What to do if you fall out of love with cash
After a decade of building up cash savings, yield-hungry investors are finally falling out of love with the asset class. Term deposits at the nation’s banks fell 0.6 per cent last year to $538 billion, the first annual decline since March 2003. The problem, though, is the timing.
The politics of the ‘age of entitlement’
The Coalition’s strong rhetoric on the culture of entitlement, including a controversial decision not to provide $25 million in government assistance to SPC Ardmona masks an inconsistent political philosophy.
Retreat on financial planning rules to hit investors
Financial planners will once again be able to earn commissions for selling a wide range of investment products after a federal government decision to water down investor protection laws.
US jobless rate seen forcing Yellen's hand
The rapid drop in US unemployment will make re-crafting the Fed's easy-money promise a top priority for new chair Janet Yellen, who will probably avoid tying policy to specific targets in the labour market.
Rathbone’s wine dynasty dream costs him a fortune
For a man who admits he’s not a serious wine buff the enormous destruction of Doug Rathbone’s wealth by throwing an estimated $100 million at vineyards may seem peculiar.
Murdoch allegedly abused by Deng
Wendi Deng is alleged to have verbally and physically abused her former husband, News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch, according to a profile published by Vanity Fair.
Priomha, the fund that hedges sporting bets
The short-lived national rugby union career of Matt Giteau is a fading memory for many fans of the Wallabies. But one of Giteau’s most ordinary games is etched in Brendan Poots’s memory.
Digital wills – leave the keys to your life in the cloud
With our financial lives increasingly being organised online, it’s important to leave your loved ones a digital will clearly detailing your online assets and accounts.
This century belongs to Asia, but try telling the Coalition
Once upon a time Australia could afford the luxury of an “all the way” foreign policy centred on Washington. That was back in the days when China, too, willingly accepted American leadership in Asia.
Keeping out the Joneses
Wealthy families are buying out the neighbours to create vast, Gatsby-style compounds.
Are you paid too much?
The Abbott government has taken a serious risk by criticising the salaries and working conditions of ordinary Australians.
High-jacked art
When a gang of outback kids hot-wired ’s car, his consignment of works by Australia’s most revered painters were in the boot.
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Merrill sizes up ties between Arrow and APLNG
As Arrow’s plans to build a fourth LNG export project at Gladstone appear more unlikely, Merrill Lynch analysts have run the numbers on an APLNG/Arrow tie-up which could help both parties.
Begg-Smith to compete in Sochi
He’s one of Australia’s most mysterious Olympians, and its not just because of his sporting prowess.
Plans for underwater Qld hotel
A Polish group, Deep Ocean Technology, wants to place an underwater hotel ion the Great Barrier Reef.
Apple buys back $US14b in shares
Apple has bought back $US14 billion worth of its shares in the two weeks after earnings figures disappointed.
More than just a face in the crowd
Facial recognition, already employed by retailers to spot shoplifters, may soon be used to identify and track the freest spenders in the aisles.
Aston-Martin a dream on Californian odyssey
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If you’re going to drive through the California Desert and there are only two of you, the Aston-Martin Vanquish Volante is ideal.
Cellar door comes home
A wine room where the basement once would be is the perfect setting for gourmet tastings.
A different Bill Gates returns to Microsoft
How helpful can Bill Gates be to Microsoft in a new generation of technology?
Bitcoin not just for speculators
Bitcoin is being forced to grow up fast, even as the temptation remains to dismiss the currency as weird and easily abused.
Burgers beat baguettes in France
Burgers have become the new favourite food in France, beating steak-frites and baguette sandwiches, a study released by Gira Conseil showed.
New machine age demands most human of skills
Frightening prophecies of job-destroying systems hide the fact that human abilities to see things that machines can’t will be in big demand.
National
No time for talking, ACTU on war footing
Unions are gearing up for a brawl in defence of workers rights not a rerun of the Accord, says ACTU president Ged Kearney.
- The politics of the ‘age of entitlement’
- Retreat on financial planning rules to hit investors
- Palmer takes nuclear option with Citic Pacific
- Corby wins parole after nine years in prison
- Greens’ paid parental leave limit won’t help Coalition budget
- Former Riviera properties go under the hammer
- Deegan quits Infrastructure Australia
- Reserve Bank lifts growth forecast
TV tips for Aunty: how to get News Corp off her back
Mark Latham | Malcolm Turnbull is wasting his time with an efficiency review of the ABC, because its problem is not the cost of production but the failure of its programming strategy to satisfy ABC viewers.
Opinion
RBA wants lower dollar, despite inflation
It seems to be the Reserve Bank’s opinion the economy can handle further inflation.
Quest for more cost-effective Medicare
Medicare is 30 years old this month and an obvious target for the Abbott government.
Ins and outs of investing in a start-up
Although some people mistakenly view it this way, superannuation is not an investment in its own right like shares, a managed fund, a rental investment property or interest-paying investments.
World
US economy adds 113,000 jobs in January
US employers hired far fewer workers than expected in January and job gains for the prior month were barely revised up, even as the unemployment rate hit a new five-year low of 6.6 per cent.
