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Economy ‘lacks clear driver of growth’
Falling real incomes in Australia and global growth concerns are undermining corporate and consumer confidence and putting at risk the government’s fiscal objectives. A panel of experts at the Australasian conference said sluggish domestic consumption and investments meant the export sector would have to do more of the heavy lifting if Australia is to sustain growth rates of around 3 per cent.
US equities edge higher, RBA awaited
![US equities edge higher, RBA awaited](/web/20141020201454im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image/2009-2014/AFR/2014/10/16/Photos/c30e4050-5571-11e4-9d7b-56229e45d429_bell_180x120.jpg)
Before the Bell | Equity markets in the US were mostly higher, lifted by Apple, as local investors await the latest meeting minutes from the RBA ■ SPI futures up 14 pts ■ $A at SU87.95¢.
Food bowl vision cut down to size
A raft of proposals including tax breaks, permanent cheap loans and a clamp down on supermarkets in a new agricultural paper are unlikely to ever see the light of day, the paper says.
PEP offloading $615m Veda stake
Private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners was seeking bids for its 30 per cent stake in credit reporting business Veda Group after market on Monday. The shares are expected to be sold by Tuesday morning.
Bitcoin start-up Living Room of Satoshi killed by tax ruling
![Bitcoin start-up Living Room of Satoshi killed by tax ruling](/web/20141020201454im_/http://www.afr.com/rf/image_lowres/2009-2014/AFR/2014/10/20/Photos/d7972eca-583b-11e4-8001-994aff696431_200191223--90x60.jpg)
A GST charge of 10 per cent and definition of cryptocurrency as a commodity forces operator to close doors.
Cabcharge rejects $500m offer for taxi payments unit
Cabcharge Australia has rejected a confidential $500 million bid for its under-pressure taxi payments business. It is understood Fleetcor took the offer to Cabcharge in the past two months.
OneVentures seeks start-ups for $100m fund
Tech-focused venture capital fund OneVentures is on the hunt for tech entrepreneurs to back with crucial second-stage start-up funding after passing the $60 million mark on the way to a new $100 million fund.
Paypal offers olive branch to banks
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PayPal Australia CEO, Jeff Clementz, wants to increase the size of the business loans it will offer through its new online working capital facility by partnering with local banks.
Santos does ‘social good’: ANU’s Evans
Australian National University chancellor Gareth Evans has conceded that Santos contributes to “the social good” despite the university culling the oil and gas producer from its investments for causing “social harm”.
Government encourages JLMs to go offshore
Medibank Private’s three joint lead managers will be paid twice as much for selling shares to offshore investors than domestic institutions.
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Tinder flirting may open new doors to recruiting
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Lucy Kellaway | We are hopeless at hiring. Deep down, we know it’s true, but we have to pretend it isn’t because we spend so much time doing it.
Boris makes a Bundall from Goldie investment
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Rear Window | Daily Telegraph editor Paul “Boris” Whittaker has a direct line to the Prime Minister. Just ask him. Actually, you won’t need to.
Employee on murder charge is no banker: ANZ
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ANZ says the so-called “investment banker” charged with murder works in a call centre.
Vice News opens in Australia
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Youth publisher Vice Media has chosen Australia as one of seven new bureaus it will open around the globe to feed video and multimedia content back into its rapidly growing Vice News business.
Rich listers join tech-age taxi race
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Adele Ferguson | Some of the country’s most successful entrepreneurs have backed an equity raising of taxi booking and payments app goCatch in the race to “break apart” the $5.4 billion taxi industry.
Zombie lectures must die
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Opinion | Across Australia, an eerie silence is falling over university campus lecture halls.
Party over for Jackie Kelly
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Rear Window | Former federal minister Jackie Kelly quit the Liberal Party last week. We doubt the party emitted any howls of grief.
Japan unveils first passenger jet
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Japan has unveiled its first passenger jet after a delay of almost four years, with a helping hand from bullet-train specialists.
Avoid buyer’s regret after auction
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It’s easy to get caught up in auctions, so plan to make your purchase one that will pay off.
Why women choose the burqa
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Sahar Amer says for most Muslim women, covering the face is a matter of choice, which she wrote a book to explain.
National
Economy ‘lacks clear driver of growth’
Falling real incomes in Australia and global growth concerns are undermining corporate and consumer confidence and putting at risk the government’s fiscal objectives.
