Lend Lease calls on Morgan Stanley to sell Bluewater
Lend Lease has drafted in investment bank Morgan Stanley to sell its British shopping centre, Bluewater, in a transaction that could hit close to $1 billion and is likely to draw the interest of the world’s largest retail landlords. Lend Lease intended to sell the mall last year, it has now initiated a formal sales process.
Hockey’s cash for asset sales
The federal and state Treasurers are set to agree in-principle to the privatisation of billions of dollars in assets under an arrangement in which the states will lose the revenue stream from any assets they sell.
GPT seals blockbuster $496m shopping mall deal
The GPT Wholesale Shopping Centre Fund has acquired a half-stake in the Northland shopping centre in Melbourne for $496 million, paying a premium after its failed bid for the Commonwealth Property Office Fund.
Hadgkiss report could see CFMEU deregistered
Law enforcement agencies in NSW and Victoria have evidence that CFMEU officials have been given kickbacks, amid revelations that the building industry watchdog has flagged possible deregistration.
‘Boring’ nation loses edge: BCA president
The Business Council of Australia’s outgoing president, Tony Shepherd, has warned the nation has become “boring and conservative” as it abandons its pioneering spirit and loses its competitive edge.
Minter Ellison changing of the guard could presage revamp
Minter Ellison’s appointment of former PwC boss Tony Harrington as chief executive this week could foreshadow a structural review of the firm and reignite a trend towards appointing non-lawyers to the top job.
Qantas memo reveals 26 managers to go
Qantas will let go of 26 managers over the coming months as part of a what it describes in a leaked internal document as ‘‘major changes’’ to the make up of its senior leadership team.
Huge cash boost may not save Sino Iron
The Chinese government has extended a $40 billion lifeline to the parent company of Clive Palmer’s troubled Western Australian iron ore project, but one analyst still believes the mine will be forced to shut.
How vendors’ greed sank Mantra float
Robert Harley | The reason for the failure of the $400 million IPO of hotel operator Mantra is simple. The vendors, CVC Asia Pacific and UBS, wanted too much.
News Corp Australia eyes a new leader
There is speculation News Corp Australia chief operating officer Peter Tonagh will be the next chief executive of the local arm of the company co-chaired by Rupert Murdoch.
The education of Paul Howes
The outgoing union leader and ALP kingmaker says the Labor movement must embrace capitalism and move on.
Lemaire’s subtle Hermès touch
The creative director of Hermès fits this most Parisian of companies like one of its hand-stitched, lambskin leather gloves. Christophe Lemaire talks ecology, technology and time.
Just don’t call me ‘Madam Speaker’
Fleur Anderson | Bronwyn Bishop, the Coalition’s veteran trenchfighter, chose the last day of Parliament before the May budget to deliver a “shock and awe” lesson to Labor.
The price of being Y
In the future, it seems, there will be only one “ism” – individualism – and its rule will never end.
Things you can't say by text
Many details about the disappearance of Flight MH370 are barely credible.
$25m Bishopscourt fails to sell
Bishopscourt, the former residence of the Anglican Archbishop in Sydney mooted to be worth more than $25 million, has failed to sell at auction.
When America was cool
Gallery | ‘American Cool’ is a photographic exploration of 1960s cultural figures, ranging from Audrey Hepburn to Steve McQueen to Elvis.
Clarice Beckett finds suitors at Mossgreen
Clarice Beckett’s work might be viewed by some as ‘a bit difficult’ but that didn’t stop all nine of her works being sold auction last week.
Seven West Media wins Corby raid stoush vs AFP
Updated | Seven West Media has won legal proceedings against the Federal Police, after a dramatic raid of the free-to-air television network.
How to master the art of the greeting
We say hello and goodbye to people every day, so you would think it would be the easiest thing, and yet so many of us get it so wrong.
Facebook pays $2.5bn for Oculus
Facebook has continued its spending spree, buying virtual reality company Oculus VR for a combined value of $2.5 billion.
Are we being employed, or stalked?
Do you ever get the feeling you are being watched? You should, because you are.
Bitcoin swaps get closer to reality
Tera Group has created a framework for buying and selling swaps linked to Bitcoin that would let investors hedge risk from trading the digital currency.
National
Hockey’s cash for asset sales
The federal and state Treasurers are set to agree in-principle to the privatisation of billions of dollars in assets under an arrangement in which the states will lose the revenue stream from any assets they sell.
- Australia on verge of free trade deal with Japan
- The education of Paul Howes
- Hadgkiss report could see CFMEU deregistered
- Tax Office offers amnesty for offshore accounts
- Submissions split over e-safety commissioner
- ‘Boring’ nation loses edge: BCA president
- Unions seek $27 lift in minimum wage
- Obeid stake didn’t raise alarm bells for Costa
- PM defends the return of knights and dames
It’s the incredible shrinking federal government
Fleur Anderson | The sale of Medibank Private is just the start of the Coalition’s renewed push for a minimalist government.
Opinion
Abbott must be wary of faint-hearts
Tony Abbott has a problem. And that problem is his cabinet, who are not as committed to economic reform or to political liberty as they need to be.
Currencies set to diverge
With the Aussie dollar’s move up and the monetary policy of central banks set to go in different directions, what’s next for the yen, euro and $US?