- RBC Capital Markets co-head of FX trading leaves bank
- S&P; downgrades Turkey rating outlook to negative
- German court's ECB move leaves sovereignty unresolved
- GoPro files paperwork for initial public offering
- Lufthansa picks Spohr as boss to battle budget carriers
- Corby wins parole after nine years in prison
- Accused Silk Road website owner faces November trial
- Visa easing aims to placate China
No easy answers for emerging markets as QE taper continues
Equity markets started 2014 in a buoyant mood, after 30 per cent gains for US shares in the previous year. Investors seemed to believe the worst of the financial crisis was at last over and the global economy was returning to ‘Goldilocks’ mode, with growth neither so strong as to cause inflation nor so weak as to squeeze profits, but ‘just right’.
Business
Palmer takes nuclear option with Citic Pacific
Clive Palmer has escalated the public brawling and legal jousting with his estranged Chinese business partner Citic Pacific by launching legal action to have Citic’s Australian subsidiary wound-up.
- SPCA moved too slow to stay relevant, say experts
- Murdoch allegedly abused by Deng
- Big bank battlers find strength in numbers
- Rathbone’s wine dynasty dream costs him a fortune
- Saputo says cheddar luck next time to WCB rivals
- BHP flags more jobs cuts in Queensland
- Aurora shares soar 55pc on Baytex takeover
- Healthscope gets short lease on Melbourne hospital
- Vodafone improvements could stop Telstra price war
Priomha, the fund that hedges sporting bets
The short-lived national rugby union career of Matt Giteau is a fading memory for many fans of the Wallabies. But one of Giteau’s most ordinary games is etched in Brendan Poots’s memory.
Technology
Telstra takes Optus to court to stop ads
Updated | Telstra has taken its arch-rival SingTel-Optus to the Victorian Supreme Court over claims the smaller company is running misleading ads across Australia.
- Apple buys back $US14b in shares
- LinkedIn's shares slip as outlook misses
- A different Bill Gates returns to Microsoft
- No ‘significant’ NBN Co funds for Telstra until 2016
- Amazon asks customers to pick from TV pilots for show development
- Sony restructure brings in specialists in unloved tech
- Apple takes down one of the last Bitcoin trade apps
- The machine age will demand the most human of skills
Digital wills – leave the keys to your life in the cloud
With our financial lives increasingly being organised online, it’s important to leave your loved ones a digital will clearly detailing your online assets and accounts.
Markets
What to do if you fall out of love with cash
After a decade of building up cash savings, yield-hungry investors are finally falling out of love with the asset class. Term deposits at the nation’s banks fell 0.6 per cent last year to $538 billion, the first annual decline since March 2003. The problem, though, is the timing.
- Wall Street advances despite weak US jobs data
- Stock funds worldwide post record $US28.3bn outflow
- Greenback steady after downbeat US jobs data
- Pin income hopes on equities at your risk
- Shares lower despite ending week on a high
- Copper lifted by China demand hopes, tight supply
- European shares extend rebound on mining stocks
- Integrity of financial advice threatened
- Strong week for the dollar as RBA changes tack
Personal finance
Women push to close superannuation gap
The federal government has been urged to maintain the superannuation rebate for low income earners and the timetable for raising compulsory contributions to 12 per cent to help women save more for retirement.
- The benefits of account-based superannuation
- Q&A; | When being on leave is being at work for an SMSF
- Experts say keep your cool amid this volatility
- Tenant retention key as CBD vacancy rates soar
- Investment fraud a ‘significant threat’ for Australia
- MySuper is here: if only it were so simple
- Unlocking your wealth potential
Yield chasers should look beyond the big cities
Property investors are being urged to consider new strategies and postcodes as traditional hotspots for income in Sydney and Melbourne begin to cool.
Lifestyle
Sea’s harvest on menu, with a catch
Top chefs will share their crusade for sustainable fishing at Melbourne’s Food and Wine festival.
Cellar door comes home
A wine room where the basement once would be is the perfect setting for gourmet tastings.
Where life moves at a gentler pace
Although Neil Perry’s Rockpool is perfectly friendly, it’s unlikely it would let kids scramble up onto the bar.
Fashion labels look for the right fit for Winter Olympics
Dressing their Olympians has obvious appeal for Australian and New Zealand labels and but those sponsorships come with risks.
Latest TV
Results preview: CBA and Telstra this week
There's been good news from some retailers in the first week of reporting, but week two will see the biggest hitters such as the Commonwealth Bank and Telstra.
ECB struggles with deflation dilemma
No change from the European Central Bank, but policymakers face a dilemma after a surprise fall in inflation brought the euro zone closer to slipping into deflation.
Hockey shows independence from US
Treasurer Joe Hockey has moved to show greater independence from the US ahead of the upcoming G20 summit, where Australia will be president.
Union leader Howes urges IR reform
Paul Howes, head of the Australian Workers Union, believes Australia's industrial relations system is dragging productivity down.
