Wall St slides amid global rout
US stocks decline as Japanese share plunge sparks sell-off in Europe, Asia.
•US jobless applications drop
•US home sales, prices rise in April
European stocks fall sharply
European markets close sharply lower in wake of plummeting Asian stocks.
•Aust stocks sink 2 per cent at close
•Asian shares close sharply lower
•Japanese stocks tumble more than 7 per cent
Aust dollar falls to 11-month lows
Local currency at lowest level since last June after US $ gains on Bernanke comments.
Crown exiting Echo Entertainment: report
Packer selling 10% share, despite winning regulatory approval this month to increase his holding to 23%.
Ford move pressures govt to lower manufacturing costs
Federal, state parties pushed to lower cost of manufacturing in Australia.
•Holden, Toyota recommit to Australia
•Ford closures a manufacturing watershed: AiG
•Elders calculates Ford effect on subsidiary
Volatility likely to persist for miners
Ernst & Young report warns miners to prepare for continued price, currency volatility.
Abbott will 'rescue' economy: Costello
Former treasurer calls Abbott's budget reply speech 'best in decades'.
Former First Lady Hazel Hawke passes away
Tributes pour in for former wife of Bob Hawke; PM, Abbott pay tribute.
British economy returns to growth
British economy avoids triple-dip recession in Q1.
Rio Tinto, Vale displacing Mozambicans: HRW
Report alleges miners are resettling citizens without homes, income.
Qld insists Gonski talks ongoing
State continues talks despite Coalition pledge to axe funding plan.
•Tasmania funds Gonski scheme
Bradley in box seat to head Infrastructure NSW
Former Liberal premier Nick Greiner steps down as chairman of body, as does chief Paul Broad.
Resources sector threatened by US shale gas: McKibbon
Economist warns expansion of US shale gas will drive down world gas prices.
James Hardie's full-year profit sinks
Group says operating environment in Australia likely to remain subdued.
Oppn hiding plans for spending cuts: Wong
Finance minister says Hockey needs to be up front with fiscal plans.
Job losses expected in Telstra restructure
Telco poised to announce how many of its 30,000 staff will be affected by changes.
Slipper pleads not guilty in ACT court
Former speaker set to defend charges of cab voucher misuse in Dec trial.
Aust being sucked into currency war: OECD official
Economist says Aust is paying price for European, US, Asian actions.
AACo fails to sell Brighton Downs
Cattle farmer continuing negotiations with parties after failure at auction.
HP records slide in Q2 profit
California-based company hit by dramatic slump in personal computer sales.
KGB TV: Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey
Companies
Politics
Ford move pressures govt to lower manufacturing costs
Former First Lady Hazel Hawke passes away
Tasmania funds Gonski scheme
Qld insists Gonski talks ongoing
Bradley in box seat to head Infrastructure NSW
Carbon tax factor in Ford move: Abbott
Slipper pleads not guilty in ACT court
Napthine vows to assist axed Ford workers
The Spectators
Wincing as Ben hovers over a QE bandaid
When Ben Bernanke finally makes a substantial call on the future of QE, the question is just how widespread the ruptures will be from shifting markets.
Running on empty, Ford abandons its vehicles
Despite substantial investment from carmakers and government, the industry’s survival to this point has defied its economic reality. Now Ford's decision will trigger a domino effect.
Ford's not the end for Australian cars
The developed-world revitalisation of some of Ford’s peers shows its decision doesn't have to be the beginning of the end for Australian auto manufacturers.
A tiny Ford bump along Australia's economic highway
Ford lost touch with consumers, as often happens with protected industries. And while its exit from Australia is a political drama, its economic significance, nationally, is actually quite mild.
FAMILY BIZ: Cut from the family cloth
Henry Bucks' strategy has always been to get customers young and keep them for life. And its family owners are comfortable in their fifth generation while other retailers drop like flies.
What's the range on Bernanke's binoculars?
Ben Bernanke's testimony to Congress acknowledged the risk of keeping rates low for too long, but with unemployment and inflation well short of Fed targets it's still a case of 'wait and see'.
CLIMATE SPECTATOR: Labor must fight for the carbon price
Rumours suggest Labor could be prepared to ditch carbon pricing after the election. That would be a political and ethical mistake.
Partisan stories leave Australia defenceless
Both sides of politics have an interest in pretending Australian prosperity was their handiwork. But before long, global headwinds will reveal Australia’s true position.
Dodgy brakes see mining miss the peak
New research suggests resources investment may have already peaked, painting an urgent mining sector crunch made worse by labour hurdles and management haste.