Bull market not over as jitters an ‘excuse’
David Bassanese | The pullback in global equity markets in recent days has once again led to the usual fears over whether the post-financial crisis five-year bull market is finally over. But all we’re seeing at present is an overly extended market looking for excuses to lose a bit of steam.
ACCC welcomes Coles, Woolies discounts
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims has welcomed a decision by Woolworths and Coles to reallocate spending on deep petrol discounts to groceries.
Coalition fetes Rupert’s main man in NYC gala
It was a scene that just six months ago would have beggared belief. The Australian foreign minister toasting Rupert Murdoch’s right hand media man in front of a 650-strong audience of New York’s business elite.
Market jitters before Fed meets; Goldman confident
Goldman Sachs top US stock picker, David Kostin, is looking beyond recent jitters and forecasts the market will end the year higher, while expectations for more reductions in the US bond buying program grow.
Global guns for hire loom large but Asia absent
There is increasing concern that our largest companies are not properly equipped to deal with growth in Asia, given none of our top chief executives were schooled in the region.
Uniqlo operator eyes growth with Hong Kong listing
Japan's Fast Retailing, operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain, plans to list in Hong Kong to build its brand in the region and make its stock available to a wider pool of investors.
Tapering tipped to continue amid emerging market fears
The Federal Reserve is this week expected to announce it will keep withdrawing its economic stimulus, further pressuring equities already roiled by a flight from emerging markets.
Packer’s Crown looks to Japan for new growth
One month ago, James Packer’s Asian casino venture, Melco Crown, pledged to spend $10 million on ‘cultural projects’ in Japan and it’s no coincidence that parliament is expected to lift the country’s ban on casinos this year.
Australia’s Dow Chemical boss Liveris eyes politics
Andrew Liveris, one of Australia’s most successful international business leaders, has revealed he is interested in entering politics after his corporate career ends.
Middle class parents spend a fortune on private schools
Annual fees at private schools outstrip inflation and many parents struggle to keep up, but for a range of reasons they won’t consider the alternative and go to unusual lengths to pay.
Star Trek’s holodecks becoming reality
Hollywood and video game makers are moving entertainment closer to reality — or at least a computer-generated version of reality. Rather than simply watch movies, the thinking goes, viewers could become part of the story.
Huffington and billionaire friend launch media venture
Arianna Huffington has long laboured to make her online media empire a truly global one. Now she has enlisted an old friend with deep pockets to make a big step in that direction.
Citi bankers get half their bonus in cash
Citigroup will pay its top European investment bankers at least half their bonuses - up to $2.4 million - in cash, a sharp contrast with European banks coping with stricter compensation rules, news reports said.
Citi sees likely Santos downgrade, write-down
Citigroup has raised the possibility of downgrades in Santos’ oil and gas reserves and write-downs after the fourth quarter report on Thursday increased guidance for depreciation.
Grammy’s red carpet host wears Alex Perry
E! News host Giuliana Rancic has chosen to wear one of Alex Perry's tangerine creations for her red carpet hosting duties, saying it caught her eye.
Cold facts about hot Gold Coast market
Before you join the ranks of those investors colloquially described as the FOMOs, it’s worth taking a closer look at Gold Coast real estate investment.
Wawrinka upsets injured Nadal in Open final
Stanislas Wawrinka has won his first Australian Open over an injured Rafael Nadal in a match that confounded many and which often seemed uncertain.
Six ways to beat the taxman
Tax-minimising strategies are right under your nose. They’re widely available and can make a significant difference to your overall wealth.
DJs goes red and gold to woo Chinese tourists
David Jones is hoping that windows dressed in red and gold, Jimmy Choo shoes and the fair face of model Jessica Gomes will entice shoppers.
How to make a monster like Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga, one of the biggest acts in pop music and probably the most outrageous, was no overnight success.
Australia ranks 13th in world innovation
Australia is the world’s 13th most-innovative country in R&D, tertiary education, patents and manufacturing with the US on top.
Want to earn more? Study humanities
Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein believes students have lost a valuable skill in business. And it comes from studying humanities.
Apple may play catch-up with bigger-display iPhones
Updated | Rumours have re-emerged overnight in the US that Apple is set to break the iPhone mould and go bigger – but it could be too late.
Nokia hands Microsoft some bad numbers
Microsoft’s push into smartphones may not have the best start after Nokia, which is selling its handset division to the US giant, said sales fell 29 per cent.
National
Abbott renews pledge to recognise Aboriginals as first people
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he was determined the country recognise indigenous people in Australia's constitution as the first people and said a draft of this "national crusade" would come before September.
- Lifestyle markets swing into auction action
- US80¢ ‘magic spot’ for $A, says RBA’s Ridout
- SA double holiday pay: penalty rates double dip
- Bishop sees US, not China, as top economic partner
- Chinese New Year boost gives businesses reason to celebrate
- Lawyers in fraud trial focus on Thomson’s state of mind
- Don’t bring politics into project selection: Albanese
Wawrinka upsets injured Nadal in Open final
Stanislas Wawrinka has won his first Australian Open over an injured Rafael Nadal in a match that confounded many and which often seemed uncertain.
Opinion
When they’re hybrids, assume nothing
Like any investment hybrids carry some risk. But quite often they are issued by company’s that are so well regarded and well known the risks are sometimes overlooked or not properly understood.
