Aust stocks post worst week of '13
Local market tumbles below key 5000 threshold as financials continue to drag.
Wall St flat amid global jitters
US markets close flat, struggle to recover from global volatility.
Govt told before 2012 funding that Ford would shutter plants: report
Report suggests Labor knew funding would not convince Ford to keep plants open beyond 2016.
•PM agrees to auto summit
Crown eyes casino Plan B
If Crown loses Sydney bid it may challenge Echo in Brisbane: report.
•Crown confirms Echo exit
•Echo shares hit all-time low on Crown exit
Aust dollar dips in overnight trade
Markets continue to speculate on outlook for US monetary easing.
Vic premier pledges Geelong help
Napthine tells industry, business leaders there is 'some light at the end of the tunnel'.
•Ford to assist axed workers: Graziano
Majority of ASX100 firms operate subsidiaries in tax havens: report
Analysis calls for greater transparency on purpose of subsidiaries.
News Corp approves split
Board approves split of News Corp into two companies as of June 28.
Google eyes African, Asian markets
Tech giant reportedly targeting wireless networks in emerging markets.
Jobless youth need help: EU
EU president calls on European leaders to fight record youth unemployment.
The Australian appoints new chief
Business Spectator general manager, publisher Nicholas Gray takes helm.
•ORIGINAL TEXT: Nicholas Gray appointed chief of The Australian
Retail urges govt to restore consumer confidence
Australian Retailers Association calls for tax cuts, GST review to assist industry.
CFMEU found guilty over Emporium blockade
Supreme Court finds union was in contempt of court in 5 of 30 instances.
Liberals arrogant on election chances: Gillard
PM says Coalition confidence about winning in Sept 'out of control'.
•Abbott will 'rescue' economy: Costello
•ASIC appeals Storm court ruling
AACo sells Brighton Downs
Local pastoralists buy station after it is passed in at auction.
•AACo profit slumps in quarter
Brockman capacity to pay crux of FMG case
Junior's bid to force access to Fortescue's railway to hinge on funding ability.
Independent schools hit out at Gillard over Gonski
ISCA joins Catholic schools in querying the PM's funding of the Gonski reforms.
European stocks close lower
Markets continue to slide despite upbeat German, US data.
Asian shares close mixed
Fears of tighter US monetary policy, Chinese data prompt nervous trading.
- Home
-
Spectators
Alan Kohler
Alan Kohler is one of Australia’s most experienced commentators and journalists. Alan is the founder of Eureka Report, Australia’s most successful investment newsletter, and Business Spectator, a 24-hour free business news and commentary website. He also hosts Inside Business, a half-hour Sunday programme on the ABC, is the finance presenter on the ABC News - and producer of the nightly graph (or two).
-
Economy
Latest stories
EDITOR'S PICKS
In this week's essential reading guide Bartholomeusz predicts a Ford domino effect, Koukoulas runs the ruler over Australia's economy, Burgess foresees a carbon flip and Irvine surveys a Bernanke brainwave.
Do we want fewer, tougher tax men?
There is room for reform at the nation's tax office but Joe Hockey's proposal to knock tax administration and policing into place could be counterproductive.
-
Markets
Latest stories
The benevolent market manipulator
A co-founder of corporate governance firm Ownership Matters, former journalist Martin Lawrence says he wants to help markets function better.
MARKETS SPECTATOR: Cromwell's conquest
Cromwell Property Group has successfully sold stock to help fund the purchase of seven NSW properties.
-
Politics
Latest stories
EDITOR'S PICKS
In this week's essential reading guide Bartholomeusz predicts a Ford domino effect, Koukoulas runs the ruler over Australia's economy, Burgess foresees a carbon flip and Irvine surveys a Bernanke brainwave.
Do we want fewer, tougher tax men?
There is room for reform at the nation's tax office but Joe Hockey's proposal to knock tax administration and policing into place could be counterproductive.
-
Technology
Latest stories
Cash splashes and crashes the tech sector way
In the ultra-fluid technology sector, many an acquisition shock has paid off – and vice versa. Yahoo's big cheque for Tumblr isn’t the only deal that may be judged differently in hindsight.
NetSuite aims for 'Cloud Nine'
The cloud ERP vendor is starting to move up the software as a service food chain but it will have to surmount a few hurdles before its ready for big time.
-
Climate
Latest stories
Stemming a race to the bottom
The Solar 2013 conference in Melbourne carries the theme of an industry trying to prevent a possible race to the bottom, where weaker firms damage the industry in compromising quality for price.
Abbott's billion dollar carbon headache
The reverberations from the Newman government’s bulldozing of Queensland’s vegetation protection laws will be felt in Canberra, with the Coalition's Direct Action plan now at risk of a $1 billion budget blow-out.
- Industries
-
Video
Latest videos
How to build a service business in China
King and Wood Malleson's China Partner David Olsson explains how Australian companies can tap into the huge demand... -
Knowledge Centre
Featured stories
Download the December CEO Pulse survey
CEOs outline changing views on corporate spending and profits, their economic expectations and political dissatisfaction, including advice for Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott.
TECHNOLOGY SPECTATOR: The audacious app trying to take over TV
UK-based Zeebox wants to be the intermediary for all social media-television interactions. It will not only have to lure viewers, but the networks themselves.
The Spectators
Do we want fewer, tougher tax men?
There is room for reform at the nation's tax office but Joe Hockey's proposal to knock tax administration and policing into place could be counterproductive.
WEEKEND ECONOMIST: June jitters
Consumer sentiment in decline suggests dissatisfaction with the federal budget has outweighed May's interest rate cut. Despite the currency's easing effect, there is scope to cut again in June.
Bet the Lodge: Polling power
This week's move in the betting markets highlights just how much bookies are dependent on poll swings – with the seat of New England the exception to the rule.
A silver leadership bullet that may hurt the head
Moves to subject chief executive candidates to frontal lobe testing are a step too far – and may create more problems than they solve.
Packer's new tack towards Sydney's crown
James Packer's dumping of his Echo stake raises questions about his strategy, but the shareholding was only one possible means to ultimate his casino goal.
The benevolent market manipulator
A co-founder of corporate governance firm Ownership Matters, former journalist Martin Lawrence says he wants to help markets function better.
Cash splashes and crashes the tech sector way
In the ultra-fluid technology sector, many an acquisition shock has paid off – and vice versa. Yahoo's big cheque for Tumblr isn’t the only deal that may be judged differently in hindsight.
CLIMATE SPECTATOR: Stemming a solar quality spiral
Customers don’t know the difference between quality and shoddy solar panels – and it’s costing the industry its reputation.