Don’t be a DIY super dummy
Australia’s 500,000 self-managed superannuation funds now controlling more than $500 billion in assets need to keep their wits about them if they are to hang on to their savings. The government will soon be joining the scammers as a potential recipient of investor funds when it introduces a new penalty regime capable of reaping millions of dollars.
Ukraine puts Russian troops on notice
Defying warnings from Moscow, the interim central government in Kiev has told Russian troops on manoeuvers on Ukraine’s eastern frontier that any crossing of the border would be seen as an invasion.
Crown approved for Sri Lankan resort but no casino
Sri Lanka's parliament has approved a $US400 million development by Australian casino operator Crown Resorts, but said it would not be allowed to open a casino there.
Wall Street hit by Amazon, Twitter, Ford
Updated | US stocks fell on Friday, pulled lower by a selloff in consumer discretionary stocks as bellwether names Amazon.com and Ford Motor fell in the wake of their quarterly earnings..
Goldman Sachs tops M&A league table
The value of worldwide mergers and acquisitions announced so far this year has topped $1 trillion, passing that level for only the third time this early in the year since records began in 1980.
Medium-term budget cuts ‘a tall order’
The Abbott government is at risk of delaying its toughest spending cuts beyond the “never-never”, says an economist who questions Treasurer Joe Hockey’s first budget.
Transurban defends $7bn price tag
Transurban insists distributions to shareholders will not be threatened by its $7 billion swoop on Queensland Motorways, consolidating its position as one of the world’s biggest toll road operators.
Biotech declares war on ‘malicious blogs’
Jonathan Shapiro | When biotech firm Unilife took to the exchange to defend itself from short-selling bloggers, it highlighted just how much pseudo-analysts can get away with in the US compared with Australia.
Risk pushes investors to demand better returns on units
Cautious private investors are demanding long-term, high rental returns before buying apartments in Melbourne’s increasingly crowded small apartment market, according to industry specialists.
Chinese see value in Manhattan
For the first time, Chinese nationals have become the biggest foreign buyers of apartments in Manhattan.
Holiday saviour: your smartphone
It was, to put it mildly, a moment of sheer horror when I arrived at the Naples airport last summer with my family — yet without my camera.
Inner-city punters sit on dividends
There’s no magic formula to investing in the right places, but there are trends.
Goldman, MS share $60m on Qld Motorways bid
--90x60.jpg)
Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley will share fees of more than $60 million after advising Transurban on its winning Queensland Motorways bid.
Modernising Australian furniture
During the 1950s, Australian designers turned from British style to the natural form of Denmark.
The punctuation appreciation society
Good prose is greeted with loud applause, but good punctuation draws attention to itself only when done badly.
Politicians aflutter as royals hit town
Labor, Greens and Liberal politicians have jostled with children, ambassadors and business titans to get a piece of the royal action.
Billionaire Paul Ramsay seriously ill
Paul Ramsay, the billionaire founder of private hospital operator Ramsay Health Care, has been admitted to hospital in Europe in a serious condition.
payWave suit gives wallets the flick
Dubbed “the power suit”, this MJ Bale prototype has a chip in the sleeve that makes paying for lunch a mere flick of the wrist.
Vouchers prove poor pickings for restaurateurs
Penny-pinching customers are defeating the purpose of discount voucher schemes from group-buying sites.
Kate clutch bodes royally for Oroton
Retail sales for fashion group Oroton are expected to soar after Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, stepped out with one of the brand’s clutches.
Deal hunting Aussies up travel budget
Australians plan to spend on average $13,206 on travel this year – up 25 per cent.
Anzac Day welcome good news for pubs
Anzac Day is a publican’s dream. A cocktail of tradition, two-up, premium sport and no work means pubs and clubs will rake it in on the day.
David Einhorn shorts stocks amid ‘tech bubble’
David Einhorn has revealed that his Greenlight Capital is shorting a basket of technology and social media stocks amid a “tech bubble”.
National
Prepare to tighten your belt: budget restraint necessary
Treasurer Joe Hockey will need to impose an almost unprecedented level of spending restraint to pull the budget back into shape – and into a position where it can bear both the mounting burden of Australia’s aging population and weather future economic storms.
- Rudd and co to front pink batts commission
- Green army needs protection, says Law Council
- Direct Action policy targets 130 emitters
- Treasurer Joe Hockey flags superannuation tax, age changes
- Clive Palmer takes PUPs to Washington
- Tourism investment pipeline climbs to $49.4bn
- Inflation at two-year high, below forecasts
The kids are still all right
An intrepid adult academic has attempted to decode the tech-savvy world of the modern adolescent, to explain young people to the adults who worry about them.
Opinion
DIY funds still an option for business
DIY superannuation funds used to be mostly used by people in small family businesses.
Economic moderniser clings to old-school aesthetic
Paul Keating’s public persona as an urban design expert perplexes his admirers.
