Precious metals

Dismal week for gold

Gold fell for a seventh straight session on Friday, its longest losing streak in four years, as the US dollar rose to the highest since 2008.

Airlines

Operational costs weigh on Tiger

Discount carrier Tiger Airways reported a quarterly operating loss of $S15.1 million ($12.4 million) because of higher operational costs.

European stocks rebound on bargain hunting

Europe’s main stock markets have rebounded, with Frankfurt hitting arecord and Paris jumping above 4000 points for the first time since July 2011 as traders went bargain-hunting.

Oil rallies as US consumer sentiment rises

World oil prices have risen for the third day in a row after a better-than-expected reading on US consumer confidence boosted hopes for stronger energy demand.

Wall St

Records tumble as US stocks soar

US stocks continued their climb into uncharted territory, racking up the fourth week of gains in a row.

Tax

'Meeting of the minds' spares Tinkler

GARETH HUTCHENS The embattled coal baron Nathan Tinkler has reached an in-principle settlement with the Australian Tax Office over debts owed by several of his companies.

IVF

Expecting soon - Virtus waiting on IPO

Madeleine Heffernan It's an industry that mixes science, hope and big bucks. And now it's heading to the sharemarket, breaking a drought in big initial public offerings and lining the pockets of its private equity and medical owners.

Retailers raise fashion stakes with exclusive designer collaborations

PAULA JOYE It's the age of fashion democracy: luxury design at affordable prices. Ten years after Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld produced a collection for Swedish mass retailer H&M, high-end designer collaborations are no longer a trend but essential weapons in the fast fashion war.

Break-up could breathe new life into News

COLIN KRUGER Analysts say the split into two divisions may lead to a re-rating of the embattled publishing business, writes Colin Kruger.

World war spree is declared

MICHAEL WEST Here we are sitting pretty at the tail end of the biggest boom in history. What with interest rates at a 50-year low, unemployment at just 5.5 per cent, economic growth about 3 per cent and very little debt … you could be forgiven for thinking things were not too bad.

Mining

Argyle shows every facet, especially red

Kylie Williams Diamonds don't just come in all shapes and sizes: they come in a rainbow of colours.

Go with the flow and you should bag a valuable catch

MARCUS PADLEY If success in the sharemarket is being right 51 per cent of the time, then you don't need much of an edge to succeed.

Markets

Plummeting dollar, budget steal limelight

GARETH HUTCHENS The sharemarket lost ground this week, slipping 0.6 per cent, but the dollar stole the headlines after dropping like an anvil.

Companies

Trailing herd is a tale of woe

CHRISTOPHER WEBB Punters who like piggy-backing director buying - particularly multi-director buying - have discovered that sometimes it can be costly. Very costly.

Dodo founder cashed up for second strike

Marc Pallisco Melbourne's newest developer, Dodo founder Larry Kestelman, has made his second major property play.

Property

Investor set to double his money on three sites

SIMON JOHANSON A wealthy property investor who is selling three prime city development sites may nearly double his initial $47 million investment.

Property

US focus for Drapac funds

SIMON JOHANSON Australian property group Drapac is set to launch two investment funds to raise $50 million to invest in US real estate.

Media

Break-up could breathe new life into News

COLIN KRUGER Analysts say the split into two divisions may lead to a re-rating of the embattled publishing business.

China's State Grid powers up in Australia

MALCOLM MAIDEN In the electricity industry, Chinese government-owned State Grid Corporation is the global whale.

Media

Media groups forced to fix business model

COLIN KRUGER You do not need to look at News Corp's local operations to realise the media sector is engaging in radical change to survive the cyclical and structural headwinds.

Retail

China the new competitor in Australia's online sales

GEORGIA WILKINS As Australia's major retailers increase their online sales channels, they could face competition from China's booming e-commerce industry.

Tax

Tinkler resolves ATO debts

GARETH HUTCHENS Coal baron Nathan Tinkler has reached an in-principle settlement with the ATO over unpaid debts.

Retail

Wesfarmers shares fall short of their Target

GLENDA KWEK Wesfarmers shares suffer biggest fall in almost two years after the company sharply lowered Target's earnings forecast.

Wealth

Changing fortunes put Gates back on top

Alex Cuadros and Crayton Harrison Bill Gates is once again the world's richest person, recapturing the title from Carlos Slim.

