Samarco sees preliminary license soon

• 41 mins ago

​Brazilian iron ore miner Samarco Mineracao expects to receive a preliminary environmental license in the first quarter.

The 47 toys too dangerous for Christmas

A Thomas the Tank Engine train, a Minion toy rifle and 45 other dangerous toys will be destroyed by a steamroller as part of an annual product safety blitz.

What does the Adani project actually mean for Queensland?

Adani's Carmichael mine and rail project has been touted as a massive boost for Queensland's economy.

Experts think economy has gone backwards

Financial market analysts believe the economy went backwards immediately after the July election, ending 5 years of continuous growth and calling into question the government's repeated promise to "deliver jobs and growth".

Why I'm a pathological optimist, despite my job

Last week in front of 1400 people at a Fairfax Media subscriber event I was outed as a "pathological optimist" by an anonymous reader, who wanted to know how I got that way.

Chinese property heavyweight in billion-dollar buy-up

Chinese property heavyweight Dahua Group has outmuscled local developers to snap up a billion-dollar land pipeline.

No one spared in Surfstitch wipeout

Surfstitch investors were calling for accountability at its recent AGM after suffering one of the worst IPO wipe outs of the decade - and boy have they got it.

Yes women want to be CEOs, even when they have children

• COMMENT

Women and men are not always supported in their desire for work flexibility. There's stigmas, and much resistance.

NAB's former star's demise now complete

• COMMENT

"Who do you think you f---ing are? ... If you try to get me, I'm going to throw you under the f---ing bus."

Has the 'great rotation' to equities begun?

All around the world, investors are asking: is this it?

BHP beats big oil with Mexico punt

A punt on Mexican oil may be the solution to BHP's declining oil production rates.

How the surf brands missed the wellness wave

Surfstitch founders Lex Pedersen and Justin Stone have quit the board of the troubled action sports group amid mounting criticism of a series of costly acquisitions.

Investors are paying up for unlisted infrastructure assets

The gap between listed and unlisted is definitely wide, but that's almost impossible to measure.

Origin Energy spins off oil, gas business

Origin Energy will sell its oil and gas business to focus on its energy markets and LNG business, a move that will cheer many investors.

Uniting Church's $1 billion development plan

The Uniting Church is poised to sell up to 65 properties worth around $80 million as part of a $1 billion development program.

Time to scrap Telstra's $3 billion 'gravy train'

Telstra is likely to lose billions of dollars in funding over the next 20 years if the government backs a recommendation to scrap a requirement on the telco to provide "universal access" to telephone lines and payphones.

Origin Energy shares surge on news of oil and gas spin-off

Investors responded positively to Origin Energy's decision to spin off its portfolio of conventional oil and gas assets, pushing the company's share price by 2.49 per cent on Tuesday to $6.58.

Miners lead ASX rebound

A lift in commodity prices saw investors pile back into shares on Tuesday, with miners and industrials leading the charge.

Cover-up culture plaguing corporate Australia, inquiry told

A cover-up mentality is plaguing corporate Australia, an inquiry has heard, with companies choosing to investigate claims of fraud themselves rather than report them to regulators.

Why your airline can't always say there are 'no refunds'

Choice alleges one consumer was charged $861.72 when he decided to cancel two Qantas tickets to New York, following three separate changes to his flight time that were instigated by the airline.

Developer pays $6m to unite West Melbourne blocks

Beijing-based developer Holder East has snapped up a vacant King Street block before it sold at auction, to add to a development site next door.

Markets Live: Miners lead ASX rebound

Shares rebound led by the miners as commodity prices rise, while the AUD shrugs off expectations of negative quarterly growth.

RBA holds rates amid fears of negative growth

The RBA kept its cash rate on hold in the lead-up to Christmas, playing down concerns over sliding business investment and a likely collapse in economic growth to keep the rate at 1.5 per cent.

Mixed reactions to the Adani Carmichael project

Australian Marine Conservation Society community campaigner Cherry Muddle said the mine would have a devastating impact on the Great Barrier Reef and tourism jobs.

'Wake-up call for Canberra': brace for negative growth

Brace for the first quarter of negative economic growth in five years, and only the fourth in Australia's enviable run of 100 quarters without a recession.

Do you get less than a Silicon Valley rookie?

An Australian IT student's research into what his fellow engineers are being offered by Silicon Valley is illuminating.

In a sellers' market, why are vendors being contract mugs?

• COMMENT

Vendors are signing real estate agency agreements that read as if the agents are doing a massive personal favour listing the property. And this when most properties in the hotter markets are close to selling themselves.

'The support staff don't have any idea': New ISP drowning in complaints

MyRepublic customers say the five to 20 days timeframe to be connected to the new service is "ridiculous" and "a problem".

Adani mine project moves forward

Jobs, regional investement, and the battle against climate change... all will benefit, say Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Adani CEO Jeyakumar Janakaraj at an announcement in Townsville. Vision courtesy ABC News 24