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).

Many Asian countries are being forced into overseas acquisitions to meet their energy needs, and the transactions are proving both profitable and strategic.

Martin Parkinson has provided some insight into how Treasury muffed its forecasts and cornered the treasurer, citing dollar behaviour, Asian growth mix-ups and miner optimism.

Many Asian countries are being forced into overseas acquisitions to meet their energy needs, and the transactions are proving both profitable and strategic.

Infrastructure and environmental services company Cardno is warning that the outlook for Australia's mining sector is worse than elsewhere.

Martin Parkinson has provided some insight into how Treasury muffed its forecasts and cornered the treasurer, citing dollar behaviour, Asian growth mix-ups and miner optimism.

Lack of federal budget transparency has allowed profligacy on both sides of politics, and while the Coalition has a plan for reform its hopes for a revenue jump are shaky.

The communications giant has laid out its plan to adjust to a more competitive digital environment while also easing exposure to its traditional platform-centric business.

Microsoft's next generation gaming console feels like a carbon copy of its predecessor. But its features also reveal Microsoft’s new intent, the Xbox One aspires to be something far more important.

Senator Xenophon is likely to hold the keys to repeal the carbon price. But in repealing it he could readily reconfigure Direct Action into an emissions trading scheme by stealth.

As its nuclear sector takes another blow, Japan's solar commitment could see it become the world's biggest solar market this year.

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 PolicyAdam Carr's not so bullish today (SCOREBOARD: Jobs jolt, May 3). Is the weight of negative data finally worrying him? The "we have nothing to fear but fear itself" mantra sounds cute, but we have plenty to fear. The GFC is ongoing. It's not a "crisis of confidence", it's a crisis of debt. The impressive rise in the Dow is due to the flood of printed cash from the Fed, not that the US is "getting back to normal". You have to put your free money somewhere, and bank interest in the US dollar is about zero. But the "recovery" has been built on a stunning rise in US Federal debt – 64 per cent in about three years. These numbers are staggering. They have no idea how to resolve this. It's not OK! And now the recovery isn't so good. And now Europe is unravelling.
Whistling a happy tune and "positive thinking" won't cut it. This is real.
M W is spot on (May 3, 9.26am). The debt fuelled growth of the past (both private and government.) will take decades to unravel/deleverage and the worst is yet to come (SCOREBOARD: Jobs jolt, April 3).
Very true, MW (May 3, 9.26am). At some point the debt has to be repaid. Printing funny money delays the inevitable crash and the current uncertainty prevents a true recovery.
Great comments, it's so true that keep calm and carry on mantra ignores the debt (SCOREBOARD: Jobs jolt, May 3). The fact that if any government or bank had the magic fountain of easy credit switched off the lack of foundations would become apparent as quickly as it did in 2008. We have to remember that Adam's articles are based around trading and hence the presumption of good times can sometimes sustain rallies that traders can make money off regardless of the farcical nature of the big picture.
If Adam is less bullish and a bit worried now because of overseas data, just imagine what he's going to be like in January after the budget cuts and carbon tax numbers hit the Australian economy (SCOREBOARD: Jobs jolt, May 3).