Social media

Facebook battles mobile concerns

Brian Womack Facebook marked its first anniversary as a public company on Friday, and investors have little reason for merriment.

Mining

Foreign investors unhappy

PETER KER Big foreign investors turn up the heat on Australian regulators over a controversial stalled mining project in the nation's east.

Construction

Leighton facing write-downs class action

PHILIP WEN A class action lawsuit over more than $1 billion in profit write-downs will be added to the list of shareholder concerns when the Leighton board faces the annual meeting on Monday.

Biotechs

Virtus Health IPO has market back in the pink

Madeleine Heffernan It's an industry that mixes science, hope and big bucks. And now it's heading to the sharemarket.

Utilities

China makes $3b power play for energy network

BRIAN ROBINS Hard on the heels of its $500 million-plus purchase of a large stake in the power network in South Australia, China's State Grid has paid more than an estimated $3 billion for control of the main gas network in much of eastern Australia along with a one-fifth interest in SP AusNet.

Currencies

Dollar's slide mostly good

PETER KER For a moment, it seemed the high Australian dollar might join the cockroaches as the only survivor of nuclear winter.

Mining

When big miners tighten belts, large contractors feel the pinch

PHILIP WEN Although they saw it coming, even veteran mining contractors were surprised at how fast the well dried up.

Delayed return to surplus no worry - what causes it is

ROSS GITTINS Most of those who take a political approach to the budget assume that if it's in deficit, the way you get it back to surplus is to cut government spending.

China's calling - and we need chutzpah to go with wine and cheese

HAROLD MITCHELL In the famous 1975 ''Thrilla In Manilla'', Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier slugged it out in the greatest boxing match of all time.

Hostilities boil over into world war spree

MICHAEL WEST Here we are sitting pretty at the tail end of the biggest boom in history. You could be forgiven for thinking things were not too bad.

Retail

China roars along e-tailing superhighway

Richard Cooper and Richard Dobbs Mass consumption is coming of age in the internet era.

Greek economy recovering but few jobs

Greece's long recession may be over by 2014 but the jobless rate will stay above 20 per cent for another three years.

Tiger Australia narrows quarterly loss

Tiger Australia expects to be better positioned to tap opportunities for further expansion following the ownership tie-up with Virgin Australia.

Qld govt approves Crown increase in Echo

Queensland's Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation allows Crown to lift its voting stake to above 10 per cent in Echo.

$A down and staying down

Evan Schwarten The Australian dollar appears to be settled for a long stay below the 100 US cent mark.

Australian slump affects Nuplex earnings

Nuplex shares have dropped nearly nine per cent after it cut its full-year earnings guidance again.

Currencies

Dollar dives like a 'falling knife'

GLENDA KWEK What’s been driving the dramatic plunge in the dollar, and why we shouldn't expect a rebound any time soon.

China buys into power network

Drew Cratchley A state-owned Chinese power company is set to take a major stake Singapore Power International's Australian assets.

Precious metals

Dismal week for gold

Gold fell for a seventh straight session on Friday, its longest losing streak in four years, as the US dollar rose to the highest since 2008.

Airlines

Operational costs weigh on Tiger

Discount carrier Tiger Airways reported a quarterly operating loss of $S15.1 million ($12.4 million) because of higher operational costs.

European stocks rebound on bargain hunting

Europe’s main stock markets have rebounded, with Frankfurt hitting arecord and Paris jumping above 4000 points for the first time since July 2011 as traders went bargain-hunting.

Oil rallies as US consumer sentiment rises

World oil prices have risen for the third day in a row after a better-than-expected reading on US consumer confidence boosted hopes for stronger energy demand.

Wall St

Records tumble as US stocks soar

US stocks continued their climb into uncharted territory, racking up the fourth week of gains in a row.

Tax

'Meeting of the minds' spares Tinkler

GARETH HUTCHENS The embattled coal baron Nathan Tinkler has reached an in-principle settlement with the Australian Tax Office over debts owed by several of his companies.

IVF

Expecting soon - Virtus waiting on IPO

Madeleine Heffernan It's an industry that mixes science, hope and big bucks. And now it's heading to the sharemarket, breaking a drought in big initial public offerings and lining the pockets of its private equity and medical owners.

