China’s industrial production growth lowest since 2009
China’s industrial production grew at its slowest pace since August 2009 during January and February, while retail sales and fixed asset investment were much lower than expected, reigniting fears of a hard landing in the world’s second biggest economy. Industrial production rose 8.6 per cent in the first two months of 2014 compared to the same period a year ago.
$A jumps on jobs data, ASX gaining
Updated | The Australian dollar has strengthened on positive jobs data while miners are leading the ASX higher after mixed results on Wall Street and Europe overnight.
BHP sees ‘decades of high return’ from potash
BHP Billiton says it is well-positioned for the next boom in energy and food production – CEO Andrew Mackenzie says he is “very optimistic” about the Jansen potash project in Canada .
Iron ore tipped to stay above $US100
After a week of turmoil among commodities markets investors, are beginning to reassess the outlook for metals, with iron ore and copper prices are expected to hold up in 2014, despite this week’s ‘flash crash’.
Weaker $A won’t fix business: Clifford
Qantas chairman and former Rio Tinto boss Leigh Clifford has blamed the re-regulation of the labour market by the Rudd and Gillard governments for stalling productivity improvements.
$A traders may be too upbeat on rates
Philip Baker | Financial markets are generally pretty good at sniffing out economic change. But $A traders, with their rate rise musings, might be betting too gleefully on a surging Australian economy.
Malaysia plane may have flown for four more hours: US
Updated | United States investigators suspect that Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 stayed in the air for about four hours past the time it reached its last confirmed location, according to people familiar with the details.
Leighton departures are bitter sweet for investors
Chanticleer | Leighton Holdings’ shareholders are unlikely to shed any tears for its CEO and CFO who will walk away from the Spanish takeover of the company with about $19 million in special cash payments.
Job creation hits two-year high
Updated | Despite doubt about the accuracy of the latest official jobs data, economists say the labour market appears to be shaking off a near-two year funk..
Trading tips from the professionals
Retail foreign exchange traders can learn much from the habits of those who do it for a living, so here are some top tips from the professionals.
How to get the best hotel service
The more times you hang your hat at a particular hotel chain, the quicker you’ll see some rewards for your loyalty. Here’s how to get them.
Fabulous Fab to pick up $724,500 tab
The former Goldman Sachs trader nicknamed “Fabulous Fab”, who reaped millions of dollars before a US federal investigation derailed his career, is now losing a piece of that fortune.
Sterling seeks cornerstone backers for $200m float
Sterling Early Education has fixed its initial public offering at $2 a share and is seeking cornerstone backers to support its $200 million float.
China’s iron will
China faces three big problems and overcoming any of them will be negative for iron ore.
‘Maybe all is not lost for the Labor project’
Mark Latham | The current national debate about failed companies like Holden and Qantas is changing Australian politics forever.
Chuggy celebrates 50 years at the top
Fifty years atop the live music industry have done little to soften legendary promoter Michael Chugg.
Turnaround making Australians hungry
A new wine list, an end to linen table cloths and a realisation customers had pulled in their belts have paid off for at least one restaurateur.
The Australian on Forbes’ CEOs under 40 list
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Electronic Arts chief Andrew Wilson isn’t a household name in his native Australia but he’s made Forbes’s list of top CEOs aged 40 and under.
Pimco’s Gross pledges less control
The head of the world’s biggest bond fund, Pimco’s Bill Gross has promised to loosen the reins of control over his portfolio managers.
Goodwill is key to a good, long sex life
When sex becomes stale in a long-term relationship, couples often believe a recovery should be spontaneous – but this belief is mistaken.
Apple adds Australian accent in Siri update
Apple has released its first major update for iOS 7, improving the fingerprint sensor and making adjustments to Siri.
Investigators doubt attack on Flight 370
Updated | Investigators believe evidence gathered so far points to mechanical failure rather than an attack.
National
Weapons purchaser faces cuts
Exclusive | The Commission of Audit will recommend a restructure and job cuts to the federal weapons purchaser, the Defence Materiel Organisation, in a bid to reduce cost over runs and delays on defence projects.
- Abbott takes hard line on Treasury secretary
- New tax credits for investors in explorers
- Gonski vision will ‘never come to fruition’
- Job creation hits two-year high
- SA Libs cap public sector job cuts
- Coalition rules out charging motorists
- Costello to Hockey: don’t back paid parental leave scheme
- Queensland could lead manufacturing jobs
- UK adviser on Royal Mail sale urges Australia Post split
Opinion
CFMEU gets the hand it deserves
Matthew Stevens | The agreed facts that secured the CFMEU a thumping fine and its confronting WA assistant secretary Joe Macdonald a barely precedented ban from Brookfield Multiplex construction sites are stunningly simple.
Putin headed for Pyrrhic victory in Crimea vote
Since the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, 12 former members of that group have joined the European Union. It has been one-way traffic from east to west.
