavier despite its name.
Markets
Unlocking your wealth potential
Many executives run their companies better than their own finances, and while they’ve got the means to create substantial wealth, some spend most of what they earn and feel trapped in jobs that finance their lifestyles but don’t always satisfy. However, help is at hand.
- $A drops below US88¢, $NZ sheds more than 1pc
- Macquarie denies deal for Goldman’s uranium desk
- S&P; 500, Nasdaq end lower led by Intel, GE
- Rio shares headed to $80: analysts
- HSBC, Citi suspend traders as FX probe deepens
- Morgan Stanley profit drops on legal costs
- Red-hot miners help European stocks extend rally
- China No.1 risk factor for global growth
- ASX ends the week steady after early losses
Wind-down normalises news messages for investors
Over the past few years it’s been tricky at times getting a day-to-day reading on the mood of overseas markets because the main one, Wall Street, was having trouble coping with conflicting messages.
Personal finance
Wealth management heavyweights court SMSF trustees
Tired of trying to fight the rising tide of do it yourself superannuation investors, wealth management giants are trying to befriend SMSF trustees through a range of new products and services.
- Meet the wedding planner
- Big, brash houses selling at a discount
- Winery dreams can soon turn sour
- What the charts predict for the market in 2014
- Life expectancy a ticking time bomb for household savings
- Superannuation sledging bound to step up a notch in 2014
- The thousand-dollar fines you’ll get for breaking the SMSF rules
- How it feels to hold a stock in freefall
- Why balanced funds are back in business
Unlocking your wealth potential
Many executives run their companies better than their own finances, and while they’ve got the means to create substantial wealth, some spend most of what they earn and feel trapped in jobs that finance their lifestyles but don’t always satisfy. However, help is at hand.
Lifestyle
Mercedes E-Class sedan has many virtues
A well-engineered, sharp-handling sedan is simply the best thing for transporting a family comfortably and safely.
Why the latest TV tech matters to you
If you thought the technology choices for your next TV were difficult last year, just wait until this year’s crop appears.
Latest TV
Hot stock picks for 2014
Australia's stock market is lagging the rest of the world, but David Walker from StocksInValue tells Bianca Hartge-Hazelman there are opportunities for all risk appetites, whether it's salary packager McMillan Shakespeare or ANZ's Asian banking play.
Property confidence bouncing back
Sentiment within the property industry has rebounded as interest rates remain at record lows. The latest survey by ANZ and Property Council shows the sector is hiring, building and paying more. Property editor Rob Harley looks at the top states and why the drivers are different for the lift in residential versus commercial confidence.
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.
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.
