Obama urges tougher European sanctions after MH17 tragedy
US President Barack Obama wants Europe to impose tougher economic sanctions against Russia after the downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17, after casting strong suspicion for the attack on rebels armed and funded by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Debate intensifies over Healthscope offer
Local fund managers have said they are wary of paying too much for private hospital operator Healthscope, which will price its shares this week ahead of its expected $2.5 billion float later this month.
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.
Threat of SMSF collapses puts direct leverage on notice
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.
Is the dominance of the big four coming to an end?
Philip Baker | It wasn’t lost on some investors that on the day David Murray released his interim report on the financial system, the supermarket giant Coles unveiled a plan to issue personal loans.
How the miners’ drilling darling hit rock bottom
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.
High-tech’s new influence in wealth management
Could the future of financial advice be an algorithm or conflicted financial planners turned into computer code? The finance industry’s innovators, including 28-year-old Chris Brycki, think so.
Rupert Murdoch’s war for Time Warner has just begun
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.
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.
Rethinking our love of home ownership
Buying your own home is an emotional decision, but what if paying weekly rent and relaxing were the better financial option?
A Miliband finds home . . . in New York
Losing the Labour leadership set Britain’s David Milliband on an unusual path.
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.
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.
D&D played major role for writers
The table-top fantasy game that launched a thousand authors, is having its 40th birthday.
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
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17: Furious Tony Abbott demands Vladimir 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 | It wasn’t lost on some investors that on the day David Murray released his interim report on the financial system, the supermarket giant Coles unveiled a plan to issue personal loans.
World
Barack Obama insists Europe boosts sanctions after Malaysia Airlines MH17 tragedy
US President Barack Obama is stepping up the pressure on Europe to impose tougher economic sanctions against Russia after the attack and downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17.
- Citi puts Chinese port probe exposure at $US280m
- Obama opens Atlantic coast to oil reserve surveys
- China home prices fall in record cities signals more easing
- Britain abandons Hong Kong
- Trade ministers can give us more than just FTAs
- G20 should sell infrastructure and re-invest: IFM
- European Union leaders fail to reach deal on top jobs
- Colorado links fracking wastewater to earthquakes
Rupert Murdoch’s war for Time Warner has just begun
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.
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
Rethinking our love affair with home ownership
Buying your own home is an emotional decision, but what if paying weekly rent and relaxing were the better financial option?
- Wall St rebounds as Google leads techs higher
- Rupert Murdoch’s war for Time Warner has just begun
- FTSEurofirst 300 ends flat after late recovery
- Market volatility reappears but the big threat yet to come
- Is the dominance of the big four coming to an end?
- High-tech’s new influence in wealth management
- Advisers warn on possible flood of SMSF collapses
- Miners lift on strong production, China growth
- $A resilient after air crash
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'.
