Brian Robins

AGL has been lifted by rising power prices as well as fewer numbers of customers switching supplier than their competitors.

Rising power prices fattens AGL's earnings

Rising wholesale power prices have helped energy utility AGL lift earnings and dividends

Global turmoil, China concerns have Rio worried

In a thinly reference to the new US president, Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto has warned of rising geo-political risk while also stating it expects China to continue to provide economic stimulus for much of the year ahead.

For 2016, Rio earned a net profit of $US4.6 billion, a reversal from the $US866 million loss in 2015.

Rio Tinto cash bonanza fails to trickle down to shareholders

Even with its coffers bulging,Rio Tinto has refrained from handing out too much of the spoils to shareholders.

Overall satisfaction with electricity services has declined.

Electricity customers not shopping around for a better deal

EXCLUSIVE

Opening up the electricity market to competition may have been touted by government as opening the door to lower bills, but large numbers of households are disengaged, with only a relatively modest number of families chasing cheaper suppliers

Milk prices are likely to rise as supply dries up.

Got milk? Dairy outlook brightens on supply crunch

The end may be in sight for the shake-out in the dairy industry which has pushed milk stocks to 20 year lows.

China's role in giving a boost to commodity prices is clear enough, but is it enough?

Economists believe commodity run is probably done

It is rare to find much unanimity among economists, but one of the few things they agree on is that the trough in commodity prices of 2016 will not be repeated. The question for now is how far will prices retreat, especially following the March quarter, which often marks a cyclical high.

James Hardie shares fell after poor December quarter earnings and a cut to its profit guidance.

Brian Robins

Business