Business News, Finance & ASX Market News

Stock Ticker

Movers

Key Stories

RBA slammed over property investor u-turn

12:19pm

The Reserve Bank has been slammed for doing too little too late to curb risky lending to property investors

Banks extend market rally to seventh day

Scott Parker 2:05pm

The Australian sharemarket extended its recovery rally on Wednesday, hitting the ground running as European Central Bank stimulus talk fuelled investor confidence and ending higher for a seventh straight session.

Power, petrol keep lid on inflation

MARK MULLIGAN 2:20pm

A surprise jump in fruit prices has helped drive consumer prices 0.5 per cent higher in the September quarter, but costs for electricity and petrol declined, keeping inflation in check.

Cabcharge tempts record 'fourth strike'

CBD 12:33pm

With entrepreneurs like Paul Bassat and rich-listers like the Kahlbetzer family and James Packer actively backing rival, GoCatch, now is probably a good time for Cabcharge to get its investors behind it.

Bigcommerce teams with Alibaba

Jessica Sier 12:38pm

A Sydney software company developing e-commerce tools for businesses is taking on Amazon by teaming up with the Chinese internet giant Alibaba.

Rate cut still on cards: Goldman Sachs

VESNA POLJAK 5:52am

One of the region’s most senior fixed-income experts has underscored the divide between economists and the bond market by reasserting his call that the Reserve Bank of Australia may be forced to cut interest rates, even after the US Federal Reserve tightens.

Is the time right to buy bank shares again?

Bianca Hartge-Hazelman 11:07am

Banks have been driving the market's recovery, but many analysts question how much higher their share prices can go ahead of earnings season.

Retail Retail Big W not for sale, says Woolworths
Markets Good reasons to invest in retail shares
Aviation Aviation Virgin wraps up $336m sale of Velocity stake
Business Energy Origin expects profit growth from 2016
Mining and Resources Gender Women break into male-dominated mining industry

Market Indices

Last updated: October 22, 2014 - 1:37PM

Last updated: October 22, 2014 - 4:01PM

Last updated: October 22, 2014 - 5:16AM

Last updated: October 22, 2014 - 6:41PM

Currencies

United States Dollar
Last updated: Oct 22, 2014 - 6:27PM (delayed by 30 minutes)
0.8788	0.08%
Euro
0.6923	0.25%
British Pound
0.5477	0.51%

Comment & Analysis

Malcolm Maiden

Whitlam's legacy was to win vital reforms

CBD

Mine won't be built in wealthy's backyards

Michael Pascoe

We don't mourn Gough, we mourn ourselves
Contains: total comments 128 This article contains a video. gallery

Weekend Feature

Why negative gearing should be abolished

GARETH HUTCHENS 6:33am

Economics teaches us to see things that we can’t see with our eyes.

Contains: total comments 534

In Depth

Women break into mining domain

1:23pm

Women start making their mark in the male-dominated industry, forcing the sector to abolish some macho traditions.

Four lessons from wild market ride

Mohamed A. El-Erian 8:05am

Last week's rollercoaster affecting both stocks and bonds may be a sign of things to come if market fundamentals don't improve.

Walkley finals for Adele Ferguson

The three finalists in the prestigious Business category of the Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism were announced today at a lunch hosted by ING Direct in Sydney.

Trading Room

Intelligent Investor

How stock pickers fiddle investment returns

Nathan Bell

The issue of whether to pay for stock picking advice boils down to two simple questions: First, does the company have a good track record in making money and second, can I believe their track record?

Motley Fool

Sorry Mr Barnett, but the big miners are right!

Scott Philips

WA Premier Colin Barnett blames the big miners for a huge budget hole. But the state badly botched its royalty forecasts from iron ore.

Business News Wire

Markets

Four lessons to take from the wild market week

Mohamed A. El-Erian 8:05am

Last week's rollercoaster affecting both stocks and bonds may be a sign of things to come if market fundamentals don't improve.

Medibank an attractive proposition: Perpetual

Jessica Gardner 6:55am

The largest shareholder in nib, the only listed health insurer, says the $4b-plus float of Medibank Private is an attractive opportunity, but has warned investors against expecting immediate returns.

Is the time right to buy bank shares again?

Bianca Hartge-Hazelman 11:07am

Banks have been driving the broader market's recovery, but many analysts question how much higher their share prices can go ahead of earnings season.

US Wall St extends rebound on earnings, ECB report
Currencies New Bitcoin exchange launches in Sydney
China China's economic growth near six-year low
Markets IBM plunges as 2015 earnings forecast ditched
Energy Oil price fall won't break shale industry's back
Diary Australian business calendar October 20 - 24

Murray inquiry has investors split on bank stocks

Search Quotes & Charts

The Economy

Consumer prices up 0.5% as fruit prices surge

MARK MULLIGAN 2:20pm

Consumer prices edged 0.5 per cent higher in the September quarter, as rises in the cost of fruit, houses, property rates, and vehicle charges were offset by falls in electricity and petrol.

Weak jobs, high $A should lead to cut: expert

VESNA POLJAK 5:52am

Eco Global jitters weigh on RBA
House prices to encourage spending: ANZ
Mining Western Australia's doing it tough, says Kerry Stokes
Contains: total comments 7
Economy Cost cutting tells tale of waning confidence
Interest rates Deutsche Bank sees further rate cut next year
Economy Cheers and jeers for RBA's Guy Debelle
Contains: poll

Retail

Super Retail Group get solid start, despite outdoor falls

Sue Mitchell 10:55am

Super Retail Group has started the new financial year on a solid note, reporting stronger same-store sales growth in its two biggest divisions, auto accessories and sporting goods.

Big W not for sale, says Woolworths

Sue Mitchell 8:51am

Woolworths has categorically rejected a report that it is considering selling BIG W, saying the discount department store chain is integral to its growth strategy.

Banking & Finance

Planning scandal threatens CBA service title

James Eyers

Commonwealth Bank of Australia is within a whisker of losing its coveted No.1 ranking for overall customer satisfaction in retail banking.

ASIC will keep a watchful eye

GEORGIA WILKINS

The corporate watchdog will target the financial planning arms of the big four banks plus Macquarie and AMP as part of future surveillance of financial advice laws.

Mining & Resources

Canadian tax cut deflates Woodside's Browse liquefied natural gas project

Angela Macdonald-Smith 3:20pm

Woodside Petroleum's nascent ambitions to develop a $C15 billion ($15.14 billion) liquefied natural gas venture in western Canada have received a boost after British Columbia halved a proposed tax on gas export projects – but the same move could hinder its plans for the Browse floating project off Western Australia.

Women break into male-dominated mining

1:23pm

From female-only leadership training at Canada's Goldcorp to scholarships offered by South Africa's Lonmin, the world's third-largest platinum producer, mining companies are implementing initiatives aimed at guiding women into senior roles.

World Business

Apple shares jump as iPhone sales rise

Apple Inc forecast a strong holiday quarter after a better-than-expected 16 per cent jump in iPhone sales, and the strongest growth in Mac computer shipments in years helped the company surpass Wall Street's targets.

Investors plan $2.5 billion takeover of Reebok

A group of investors are planning to bid about 1.7 billion euros for sports-goods giant Adidas' Reebok unit, a report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

China

China's economic growth near six-year low

China's economic growth cooled to 7.3 per cent between July and September from a year earlier, the weakest expansion since the global financial crisis.