Belle Flaneur’s fresh take on disposable society
Natalie Coulter creates drama from recycled treasures, and wants big business to follow, writes .
World
Goldman Sachs tops M&A league table
The value of worldwide mergers and acquisitions announced so far this year has topped $1 trillion, passing that level for only the third time this early in the year since records began in 1980.
- Russia raises rate as S&P; cuts its rating
- China top leaders hold fast on policy: Xinhua
- Barclays holders get green light for US Libor lawsuit
- Everest climbing season seen over before it started
- Spain upgraded as Fitch sees declining credit risks
- Amazon slides 9pc as analysts flag spending surge
- US seeking more than $US13bn from Bank of America
- Key Barclays investors say 'no' to bonus plans
War and peace: the peril of complacency
When President Barack Obama visits Japan this week at the start of an Asian tour that will take him to other countries on China’s periphery he will be making a big statement.
Business
Transurban defends $7bn price tag
Transurban insists distributions to shareholders will not be threatened by its $7 billion swoop on Queensland Motorways, consolidating its position as one of the world’s biggest toll road operators.
- Padbury further delays $US6.5bn deal details
- Ruralco says half-year earnings will hit $22m
- Transurban buys Qld Motorways
- ERM Power wins $1bn government contracts
- Healthscope not a good fit for Wesfarmers: analysts
- Horizon Oil, Roc Oil halted on takeover talk
- Ashurst promotes four to partnerships
- Stockland ‘better’ off to sell Australand stake
Shipping news: iron giants of the deep
Imagine the Empire State Building tipping on its side and putting out to sea. That was the scale of thing I contemplated as I gaped at one of the world’s largest container ships.
Technology
7 ways to best use the new Twitter
Twitter's new profile pages are being rolled out and if you haven't seen yours yet, it will happen soon. Make no mistake, it’s bigger, bolder and it looks much more like Facebook.
- Amazon posts higher-than-expected revenue, shares rise
- Microsoft’s third-quarter results beat expectations
- US tech companies settle hiring practices lawsuit
- Facebook makes progress on mobile ads
- Baidu sees higher-than-expected quarterly revenue
- Facebook buys ‘Moves’ fitness app
- Zynga co-founder withdraws from operations amid turnaround
- Could Candy Crush Saga be a gateway to gambling?
Apple approves $30bn more in buybacks
Apple has approved another $US30 billion in share buybacks till the end of 2015 and authorised a rarely seen seven-for-one stock split, addressing calls to share more of its cash.
Markets
Wall Street hit by Amazon, Twitter, Ford
Updated | US stocks fell on Friday, pulled lower by a selloff in consumer discretionary stocks as bellwether names Amazon.com and Ford Motor fell in the wake of their quarterly earnings..
- Higher yielding $A rises v greenback
- Japan says Spot LNG March prices at $18.30/mmBtus
- Copper edges to seven-week high on China bets
- Goldman Sachs tops M&A; league table
- DAX underperforms again on worries over Ukraine
- Spain upgraded as Fitch sees declining credit risks
- Amazon slides 9pc as analysts flag spending surge
- Profit outlook brightens, lifting valuations too
- Bank stocks push shares near six-year highs
Euro zone deficit hits target for first time since 2008
Euro zone governments have hit an important goal, bringing their combined budget deficits for 2013 in line with their target for the first time since 2008, official data showed on Wednesday.
Personal finance
Junk bonds queues indicate risk is back
It doesn’t seem that long ago that investors were just focused on simply riding out the financial storm, preserving cash and keeping a lid on any damage.
Don’t be a DIY dummy
Australia’s 500,000 self-managed superannuation funds now controlling more than $500 billion in assets need to keep their wits about them.
Lifestyle
Through the looking glass with mirrors
Melbourne designer Helen Macfarlane didn’t want to wait for her mirrors to age, so she started experimenting.
Spend
Live it up | Alexander McQueen’s silver sandal is a work of art, Dior impresses, and Tasting returns to Cradle Mountain.
Holden Calais V: the last big Australian
Here’s the case for and against the Calais V V8: a tarted up Commodore with a rugged, no nonsense charm.
When lust goes online
There is nothing new in people exposing infidelities, but the lightning speed with which it takes place online is new.
Latest TV
What Japanese nationalism means for Australia
Japanese nationalism is on the rise under Shinzo Abe, which could increase tensions with the US, its long time ally, and may affect Australia's relationship with both.
Inflation decreases chance of rate hike
The March quarter CPI of 0.6% was below expectations, decreasing the odds of an RBA rate hike despite headline inflation at its fastest pace in more than two years.
Hockey's mountainous budget challenge
Treasurer Joe Hockey's commission of audit calls for an unprecedented cut to spending growth, and the big budget moving policies may be pushed till after the next election.
Property hotspots that cooled off
The next "big thing" in property locations is always a popular topic, but the last 20 years shows not all such suburbs deliver on the hype.