Why structure delivers the best DIY super result
Rather than a DIY fund owning a random selection of shares, perhaps a property, some interest-paying investments and the odd exotic investment like gold or artwork, a structured portfolio strategy is being increasingly advocated.
Liberal democracy is the sum of us
Australia Day approaches again and it’s time to reflect on what it means to be Australian. Such reflections are linked, of course, to the political issues surrounding the need or otherwise for a governing philosophy for the nation.
World
China sentences Xu for disrupting ‘public order’
China has issued a strong warning to political activists, after sentencing Xu Zhiyong, a prominent human rights advocate, to four years jail for the crime of “gathering a crowd to disrupt public order.”
- Thousands in Paris march against Hollande
- Uniqlo operator eyes growth with Hong Kong listing
- JPMorgan increases Dimon's pay to $US20m
- Google's Gmail down for users around the world
- Goldman considers new ‘chat’ limits on employees
- Big Four firms, China in talks over audit impasse
- Kerry rejects notion US disengaging from world
- Usmanov tightens hold on Russian social net VKontakte
- Smart money picks sectors in pricey HK
The facilitators bringing China’s home buyers to Oz
Monika Tu ran a successful company importing computer accessories for 20 years before realising the assistance she had been giving to Chinese friends trying to find homes in Australia was a business opportunity in its own right.
Business
Packer’s Crown looks to Japan for new growth
One month ago, James Packer’s Asian casino venture, Melco Crown, pledged to spend $10 million on ‘cultural projects’ in Japan and it’s no coincidence that parliament is expected to lift the country’s ban on casinos this year.
- Investors wary about any Qantas frequent flyer float
- Why it takes 14 miners to test a manhole
- Vodafone ends two-year mobile freefall
- Burdett departure forces ANZ Treasury shake-up
- AACo promotes Jason Strong to CEO
- Tiger results might prove a drag on Virgin profit
- Reject Shop reconsiders mall stores after share plunge
- A-REITS produce steady income but returns are down
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank makes it big with bonds
In the years that followed the financial crisis, the regional lender was the only bank that didn’t turn to the government for backing in the wholesale debt markets.
Technology
Foxconn eyes factories in US
Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Group, the major supplier of Apple's iPhone and iPad products, said it's considering expanding manufacturing to the United States in a move that could open up new prospects for business with Apple.
- Samsung signs Google patent-sharing deal
- PlayUp financial forecasts slashed
- Google's Gmail down for users around the world
- Usmanov tightens hold on Russian social net VKontakte
- Samsung Q4 profit down as one-off bonus take a slice
- No word on new CEO as Microsoft announces profit rise
- Goldman considers new ‘chat’ limits on employees
- Nokia hands Microsoft some bad numbers
- Lenovo to buy IBM's low-end server unit for $US2.3bn
Apple iPad coming to a TV screen near you
Apple is readying a new version of its Apple TV set-top box that will be based on the iOS software that powers its popular iPad and iPhone devices, according to reports.
Markets
Market jitters before Fed meets; Goldman confident
Goldman Sachs top US stock picker, David Kostin, is looking beyond recent jitters and forecasts the market will end the year higher, while expectations for more reductions in the US bond buying program grow.
- Uniqlo operator eyes growth with Hong Kong listing
- How good are analyst calls?
- Wall St tumbles on emerging-market concerns
- $A trades below US87¢
- JPMorgan increases Dimon's pay to $US20m
- Argentina surprises markets by relaxing FX controls
- European shares drop on heightened Latam worries
- Copper hits month low on signs of slowing China growth
- Gold spike just a blip on the way down: UBS
Corporate cash holdings hit record highs
Philip Baker | At the end of last year global companies had almost $US7 trillion of cash and equivalents on their balance sheets – more than double the figure of a decade ago. The story is similar in Australia.
Personal finance
Six ways to beat the taxman
Tax-minimising strategies are right under your nose. They’re widely available and can make a significant difference to your overall wealth.
- Investment fraud a ‘significant threat’ for Australia
- Wealth management heavyweights court SMSF trustees
- 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
Inflationary pressure to slow housing market
Oh dear. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s worst nightmares, which this column has canvassed for some time, could be coming to fruition more quickly than most expected.
Lifestyle
High hopes for Gold Coast property turnaround
Late January is auction time for the lifestyle market – and this year things are looking up.
French chefs put family on the menu
Young stars of the French culinary scene are rejecting gruelling hours in the kitchen for more time at home.
Desert city of soaring visions and hidden delights
Behind the dazzling skyscrapers for which Dubai is famous is a city of tradition and soul – and great food.
Restored Ferrari worthy of the King of Cool
Steve McQueen is one of the few actors who could back up his fast car film roles with real talent behind the wheel
Latest TV
2014 strategies of top super funds
Australia's top super funds are steering away from equities in 2014, though DIY funds should take care in trying to follow institutional strategies.
Newcrest surprises on production
Newcrest has surprised the market with better than expected production numbers, particularly after falls in the gold price and past mixed results from its mines.
Finance chiefs cautiously optimistic
The latest Deloitte survey of chief financial officers shows more optimism and again a desire for M&A, but cost management is still their top concern.
Inflation nixes rate cut talk
Inflation data for the December quarter was higher than expected, but while a rate cut is now unlikely, the weak economy means a rate increase in 2014 is far from certain.
