Vladimir Putin risks global banishment
A bullying Russian president risks being shunned internationally if he fails to heed the outrage that has been generated over the tragic loss of life that has followed his country’s support for separatists in Ukraine.
- Stakes rise dramatically in Ukraine
- Potent missiles a global menace
- Tony Abbott considers exiling Russia from G20
- Furious Abbott demands Putin account for ‘crime’
- Tragedy shrouded in post-Soviet spin, Cold War lies
- Malaysia Airlines could have diverted ill-fated MH17
- Grim debris litters a war zone
- Tragedy strikes twice for Malaysia Airlines
Rethinking our love affair with home ownership
Buying your own home is an emotional decision – triumph at seeing the sold sticker on your dream home, relief at getting the OK for your loan and inhaling sharply at the first mortgage payment. But what if paying weekly rent and relaxing were the better financial option?
Advisers warn on possible flood of SMSF collapses
The collapse of over-leveraged self managed super schemes invested in off-the-plan apartments is strengthening the financial system inquiry’s hard-line call to ban direct leverage in the $1.8 trillion super sector.
Turnbull crucial to Palmer’s turnaround
Malcolm Turnbull’s friendship with Clive Palmer was instrumental in the government’s unexpected victory this week in saving its changes to Labor’s financial advice laws.
Stretched housing valuations mean bubble is here
In April 2008, RBA governor Glenn Stevens was asked by Malcolm Turnbull why housing affordability was so bad. His answer? Prices – not interest rates – were to blame.
Former News Corp executives applaud ‘classic Rupert move’
Kim Williams and other former senior News Corp executives have paid tribute to Rupert Murdoch’s US$80 billion swoop on Time Warner as he prepares to step up pressure on his US rival’s board.
Major banks a systemic risk: Murray report
In September 1999, David Murray was halfway through his 13-year tenure as head of the Commonwealth Bank when a small delegation from the bank set through Asia and Europe.
Former Boart chief says his warnings weren’t heeded
Floated on the ASX in 2007 after being purchased by Macquarie Bank, Boart’s $2.35 billion IPO was one of the largest of the heady years before the GFC time. It’s now worth $40 million.
Westfield’s grand debt reshuffle
New Scentre Group chief executive Peter Allen has a key motto when it comes to the capital markets: strike when you are ready. The strategy paid off for the shopping mall giant’s €2 billion debt issue this month.
Ten takeouts from the Murray report
David Murray caught many investors by surprise this week when the interim report of his financial system inquiry flagged radical changes to the country’s massive wealth industry.
Murdoch begins his war for Time Warner
Time Warner has always been the one that got away from Rupert Murdoch, but it is a battle far from over, despite the Time Warner board’s rejection of the initial $US80 billion offer.
A Miliband finds home . . . in New York
Star politician and former British foreign secretary David Miliband lost the leadership of British Labour to his younger brother, Ed. That set him on an unusual path.
Loosen regulation for emerging markets, says Standard Chartered chief
The British multinational is leading bankers’ call for politicians to take action to deal with a “growth squeeze” in emerging markets.
US media giants should look to Australia
Citigroup analyst Justin Diddams says interest from US media in international peers should extend to local businesses such as Channels Nine and Seven.
D&D played major role for writers
The table-top fantasy game that launched a thousand authors, is having its 40th birthday.
Sobriety coaches on the homefront
Sobriety coaches are no longer the sole preserve of Hollywood entourages. Now, well-heeled US mothers are reaching for them.
Mercedes targets execs on LinkedIn
LinkedIn has a new twist on native advertising, with Mercedes-Benz using the site to promote its 2015 C-Class line.
Budget blamed for rise in unhappiness
You are most likely to be happy if you are a childless, widowed single woman living with another person in rural Tasmania.
Fiona Lowry wins Archibald Prize
Fiona Lowry has won this year's Archibald Prize for her portrait of architect Penelope Seidler.
Taxman foils Mark Carnegie’s Brickworks scheme
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Rear Window | The Matt Williams-Mark Carnegie bid to untangle Brickworks from Soul Pattinson will be permanently scotched any day now.
Microsoft’s Nokia Lumia 930 has just one flaw
Battery life is a standout advantage here, with the only drawback being the lack of apps.
Climb out of social media and into a book
If Ernest Hemingway were alive in 2014, he might not have put pen to paper, instead locked in the time-wasting labyrinth of social media.
Keyless locks: let yourself in
Smart door locks that are opened by app or via bluetooth promise to revolutionise how we secure our homes.
The airline with the best amenity kit is...
The simple amenity kit from business class, or better yet first class, is a perennial fave.
National
The budget is dead in the water, says Palmer
Clive Palmer says the federal government has little choice but to have a mini-budget or go back to the polls because the bulk of its budget measures will never pass the Senate.
- APRA holds banks’ boards to account for lending standards
- Geopolitical risk a big threat to growth: Mike Smith
- Toyota’s court win on worker vote comes too late
- Hockey chides business for lack of support
- Court gives Kathy Jackson ‘last warning’
- Senior KPMG partner on child sex charges
- Carbon tax abolished in Senate
- Government should ‘take the back seat’: Murdoch
- EU set to adopt Joe Hockey’s G20 growth target
Furious Abbott demands Putin account for ‘crime’
Russian backed rebels were to blame for the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 killing 298 peo0ple including 28 Australians and Russia must back an independent investigation, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said last night.
