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Asciano threat to $1b freight hub
![Asciano threat to $1b freight hub](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image/2009-2014/AFR/2014/07/01/Photos/2d822d10-010e-11e4-8f48-fb842c6f6159_syd-5pp94p05tds1iy24j9a0--180x120.jpg)
Asciano chief executive John Mullen has questioned the economic viability of a new $1 billion freight hub at Moorebank in southwestern Sydney that will handle goods railed from Port Botany, claiming it may struggle to attract customers.
Jan Cameron’s retail empire collapses again
Updated | The retail empire of former BRW Rich Lister Jan Cameron, the founder of outdoor clothing chain Kathmandu, has collapsed for the second time in less than two years.
REA reps pressure agents to get online renewals
Representatives of realestate.com.au appear to have used the threat of suspension from the website to entice real estate agents to renew contracts with the property advertising service.
Australia lacks entrepreneurial culture: former Toyota boss
John Conomos, the former head of Toyota Australia, has bemoaned the lack of entrepreneurial culture in Australia as he prepares to become chairman of a company with an internet radio application.
Advisers get call for housing, hearing scoping study gigs
![Advisers get call for housing, hearing scoping study gigs](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2014/07/01/Photos/86844ad8-010e-11e4-8f48-fb842c6f6159_syd-5xbul72jipgqs1rf15v-176--90x60.jpg)
Several investment banks and advisory firms have opted not to participate in a federal government request for proposal to conduct scoping studies for mooted sales of Defence Housing and Australian Hearing.
Woodside gas deal ramps up trading arm
Only weeks after turning its back on an export gas project in Israel, Woodside Petroleum is moving to ramp up its trading operations by opting to buy gas from one of the first of the planned export gas projects in the US.
Transpacific refinances $400m debt
Waste handler Transpacific Industries will take an $18 million charge associated with its debt refinancing in the wake of the $NZ950 million sale of its New Zealand Waste business.
Telstra, NBN Co face off over $200m bill dispute
![Telstra, NBN Co face off over $200m bill dispute](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2014/07/01/Photos/e9ddb1da-00ed-11e4-8f48-fb842c6f6159_syd-5s4nfklmr381inu2b3gg--U10556884726wVB-54x67_1_0_566762424--90x60.jpg)
Telstra is suing NBN Co in the NSW Supreme Court over an $11 billion deal both parties signed in 2011, a battle that could be the most expensive case of telecommunications bill shock Australia has seen.
Australian banks not rushing to invest in China’s lenders
Australian banks are unlikely to take up the Chinese government’s offer to buy stakes in the country’s biggest lenders, analysts say, citing new rules that penalise minority holdings in foreign banks.
Coles admits it ‘warned’ suppliers
Supermarket chain Coles has admitted to warning, but not threatening, suppliers it would refuse to stock new products and would withhold information on sales forecasts unless they agreed to pay extra.
Goldman reiterates ‘buy’ on Wesfarmers
![Goldman reiterates ‘buy’ on Wesfarmers](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2014/06/30/Photos/15385116-00ab-11e4-8f48-fb842c6f6159_street_talk_small (2)--90x60.jpg)
Goldman Sachs has reiterated its “buy” on Wesfarmers after it completed the sale of its $1.85 billion insurance underwriting operations.
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The almost indecent high of chucking things out
![The almost indecent high of chucking things out](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2014/07/01/Photos/f9228420-0108-11e4-8f48-fb842c6f6159_syd-6biglczjdt417v5te64t--90x60.jpg)
Who needs drugs when you can throw stuff out? That buzz lasts for hours, with no hangovers or other bad side effects the morning after.
Time for CBA’s Narev to take the lead
![Chanticleer Chanticleer](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/chanticleer_small.jpg)
Chanticleer | It will be a gutsy move but CBA chief executive Ian Narev can this week take a leadership position in financial advice.
Life super sector tipped to rise from rut
![Sally Patten Sally Patten](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/sally_patten_small.jpg)
Scott Hartley, the not-so-new chief executive of superannuation fund SunSuper, believes the troubled group life insurance market has bottomed.
NSW knocks back Metgasco
![Matthew Stevens Matthew Stevens](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/matthew_stevens_small.jpg)
The NSW government has finally found itself a backbone in the coal seam gas issue.
CBA credibility on the line
A report into how ASIC handled a rogue financial planning scandal at the nation’s biggest bank was always going to be damning.
Aurizon doing more with less
![Matthew Stevens Matthew Stevens](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/matthew_stevens_small.jpg)
There are two firm conclusions to draw from the latest rich bank of impairments and provisions confirmed by Aurizon, the nation’s biggest rail freighter.
Genting still a player in casino war
![Chanticleer Chanticleer](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/chanticleer_small.jpg)
Malaysian billionaire KT Lim slipped quietly into Sydney this week to meet with the state’s gaming regulator.
Lew ups the ante in Game of Jones
![Chanticleer Chanticleer](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/chanticleer_small.jpg)
South Africa’s Woolworths has capitulated to Solomon Lew, offering to buy his stake in Country Road for an eye-watering premium.
How not to offend by email
![How not to offend by email](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2014/06/24/Photos/f8056f5e-fb8a-11e3-99e3-0aa3fadee806_syd-61dn8u89ae8vjto9oft-224--90x60.jpg)
A difficult aspect emails, tweets and SMS is that you don’t know how the recipients’ day is going.
Shell boss blasts Fair Work Act
![Matthew Stevens Matthew Stevens](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/matthew_stevens_small.jpg)
Efficiency-sapping employment conditions should be wiped from the industrial landscape, the chairman of Shell Australia will say today.
Resources Daily
Woodside gas deal ramps up trading arm
Only weeks after turning its back on an export gas project in Israel, Woodside Petroleum is moving to ramp up its trading operations by opting to buy gas from one of the first of the planned export gas projects in the US.
WorleyParsons suspends $92.5m Canadian project
WorleyParsons has suspended work on a $92.5 million Canadian iron ore project after mine owner Alderon warned it had not secured financing for its development.
Companies
US blow leaves BNP fearing for reputation
At the start of the year, BNP Paribas executives thought they were destined for little more than a slap on the wrist for violating US sanctions.
When ASX 200 equals GDP, time for reflection
![Philip Baker Philip Baker](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/philip_baker_small.jpg)
There’s a well-known theory about valuations that measures the market capitalisation of a sharemarket against the total of the goods and services of its economy. Stocks are deemed to be expensive when the ratio is more than 100 per cent.
Financial Services
Blackstone launches its first hedge fund
Blackstone Group, already the largest investor in hedge funds, is signing on a team of three traders for the first such fund that it will manage directly, worth about $US500 million.
Computershare forecasts $US40m write-down
Dominant global share registry, Computershare, has forecast a $US40 million fall in net profit for the 2014 financial year following a major review of its business.
Marketing & Media
S&P lifts Fairfax Media rating outlook
Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has upgraded the credit rating outlook for Fairfax Media, saying the publisher has “adopted a credible strategy to stabilise group earnings over the medium term”.
REA reps pressure agents to get online renewals
Representatives of realestate.com.au appear to have used the threat of suspension from the website to entice real estate agents to renew contracts with the property advertising service.
Enterprise
Mad about coffee capsule copies
![Mad about coffee capsule copies](/web/20140701170324im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2014/06/23/Photos/002b0212-fabd-11e3-80cb-3fa822d151bf_syd-6awbcnyd5e01iprvaonl--90x60.jpg)
Nespresso machines and its copies are a growing market – and so are their capsules.
Match-making for executive job seekers
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The success of online recruitment start-up Expert360 surprises even its owner.