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).
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.
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.
Commodities regained some ground overnight but in the long term China's rising minerals demand is not sustainable. If our mining costs stay high our markets will be heading for a fall.
Fund managers are playing a pivotal role in the dollar’s pricing. If they decide to jump off so will everyone else – and a sharp fall will be unavoidable.
A budget storm is brewing. The mining boom is winding down and Australians will have to pay back what they were given in personal tax cuts, stimulus cheques, one-off bonuses and household compensation.
As the price of gold sinks fast, some analysts believe $US1300 is the point at which many Australian miners will begin to make losses – but which ones?
International security is back on the minds of global investors after the Boston bombing. Combined with poor Chinese data, the rationale for a sell-off is gathering momentum.
