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).

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.

Morgan Stanley says those who have shorted copper may see the fundamental turn on them.

There has been no halt to the Australian dollar's slide but one analyst says it's unlikely to drop to a level where it would greatly affect competitiveness.

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.

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.

Reports by the Parliamentary Budget Office and Treasury confirmed Labor has blown out a structural budget deficit that began under John Howard's government, and the next government has quite a job on its hands.

ANZ Banking Group may be keen to adopt the IBM Watson's big data technology but is the bank falling for a 'smoke and mirrors' trick.

The political stoush about how much bandwidth Australians might need in the coming years threatens to stifle the conversation needed to deliver the services of the future.

This week China has outlined details of its first carbon trading scheme while its National Development and Reform Commission has recommended an absolute cap on emissions. The moves represent major signs of progress.

In theory, carbon capture would allow energy producers to continue to burn fossil fuels while meeting emissions targets. In practice, the technology is expensive and unproven.

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 PolicySomeone once suggested that I look at some of Farage's speeches in the EU Parliament for a good laugh. Yes his forth right way was interesting. However underlying it all was his constant reference to the lack of democracy within the EU. He also had a good line on the way former East European Communists had set up voting blocks and were controlling the Parliament (Yes minister, Britain wants to stay, January 3).
Probably the worst aspect of the EU is its tendancy towards imposing nanny type regulations and laws. Then there is the ECHR which really has made life difficult for many. It all fits the Europeans view on governance wonderfully, but not it seems the British people and their bottom up style of politics.
Norway and Switzerland sit outside the EU but have a linked relationship especially for trade. If UK could achieve the samething, then as a net donor rather than reciever of largess, they would be better out of it.
There are only so many times on can threaten to leave before the menace is no longer taken seriously, and leaving becomes the only option (Yes minister, Britain wants to stay, January 3).
This is the position Britain is in.