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).
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.
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Infrastructure and environmental services company Cardno is warning that the outlook for Australia's mining sector is worse than elsewhere.
Commodity woes and a disconnect between earnings and share valuations has seen Citigroup downgrade the Australian market.
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.
There are growing claims that China is, via cyber-espionage, building its economy on the private sector secrets of America. The issue looks set to lead Secretary John Kerry's priorities in his new role.
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Comments on this article
Comments PolicyThank you for a coherent lucid article on what is going to shape up as a major issue. Cyber crime affects us all one way or another (Kerry's mandate for a cyber-China crackdown, January 9). The US, is accused (though there is no proof) of introducing a virus into the computers driving the Iranian Nuclear Program and if this is so, I am sure they can retaliate in kind! We live in interesting times!
Ok. So the Chinese lie, cheat, & steal. They suppress their own people through censorship, torture, & incarceration. Their closest international ties come in the form of North Korea, Iran, & Pakistan.
Can someone please then tell me why on earth we are selling off our most prized strategic assets to them? (Kerry's mandate for a cyber-China crackdown, January 9.)
Apart from the above arguments, can anyone imagine the Chinese allowing an Australian sovereign wealth fund to buy up THEIR mines, power stations, our agricultural land?
Enough is enough. We need to develop courageous strategies and long term visions to benefit Australia, not some belligerent neighbour.
To add to John Citizen - can we also explain why our government is using Chinese satellites for our military? (Kerry's mandate for a cyber-China crackdown, January 10.)