Secret story of Asian economic success
Australian business is missing the grassroots changes occurring in its region.
World
Malaysia plane may have flown for four more hours: US
Updated | United States investigators suspect that Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 stayed in the air for about four hours past the time it reached its last confirmed location, according to people familiar with the details.
- New Zealand raises official interest rates
- Macquarie gets approval to ship US LNG to Hawaii
- Major challenge ahead for Chaori’s bondholders
- Israel moves to draw more ultra-Orthodox into military
- UK adviser on Royal Mail sale urges Australia Post split
- Ukraine standoff pushes Europe away from Russian gas
- UK interest rates to rise sixfold: BoE
- Libya PM ousted over oil chaos
Wall Street cash bonuses rise 15pc
Cash bonuses paid to Wall Street employees in New York City rose 15 per cent on average last year to $US164,530, the highest average bonus since 2007, the year before the financial crisis struck.
Business
Genesis IPO to raise up to $NZ808m
Shares in New Zealand electricity producer and retailer Genesis Energy will be priced at between $NZ1.35 and $NZ1.65 each, offering investors a gross yield of as much as 16.5 per cent next year.
- Weaker $A won’t fix business: Clifford
- Hochtief sweetens Leighton bid, CEO and CFO depart
- Woolworths plans 108 new stores, creates 7,000 jobs
- Dandenong to get $18m Quest apartment
- Qube eyes oil and gas expansion
- Rio’s Walsh unfazed by China steel mill closures
- Reject Shop managing director Bryce resigns
- Telstra Media managing director Ellis quits
- Origin halts Queensland drilling on asbestos fears
Leighton departures are bitter sweet for investors
Chanticleer | Leighton Holdings’ shareholders are unlikely to shed any tears for its CEO and CFO who will walk away from the Spanish takeover of the company with about $19 million in special cash payments.
Technology
Telstra Media managing director Ellis quits
Updated | Telstra is shaking up its senior management team once again, with digital media boss Rick Ellis exiting the company after joining just over two years ago.
- Ex-Virgin Mobile chief Bailey joins Optus
- DigitalBTC becomes first Bitcoin-linked company to float
- US PE fund Bridge Growth seeks tech partners in Oz
- NBN Co urges government to close private fibre loophole
- Candy Crush maker sees $US7.6bn IPO valuation
- Why you shouldn’t get that latest, greatest smartphone
- Telstra loses financial contracts case to ACCC
- Cashed up online player to take on Aussie money transfer market
- Brokerage watchdog warns of significant bitcoin risks
HTC’s All New One phone revealed
HTC’s All New One phone isn’t due to be launched for a few more weeks, but already we know almost everything about it, if a leak purporting to be from Telstra is to be believed.
Markets
$A traders may be too upbeat on rates
Philip Baker | Financial markets are generally pretty good at sniffing out economic change. But $A traders, with their rate rise musings, might be betting too gleefully on a surging Australian economy.
- $A jumps on jobs data, ASX gaining
- UBS expects iron ore price recovery
- $A back in ‘uncomfortable’ territory over US90¢
- Job creation hits two-year high
- How effective is your forex strategy?
- ASX push to keep trading systems local
- New Zealand raises official interest rates
- Europe warm to Aussie stocks but wary of China risks
Soros says Europe faces 25-year slump
Billionaire investor George Soros has said Europe faces 25 years of stagnation unless politicians pursue further integration and change policies that have discouraged banks.
Personal finance
The true casualties of zero interest rates
Pension funds, annuity providers and insurance groups are among those most at risk from this grand monetary policy experiment.
- Pool owners chucked in deep end
- Small apartments, big headaches
- Government wants to bring back conflict pay
- Women push to close superannuation gap
- Self-management means taking responsibility
- 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
Teen tech entrepreneurs eye the big leagues
Entrepreneurial, technologically-skilled teenagers are striving to do serious business by utilising low-cost tools to make apps – and they are being encouraged by tech companies.
Lifestyle
Hip neighbourhoods keep it gritty
Imaginative reinvention preserves rather than destroys the tough industrial spirit of former working-class suburbs.
Sophisticated Amsterdam
Inclement weather hardly matters on a visit to one of the world’s most walkable cities.
Frugal A3 makes some hybrids blush
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the A3 2-litre turbodiesel is its frugal consumption.
Latest TV
IPOs ahead for Aussie tech hopefuls
The interest in up-and-coming Australian technology companies is up thanks to the success of Freelancer and OzForex, though investors will expect balance sheets and stable cash flows.
RBNZ lifts rates, Australia to follow?
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has lifted rates thanks to a stronger economy, adding to the case that the next interest rate movement for Australia is likely to be up
Leighton CEO change should please
The troubled construction company has chosen a new CEO, and it's good news for long suffering shareholders as it gains some European know-how.
What's happening to your credit rating?
New laws mean credit agencies can access more information about you than ever before, including your diligence with repayments, yet many Australians have no idea.
