BHP hopes to avoid union tug of war
BHP Billitoniron ore president Jimmy Wilson hopes the resources giant can avoid an industrial dispute with tugboat operators, who are critical to the nation’s $60 billion iron ore exports.
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.
Fund managers tip better earnings this year
Some of the country’s top fund managers expect earnings growth to be the main driver of Australia’s sharemarket for the rest of this year, replacing the impetus of world economic news and low interest rates.
Abbott leaves door open to budget ‘debt levy’
Prime Minister Tony Abbott left open the door to impose short-term levy on wealthy taxpayers to close the budget deficit and reduce debt, saying any changes would be “fair and equitable”.
Clive Palmer in NT power grab
Clive Palmer has further entrenched his national political influence, after his Palmer United Party poached three members of the Northern Territory’s Legislative Assembly.
Stockland says ‘anything possible’ in $2bn Australand bid
Stockland chief executive Mark Steinert has acknowledged that his group’s bid for the $2 billion Australand Property Group could evolve in several different ways.
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.
New York’s Silicon Alley attracts Australian start-ups
Australian entrepreneurs are flocking to New York’s tech hub – affectionately known as “Silicon Alley” – where investors have splashed nearly $3 billion on 400 separate tech deals last year.
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.
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.
Sydney auction market not slowing yet
Updated | There are signs Sydney’s strong housing market is moderating after a surge in activity late last year, even as clearance rates remain high and limited stock is driving competition for properties even before they come to market.
Amazon investor patience wears thin
Amazon, the world’s most successful online retailer, could be finally losing investors’ patience. Its shares fell 9.9 per cent on Friday after it reported its profits were shrinking.
Chinese see value in Manhattan
For the first time, Chinese nationals have become the biggest foreign buyers of apartments in Manhattan.
Newcastle’s new Chinese bidder tipped as one to beat
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A second Chinese bidder – China Construction – has emerged in the running for the expected $1 billion Port of Newcastle sale – and it’s this consortium that market watchers are tipping will be one to beat.
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
Clive Palmer in NT power grab
Clive Palmer has further entrenched his national political influence, after his Palmer United Party poached three members of the Northern Territory’s Legislative Assembly.
- Prepare to tighten your belt: budget restraint necessary
- 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.
- Amazon investor patience wears thin
- 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
BHP hopes to avoid union tug of war
BHP Billitoniron ore president Jimmy Wilson hopes the resources giant can avoid an industrial dispute with tugboat operators, who are critical to the nation’s $60 billion iron ore exports.
- Transurban defends $7bn price tag
- 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
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.
- Microsoft’s third-quarter results beat expectations
- Amazon investor patience wears thin
- 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..
- Fund managers tip better earnings this year
- 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
- Bank stocks push shares near six-year highs
- Amazon slides 9pc as analysts flag spending surge
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
Tug of war
As the resources boom shifts from construction to production, the big miners are rushing to extract iron ore faster and cheaper, which could lead to industrial disputes.
Property play
Property group Stockland made its much anticipated move on Australand this week, in what's set to be the start of a tussle for control of the residential property developer.
Newcastle's ships come in
Bids for the expected $1 billion sale of the Port of Newcastle are due on Monday and Street Talk can reveal a second Chinese bidder has emerged.
Silicon alley
San Francisco's Silicon Valley has traditionally been the world's technology hub. But now, savvy investors and entrepreneurs are flocking to a new location - 5000 kilometres away.