Opinion
Trade ministers can give us more than just FTAs
If all the Sydney G20 trade ministers’ summit produces is a resolution to negotiate more free trade agreements, it will be a failure.
Long life ahead for battery power
The end of the carbon tax will provide breathing space for Australia’s coal fired power stations, but it may not guarantee their long-term success.
Is the dominance of the big four coming to an end?
Philip Baker | Investors noted that the day David Murray released his interim report, Coles unveiled its personal loans.
World
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17: other airlines avoided Ukraine
The former head of safety at Qantas Airways has questioned whether Malaysia Airlines flight 17 should have been flying over the eastern Ukraine, given the heightened state of the conflict with Russia.
Britain abandons Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s leader, Leung Chun-ying, this week presented a report to China’s leaders in Beijing on how to reform the territory’s electoral system and suggested most Hong Kongers were perfectly happy.
Business
Asciano in talks over sale of ports business stake
Ports operator Asciano is set to slash net debt if talks with Chinese state-owned corporation China Merchants to sell minority stake in Patrick ports for more than $1 billion lead to a deal.
- Santos flags stronger second half after revenue soars
- Blackham Resources files writ against Joe Gutnick’s Great Central Gold
- Dominos, Pizza Hut fight for the position of big cheese
- JPMorgan’s top five M&A; picks
- Airline shares fall on MH17 crash
- Seek CEO says more jobs will be lost to robots
- APN News & Media buys rest of Busapak Advertising
- G20 should sell infrastructure and re-invest: IFM
Meet Naomi Milgrom, the ‘cashmere steamroller’
Naomi Milgrom is a woman who gets what she wants and although detractors might point to art world gossip to prove this, her determination also shines through in her retail empire.
Technology
Mercedes targets execs on LinkedIn
LinkedIn has a new twist on native advertising, with Mercedes-Benz using the site to promote its 2015 C-Class line.
- High-tech’s new influence in wealth management
- Social media posts used to blame Russian separatists
- Microsoft to cut 18,000 jobs within year
- Facebook tests 'buy' button for online purchases
- Google results show its mobile advertising struggle
- Telstra beats NBN Co in $200m case
- Google beats revenue target, Arora resigns
- Aconex to explore ASX listing with UBS, Macquarie Capital
- Alibaba looks at September date for US share sale
New York regulators tighten Bitcoin rules
The top financial regulator in New York has taken a big step to bring Bitcoin and other virtual currencies under its purview.
Markets
Miners lift on strong production, China growth
Resources stocks led the Australian sharemarket higher over the past week as a raft of players delivered pleasing production reports, while the latest GDP data out of China allayed fears of a sharp fall in demand.
- $A resilient after air crash
- Market volatility reappears but the big threat yet to come
- China faces second bond default
- Copper slips, aluminium rallies for a fifth day
- Wall St drops, volatility surges after jet crashes
- Ten firms targeted in US high-speed trading probe
- Airline shares fall on MH17 crash
- Morgan Stanley second-quarter profit beats forecasts
Don’t pay extra for index huggers
If you are paying for beta, you’re a mug. Unfortunately most investors don’t know if they are paying for beta - or even what beta is.
Personal finance
Negotiating the fast-money minefield
Be very, very wary of any fast money investment scheme. It’s the old saying: “If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is.” There are no easy ways to financial security.
- Best policy to keep your children covered
- How we are becoming a free agent nation
- Fund managers spill the beans on returns
- Downsizing made simple: the value of a buyers’ agent
- Beat the IPO market at its own game
- Low market volatility no reason to rest on your laurels
- Do the sums on the true cost of private schools
- What it feels like to have a private plane
Stretched housing valuations mean bubble is here
In April 2008, RBA governor Glenn Stevens was asked by Malcolm Turnbull why housing affordability was so bad. His answer? Prices – not interest rates – were to blame.
Lifestyle
Backstage pass to Paris haute couture week
In the city of love, we revel in the opulent wonderland created by the big heritage fashion houses.
Glenmorangie and Idris Khan: two creative spirits
The Scottish whisky distillery has launched Pride 1978, which comes with a photographic work by the famous British artist.
Homes inspired by other times and places
Residential architects take elements of ancient Japan and high Modernism to create impressive new houses.
When switching off is a bad thing
In a 24/7 world, answering the occasional email on the weekend will help banish those Monday blues.
Latest TV
When accountants meet entrepreneurs
Entrepreneur clients of Ernst and Young have encouraged a more globally aware culture at the accounting giant.
Australian agriculture, Asia and Abe
Markets commentator Jonathan Pain is bullish about prospects for Australian agriculture as Asia's food demand soars.
A new obstacle for a troubled business
Malaysia Airlines, which had been struggling after the MH370 disappearance, now must deal with the tragic loss of MH17.
'Sovereign event' needed for a lower dollar
International currency markets will only sell down the $A if there's an 'Australian sovereign event'.
