Plan to end $10bn super fee ‘sting’
Superannuation funds should be required to submit to a regular official auction to become the nation’s “default” super provider under a plan to cut Australia’s high super costs. The Grattan Institute estimates Australians are paying around 50 per cent – or $10 billion – more than they should in fees.
Ukraine, central bankers key to sentiment
Before the Bell | The continuing battle of nerves on Ukraine’s eastern border and policymaker meetings are sure to set the tone this week ■ Nasdaq shed 1.8pc on Friday ■ US 30-yr bond yield at nine-month low.
Business says no to ‘deficit tax’
Industry and business have urged the government to scrap plans to raise taxes to reduce debt and the deficit, reminding Tony Abbott that he said on the eve of the election that no country could tax its way to prosperity.
UK welders to save Australian LNG plants
A severe shortage of skilled specialist welders has left US giant Bechtel scrambling to source workers from the UK and Ireland to avoid falling behind on construction at $70 billion of LNG projects in Gladstone.
Fears for critically ill Paul Ramsay
Fears are growing for the health of billionaire Paul Ramsay, the founder and chairman of hospital operator Ramsay Health Care, after his admission to hospital in Europe last week.
Chinese spies may have read politicians’ emails for a year
Chinese intelligence agencies that penetrated Australia’s parliamentary computer network in 2011 may have been inside the system for up to a year and may have stolen emails that could compromise federal MPs.
Fund managers tip better earnings
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.
Liberal MPs to take centre stage at ICAC
At least six state and federal Liberal MPs, including Senator Arthur Sinodinos, will have to give evidence at another embarrassing corruption inquiry that opens on Monday.
Big four banks tied to human rights abuses
Australia’s major banks are funding large-scale, illegal ‘land grabs’ in the third world and enabling illegal logging, child labour or other human rights abuses.
China Construction to bid with Macquarie for Port of Newcastle
Another week, another infrastructure auction is set to close. Hot on the heels of the Queensland Motorways deal, NSW premier Mike Baird will be expecting five offers to roll in on Monday for the Port of Newcastle
Billion-dollar hedge fund profit fires up insider trading debate
Maverick hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has whipped up a new storm on Wall Street about America’s murky insider trading laws.
Guessing game for Macquarie buys
Getting a handle on what Macquarie may acquire is one of the challenges facing investors as the group attempts a return it to its glory days.
Sydney’s housing fever cools
There are signs Sydney’s housing market is moderating even as competition continues for properties before they hit the market.
UGL’s sale of DTZ property arm to wind up by mid-May
One of this year’s most interesting corporate deals is drawing to a close with the sale of UGL’s property services division, DTZ, expected to be signed in the first half of May.
AFL stars and Rich Lister back hospitality app
A group of AFL players and technology entrepreneurs have attracted $1.5 million in funding for their hospitality payment and membership app.
Outsider’s radical plan for higher education
Andrew Norton is an outsider in higher education. He’s not at all part of the clubbish circle of vice-chancellors and bureaucrats who run universities.
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.
National
Plan to end $10bn superannuation fee ‘sting’
Australia’s superannuation funds should face a regular official tender race to become the nation’s “default” provider in a radical proposal aimed at boosting competition to cut costs that are three times the OECD average.
- Bechtel scrambles for welders for LNG
- Liberal MPs to take centre stage at ICAC
- Business says no to ‘deficit tax’
- Clive Palmer in NT power grab
- Coalition courts PUP over climate policy
- Amputees set for win on NSW workers comp
- States face bigger role in disaster protection
- NSW Liberals secure Tony Nutt coup
Big talk, small acts on $40bn budget deficit
Australia’s $40 billion federal deficit could be instantly solved if the Abbott government was willing to touch the sacred cows of superannuation, pensions and tax breaks for housing.
Opinion
Pyne must act now to deregulate university fees
The next era of higher education reform is at last taking shape.
World’s toughest job? Admen keep us guessing
In 2009, an Australian ad agency famously created the “Best Job in the World”; in what turned out to be a brilliantly clever online campaign.
Japan-China relations cool further
Angus Grigg | China has always been good at finding the weak point in an opponent. In the most basic sense this is how Beijing runs foreign policy and in the last week it has proven yet again to be highly effective.
World
West readies sanctions against Putin’s inner circle
The US and European Union are preparing to impose new sanctions on Russian companies and individuals close to President Vladimir Putin over the escalating crisis in Ukraine.
- Goldman Sachs tops M&A; league table
- Picking up from the Piketty phenomenon
- South Korea’s PM offers to quit
- Rare earth ruling bodes well for US LPG
- 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 investor patience wears thin
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 already-thin profit margins were shrinking.
Business
Transurban to lift Brisbane margins
Transurban chief executive Scott Charlton has told fund managers the toll road operator will improve returns from its $7 billion Brisbane toll road acquisition by lifting the margins to average levels of its Sydney assets.
- Bechtel scrambles for welders for LNG
- Banks have goodies for yield-hungry investors
- Aussie banks’ links to rights abuses alleged
- FMG rebukes tugboat crews over potential strike action
- New Woolworths approach paying off
- Ericsson: we’re not to blame for NBN roll out delays
- Optus lifts smartphone prices to power profitability
- Dice rolls against Packer’s casino plans in Sri Lanka
Talk as Charlton takes his toll
Has Scott Charlton finally made a misstep? That was the niggling question playing on investors’ minds after a Transurban-led consortium forked out an eye-watering $7.06 billion to pick up a coveted collection of toll roads in fast-growing Brisbane.
Technology
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.
- Spy wars fuelled by territorial claims
- New technologies will crack flawed NBN model
- Optus lifts smartphone prices to power profitability
- Amazon delivers the goods
- Ericsson: we’re not to blame for NBN roll out delays
- 7 ways to best use the new Twitter
- Microsoft’s third-quarter results beat expectations
- Amazon investor patience wears thin
- US tech companies settle hiring practices lawsuit
Chinese spies may have read all MPs’ emails for a year
Chinese intelligence agencies that penetrated Australia’s parliamentary computer network in 2011 may have been inside the system for up to a year and may have stolen emails that could compromise federal MPs.
Markets
Ukraine, central bankers key to sentiment
Before the Bell | The continuing battle of nerves on Ukraine’s eastern border and policymaker meetings are sure to set the tone this week ■ Nasdaq shed 1.8pc on Friday ■ US 30-yr bond yield at nine-month low.
- Shares expected to fall amid China concerns
- Buoyant large caps primed to lead way in flurry of takeovers, floats
- Weak wages point to softer inflation
- Premium benefits but sentiment mixed on IAG deal
- Wall Street hit by Amazon, Twitter, Ford
- 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
Case to hold longer-dated bonds is still firmly in place
Michael Mackenzie | Many expect a pick-up in United States economic activity in the second half, but Treasury rates remain low – a conundrum that frustrates bearish bond investors who believe 2014 is the year of much higher yields.
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.
