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).
Ben Bernanke's testimony to Congress acknowledged the risk of keeping rates low for too long, but with unemployment and inflation well short of Fed targets it's still a case of 'wait and see'.
Many Asian countries are being forced into overseas acquisitions to meet their energy needs, and the transactions are proving both profitable and strategic.
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.
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.
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.
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.
With Labor having problems with its carbon pricing scheme and the Coalition's Direct Action plan facing heavy criticism, it might be wise to build on our most successful climate policy – the Howard-introduced RET.
A change to the way Australia’s emissions are accounted for may make it a lot easier for us to meet our 2020 emissions reduction target. It could prove to be a big gift to the Coalition.
While trade battles continue to brew in solar, there's some good news seen in US wind linked to Warren Buffett and great news in the form of clean energy stocks soaring to heights not seen for a couple of years.
Expectations for the carbon price in 2015/16 have been slashed but Treasury remains confident – perhaps too confident – the price will rise strongly through to 2020. In the meantime, climate programs and assistance will take a hit.
Origin Energy CEO Grant King needs to be careful playing-up fears of industry exits due to carbon pollution policies. Such fears could drive government to reserve gas for domestic use to stave off LNG-induced gas price rises.
Despite today's move to scrap tax cuts from 2015, households will still be overcompensated for the carbon price. The public, however, won't grasp this reality, and the government really only has itself to blame.
The geographical balance of power in the clean energy sector is tilting gradually toward new emerging markets, with the likes of Brazil and Sotuh Africa showing real intent for renewables expansion.
Greg Combet and Greg Hunt are both partially right when criticising their opposing climate policies. In truth, if we are serious about shifting to a secure power system of the future, we need a local carbon price without linking to the EU ETS.
