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).
The market was already factoring in a tapering of QE before Ben Bernanke's comments last night, and the fact we saw a mass exodus from risk assets suggests the Fed's program might have worked too well.
Bad loans in China's provincial businesses have been as high as 80 per cent because rural banks are beholden to the demands of local officials. It is critical for China's rural development that these banks stop receiving bailouts.
The market was already factoring in a tapering of QE before Ben Bernanke's comments last night, and the fact we saw a mass exodus from risk assets suggests the Fed's program might have worked too well.
The implementation of Queensland’s Health Payroll system will be remembered as one of the most disastrous IT projects in Australia's history. How did things go wrong? And is a $1.25 billion lesson enough to ensure that the bungle isn't repeated?
Labor’s ambitious NBN vision looks to be on its last legs but that hasn't stopped NBN Co from carrying on with its business. The Coalition isn't going to like the new Transfield deal but then again it has bigger fish to fry right now.
The implementation of Queensland’s Health Payroll system will be remembered as one of the most disastrous IT projects in Australia's history. How did things go wrong? And is a $1.25 billion lesson enough to ensure that the bungle isn't repeated?
A final evaluation from the Central Victorian Solar City provides another insight into the household electricity demand fall – and the potential for further reductions.
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.
Hopes for a 'G2' on the back of Barack Obama and Xi Jinping’s summit will be sorely disappointed. The prospect of a serious conflict between the US and China is very real.
Julia Gillard’s budget missed forecasts by miles because of misguided notions about Chinese urbanisation and iron ore consumption that are still widely accepted in Australia.
China shocked many when it reached out to get involved in Middle Eastern politics, but its strategic interests in the region are too big for it to keep a low profile any longer.
Any idea that a currency conversion deal between Australia and China heralds the yuan's genuine internationalisation is overblown and will remain so until Beijing drastically liberalises its markets.
Central bank chief Zhou Xiaochuan has a progressive view on economic reform. Why, then, did the conservative politburo bend the rules to postpone his retirement?
Beijing must cede more control to move China towards a stronger and fairer economic model, based on private consumption. Wen Jiabao’s last major speech as Premier suggested courage may still be lacking.
Trivialisation of India's progress in favour of its huge neighbour to the north misses the real story about the countries' relative freedom, economic equality and political corruption.
Those who believe China's great rebalancing will solve its ills fail to understand the consequences of growing inequality. The only consumers are the already rich, funded by the bureaucratic industrial complex.
The most recent official Chinese economic data is riddled with convenient contradictions, so while the outlook appears generally bright, investors had better conduct thorough due diligence.
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.
Austerity measures for China's military shows how keenly Beijing wants to be seen clamping down on corruption. But proper economic rebalancing requires a far broader attack.
Opinion is growing in Japan that it should no longer bow to Chinese regional assertiveness and instead stand up to its larger neighbour. Many believe Shinzo Abe is the right man for the job.
Few analysts in Asia see the region's collective rise as inevitable or even probable. And underestimating labour, capital and political challenges will only lead to missed opportunities for Australia.
Western governments are right to be very cautious about cyber security when it comes to firms like Huawei. Until the firm commits to greater transparency, the risks are too high.
Assumptions about China dominating an Asian Century ignore its rapidly aging population. It's an issue with huge ramifications for China's rebalancing and one the country is woefully unprepared for.
China's recently announced fiscal stimulus won't be enough to achieve a 'soft landing', but neither can the country repeat the boom of past years. This time around a more nuanced response is required.