Coalminers feel the pinch of political divestment
Drilling Down | The Uniting Church in New South Wales this month started acting on its resolution of last April to divest its holdings in coal stocks.
World
Huge find of possible MH370 debris
Updated | The Southern Indian Ocean search for debris from what may be Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 has been called off with high winds and heavy seas forcing aircraft to return to Perth and ships to move away from the search area.
- Chinese companies to increase rate of defaults
- IMF set to provide $US15bn to Ukraine: FT
- Citigroup blocked from rewarding shareholders, shares plunge
- UBS suspends FX traders in NY, Singapore: report
- Bank of America pays $US9.3bn to settle mortgage bond claims
- UK government sells £4.2bn stake in Lloyds Banking
- Obama’s bodyguards sent home for getting drunk
- Sour Candy: King Digital dethroned as investors crush IPO
Billionaire ‘mafia’ boss Liu Han heads to court
China’s most high-profile “mafia” trial will begin next week as the billionaire founder of Hanlong Group, which holds a majority stake in the ASX-listed Moly Mines, faces charges including murder and blackmail.
Business
Qantas memo reveals 26 managers to go
Qantas will let go of 26 managers over the coming months as part of a what it describes in a leaked internal document as ‘‘major changes’’ to the make up of its senior leadership team.
- DJs investors want Myer to show them the money
- Optus CEO search heads overseas
- Minter Ellison changing of the guard could presage revamp
- ‘Boring’ nation loses edge: BCA president
- News Corp Australia eyes a new leader
- Basel III warning from ANZ
- Qube strikes deal for new grain depot at Port Kembla
- Coal costs close Glencore Xstrata’s Ravensworth mine
- Woodside close to $2.7bn Israeli gas deal
IT project not so super for funds
Australia’s five biggest industry superannuation funds are facing a critical test of their corporate governance with an imminent decision on the future of a botched $250 million IT project.
Technology
Coalition, Labor feud over NBN reports
The Coalition government has accused Labor of deliberately giving it a fake version of a Senate committee report into the broadband network up until the release of the real report in a game of bait and switch.
- Optus CEO search heads overseas
- Sour Candy: King Digital dethroned as investors crush IPO
- Optus gets ACMA warning after overcharging customers
- Swiss say no to smartwatches
- Amazon slashes cloud computing prices
- TPG shareholders advised to sell: analysts
- Facebook’s Oculus buy an alternate financial reality
- Mt. Gox seeks police advice on stolen Bitcoins
A dedicated GPS in your car is a fine thing
Something I often ponder when I get into a taxi is why does anyone use a dedicated GPS navigation device in a car?
Markets
Miners slip amid caution over Ukraine, China
Rising fears of tougher sanctions on Russia, combined with uncertainty about the health of the world’s second-biggest economy, pushed Australia’s sharemarket back into the red.
- $A on the rise but parity unlikely
- Tensions in Ukraine, weather stoke wheat market fears
- Chinese companies to increase rate of defaults
- Vale ranks high on Fidelity’s opportunities list
- House prices to trigger rate rise: Barclays
- Bank of America pays $US9.3bn to settle mortgage bond claims
- Rumour sparks three-day bank run, panic in China
- Citigroup blocked from rewarding shareholders, shares plunge
- Bank exposures pose super risks
What is the big deal with bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the world’s most famous crypto-currency. But . . . what is it? And why are people so excited about it?
Personal finance
Protecting your family’s money
Sharing the family assets by giving adult offspring an early inheritance may seem like a good idea. But what happens if they split from their partner, and those hard-won assets walk out the door?
- Equity crowd-funding for start-ups just a tweak away
- Why Trevor Loewensohn plans to keep his ‘post-GFC’ mezzanine fund small
- The murky waters of MySuper lifecycle funds
- Why you can’t do without equities
- Wake up to super fees
- How to get reimbursed for repairs to your SMSF property
- Falling commodity prices rattle investors
Cormann retreats on financial advice changes
The Abbott government has frozen plans to immediately implement changes to laws banning commissions for financial advisers, prompting calls to scrap the changes altogether.
Lifestyle
In with the inn crowd
What you get when you stay in a designer hotel is a glimpse of life through their eyes.
Beguiled by the beauty of Istanbul
A single visit to Turkey’s largest city is not enough. Once you’ve been, there’s an irresistible urge to return.
Fashion designers create suite dreams
Give a fashion designer a hotel to play with and you’d think it would reflect their collections. But they really don’t.
Calvin Klein – the look that lingers
From that Brooke Shields moment right through to today, Calvin Klein clothes and ‘zeitgeist’ are still synonymous.
Latest TV
Pricing greed killed Mantra sale
The collapse of the Mantra hotel group's attempted IPO has blunt lessons for any strongly performing property player considering a float in the current market.
Which way for the Aussie dollar?
The Reserve Bank's stance, a cold US winter and resilience to bad Chinese data have helped push the Aussie dollar into less bearish territory - for now.
Murdoch brothers bring baggage as Rupert heirs
New News Corp co-chair Lachlan Murdoch may soon be managing his brother James, and both bring baggage as heirs to Rupert.
ATO's amnesty not for criminals
The tax office is offering an amnesty for income that people have parked offshore, hoping to entice wealthy taxpayers looking to clean up their family’s tax affairs.