- Food bowl vision cut down to size
- Melbourne’s Anglicans out of fossil fuels in two years
- Street fighter recognises rough economic times
- ASIC takes aim at financial planning arms
- Newman dismisses report that his MPs are for sale
- China and US ramp up pressure
- Michael Cheika checks the right Wallabies coach boxes
- Senate told of risks to budget, including Ebola
Opinion
Credit tightening a signal for Hockey
![Angus Grigg Angus Grigg](/web/20141020201454im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/angus_grigg_small.jpg)
When Treasurer Joe Hockey lands in Beijing on Tuesday morning he could do worse than seek out Stephen Joske.
Traders feeling for bottom lines
![John Wasiliev John Wasiliev](/web/20141020201454im_/http://www.afr.com/rw/SysConfig/WebPortal/afr/_files/images/columns/john_wasiliev_small.jpg)
Derivative traders have gone bargain hunting, speculating on whether last week’s low was a major bottom or if a deeper decline is to come.
World
IBM drops after abandoning earnings target
International Business Machines reported a marked slowdown in business in September and abandoned its 2015 operating earnings target amid a sudden slump in sales.
- Hundreds remain on US Ebola watch list
- Widodo sworn in as Indonesia president as line-up waited
- Wave of confidence: Abbott
- Chinese government looks to strengthen rule of law
- Flirting with Tinder may open new doors to recruiting
- Modi’s party gains in key Indian state polls
- Bhutto Zardari rallies supporters
- Brazil’s Rousseff goes on the offensive
Business
PEP offloading $615m Veda stake
Private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners was seeking bids for its 30 per cent stake in credit reporting business Veda Group after market on Monday. The shares are expected to be sold by Tuesday morning.
- Transfield Services gets takeover bid from Ferrovial
- Coles and Woolworths face further losses in ACCC crackdown
- Can George Savvides keep Medibank in good health?
- David Jones hits the country road
- ASIC takes aim at financial planning arms
- Paypal offers olive branch to banks
- Parts supplier Burson Group revives Veale Auto WA option
- Vodafone dials up Fairfax, Spotify to lure back customers
- Merger option for crash king
Technology
IBM drops after abandoning earnings target
International Business Machines reported a marked slowdown in business in September and abandoned its 2015 operating earnings target amid a sudden slump in sales.
- Spring.me poses big questions as pre-IPO raising kicks off
- Are we ready for driverless cars?
- Follow the start-up dream without quitting the day job
- Bitcoin start-up Living Room of Satoshi killed by tax ruling
- Future-proofing CBA’s technology
- Disposable app to assess your ‘health age’
- Corporate Australia ready and willing to drive innovation
- Plenty to like but Apple’s Yosemite is rough round the edges
- Race on for technology-age taxi dollars
Markets
US equities edge higher, RBA awaited
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Before the Bell | Equity markets in the US were mostly higher, lifted by Apple, as local investors await the latest meeting minutes from the RBA ■ SPI futures up 14 pts ■ $A at SU87.95¢.
- PEP offloading $615m Veda stake
- S&P;, Nasdaq climb but IBM results weigh on Dow
- Copper slips, nickel falls to seven-month low
- More drive needed to keep Australia on crest of LNG wave
- US natural gas: divest and conquer
- Fidelity Contrafund’s Facebook bet paying off
- Einhorn drives higher Greek banks, Sunedison
- Euro zone stagnation is a greater threat than debt
- European stocks paced lower by tech stocks
Personal finance
More people are bequeathing before death
Australia may be on the cusp of the biggest intergenerational wealth transfer in history but a large part of people’s inheritance is likely to come from a “warm” hand rather than a cold one.
- Fashion connections: online start-ups rock the frock
- Get family on board with helping others
- Investors their own big risk in a wild market
- Wardrobe a bit wan? Dial a stylist
- Spot the difference: ethical v mainstream funds
- Be informed and aware if divorce is looming
- Prestige car makers know how to soften the blow
Latest TV
Medibank float could reap $5.5b
Potential Medibank investors are excited, but should you wait till after the health insurer lists?
Super Saturday the ultimate test
Contrasting property analysis is sending mixed messages to the market as it prepares for a Super Saturday.
Cormannator takes on "girlie man" Shorten
Finance minister Matthias Cormann channels Arnie with his "girlie man" jibe at Bill Shorten.
Global recovery concerns
Australian shares are expected to start the week on a positive note despite global economic recovery doubts.