Clothing

Offer for Billabong hanging in

Colin Kruger The odds are firming on Billabong receiving a concrete bid when exclusive talks end next week.

Economy

Retail rally tipped to flow on to liquor

Colin Kruger Australians are starting to spend big again and the news could not be better for the liquor industry.

Retail

Consumers spending big - cheers to that

Colin Kruger Australians are spending on large white goods again, indicating other retailers can expect better business.

Gaming

Regulator delays Crown stake decision

Colin Kruger James Packer will have to wait at least another month to see whether Crown will be able to lift its stake in Echo Entertainment.

Retail

Reject Shop steps up push for more stores

Colin Kruger Discount retailer The Reject Shop went into a trading halt on Tuesday and announced plans to raise $40 million to fund its accelerated store rollout program into 2014 despite reporting that retail...

Gambling

Waterhouse defends high-profile role

Colin Kruger Controversial bookmaker Tom Waterhouse, has come out in defence of his high-profile marketing and promotion of sports betting during the broadcasts of Australia's most popular sports.

Surfwear

Billabong denies takeover talks stalled

Colin Kruger Billabong said it is on track to update the market on the status of exclusive talks on a potential takeover bid after exclusivity period ends this evening.

Gambling

Packer ponders bet on move into Sri Lanka

Colin Kruger Sydney Harbour development Barangaroo is not the only casino project on James Packer's radar.

Media

Just a matter of when for TV mergers

Colin Kruger Jeffrey Browne's resignation this week as chairman of FreeTV Australia, sends a clear signal.

Betting

Online bookies bank on marketing

Colin Kruger Australia's online betting operators, including Tom Waterhouse, spent $90 million on marketing their services last year.

Retail

'Compelling evidence' of insolvent trading

Colin Kruger The administrators of Retail Adventures - owned by Kathmandu founder Jan Cameron - have informed the corporate watchdog of possible breaches of directors' duties at the company, with investigations...

Retail

'Compelling evidence' of insolvent trading

Colin Kruger The administrators of Retail Adventures - owned by Kathmandu founder Jan Cameron - have informed the corporate watchdog of possible breaches of directors' duties at the company, with investigations...

Liquidation

Few crumbs for cookie creditors

Colin Kruger The corporate shell of the Byron Bay Cookie Company is now in liquidation after the Tax Office fended off attempts by its previous management to regain control.

Gaming

CVC looking at takeover bid for Betfair

Colin Kruger The UK-listed shares of Betfair jumped 12 per cent on Monday on talk of a £800 million bid.

Gambling

CVC mulls $1.2b bid for Betfair

Colin Kruger The private equity owner of Formula One racing, which owned the Nine Network, is considering a takeover bid for gambling group Betfair - another venture associated with James Packer.

Television

Ten's boss confident that free-to-air TV holds appeal

Colin Kruger With low ratings, falling revenue and no major sport to cover, it's all uphill for Ten.

Retail

Another Billabong share wipeout

Colin Kruger A paltry $287 million offer for Billabong was not enough to set a floor under the embattled shares.

Media

Ten gets back to basics after $243m loss

Colin Kruger Ten Network chief executive Hamish McLennan has signalled there will be no big changes.

Ten drops 'extreme youth focus'

Colin Kruger Ten boss says the network will shift its focus to a ''slightly older skew", shunning the audience that saw it produce failures like Being Lara Bingle.