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).

Private equity investors are looking to coal mines for their next big win. If they can turnaround chronic mismanagement they'll set an example for other industries.

The bond market is understandably jumpy about what Ben Bernanke says tonight but the Fed is unlikely to abandon its control of the 'biggest bond bubble' in history.

Housing starts in the US continued to show solid, if slowing gains, while commodities take their ease as equities rise.

Australian retirees are ripe for a switch from stocks to bonds, says Challenger.

Labor is due for a comeuppance at the election but Julia Gillard's political failings are just one of the party's crimes to come out of this wayward parliament.

The way the media and independents are calling it, the Coalition is late for a very important date – running the country.

The rise of e-books potentially spells doom for physical books but are we ready to pay the price for that transition?

Google's pilot program to offer internet access through a network of balloons isn't as crazy as it sounds. In fact it's another example of how combining out-of-the-box thinking with a big budget can lead to interesting innovation.

Wind power is being subject to an effective scare campaign similar to that executed against the carbon tax. Even though the people involved represent a small minority they are influential.

Heavy rain has once again impacted the Yallourn coal mine, the first CEFC investment may have been identified, Waterloo gets the expansion go-ahead, a new solar farm is planned for Queensland and Siemens makes a final move out of solar.

CEOs outline changing views on corporate spending and profits, their economic expectations and political dissatisfaction, including advice for Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott.

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.
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Comments on this article
Comments PolicyExcellent as always. I found the link to your August 2011 article added an extra depth of intrigue and explanation as to why the future of the euro was the price for one Germany (Hallmarks of an EU power play, January 24).
I thought the European Union was brought about for one simple but lofty ideal: to end the disgraceful history of two thousand odd years of brutal inter-European war (Hallmarks of an EU power play, January 24). The economics of the region are a consequence of that Union. And it seems to me to be working so far. There's no war between euro members and more countries still lining up to join.
Once again it is very useful to dig deeper in the past to better explain the present. However, what is missing from the article is what the author expects to happen now and whether there is a solution (Hallmarks of an EU power play, January 24). From all accounts it is difficult to see the situation getting any better before it gets a lot worse. While there is unlikely to be any war between euro countries, increased hardship and poverty are likely to occur for many.