Retailers raise fashion stakes with exclusive designer collaborations

PAULA JOYE It's the age of fashion democracy: luxury design at affordable prices. Ten years after Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld produced a collection for Swedish mass retailer H&M, high-end designer collaborations are no longer a trend but essential weapons in the fast fashion war.

Break-up could breathe new life into News

COLIN KRUGER Analysts say the split into two divisions may lead to a re-rating of the embattled publishing business, writes Colin Kruger.

World war spree is declared

MICHAEL WEST Here we are sitting pretty at the tail end of the biggest boom in history. What with interest rates at a 50-year low, unemployment at just 5.5 per cent, economic growth about 3 per cent and very little debt … you could be forgiven for thinking things were not too bad.

Mining

Argyle shows every facet, especially red

Kylie Williams Diamonds don't just come in all shapes and sizes: they come in a rainbow of colours.

Go with the flow and you should bag a valuable catch

MARCUS PADLEY If success in the sharemarket is being right 51 per cent of the time, then you don't need much of an edge to succeed.

Markets

Plummeting dollar, budget steal limelight

GARETH HUTCHENS The sharemarket lost ground this week, slipping 0.6 per cent, but the dollar stole the headlines after dropping like an anvil.

Companies

Trailing herd is a tale of woe

CHRISTOPHER WEBB Punters who like piggy-backing director buying - particularly multi-director buying - have discovered that sometimes it can be costly. Very costly.

Dodo founder cashed up for second strike

Marc Pallisco Melbourne's newest developer, Dodo founder Larry Kestelman, has made his second major property play.

Property

Investor set to double his money on three sites

SIMON JOHANSON A wealthy property investor who is selling three prime city development sites may nearly double his initial $47 million investment.

Property

US focus for Drapac funds

SIMON JOHANSON Australian property group Drapac is set to launch two investment funds to raise $50 million to invest in US real estate.

Media

Break-up could breathe new life into News

COLIN KRUGER Analysts say the split into two divisions may lead to a re-rating of the embattled publishing business.

China's State Grid powers up in Australia

MALCOLM MAIDEN In the electricity industry, Chinese government-owned State Grid Corporation is the global whale.

Media

Media groups forced to fix business model

COLIN KRUGER You do not need to look at News Corp's local operations to realise the media sector is engaging in radical change to survive the cyclical and structural headwinds.

Retail

China the new competitor in Australia's online sales

GEORGIA WILKINS As Australia's major retailers increase their online sales channels, they could face competition from China's booming e-commerce industry.

Tax

Tinkler resolves ATO debts

GARETH HUTCHENS Coal baron Nathan Tinkler has reached an in-principle settlement with the ATO over unpaid debts.

Retail

Wesfarmers shares fall short of their Target

GLENDA KWEK Wesfarmers shares suffer biggest fall in almost two years after the company sharply lowered Target's earnings forecast.

Wealth

Changing fortunes put Gates back on top

Alex Cuadros and Crayton Harrison Bill Gates is once again the world's richest person, recapturing the title from Carlos Slim.

Social media

Facebook battles mobile concerns

Brian Womack Facebook marked its first anniversary as a public company on Friday, and investors have little reason for merriment.

Mining

Foreign investors unhappy

PETER KER Big foreign investors turn up the heat on Australian regulators over a controversial stalled mining project in the nation's east.

Construction

Leighton facing write-downs class action

PHILIP WEN A class action lawsuit over more than $1 billion in profit write-downs will be added to the list of shareholder concerns when the Leighton board faces the annual meeting on Monday.

Biotechs

Virtus Health IPO has market back in the pink

Madeleine Heffernan It's an industry that mixes science, hope and big bucks. And now it's heading to the sharemarket.

Utilities

China makes $3b power play for energy network

BRIAN ROBINS Hard on the heels of its $500 million-plus purchase of a large stake in the power network in South Australia, China's State Grid has paid more than an estimated $3 billion for control of the main gas network in much of eastern Australia along with a one-fifth interest in SP AusNet.

Currencies

Dollar's slide mostly good

PETER KER For a moment, it seemed the high Australian dollar might join the cockroaches as the only survivor of nuclear winter.

Mining

When big miners tighten belts, large contractors feel the pinch

PHILIP WEN Although they saw it coming, even veteran mining contractors were surprised at how fast the well dried up.

Delayed return to surplus no worry - what causes it is

ROSS GITTINS Most of those who take a political approach to the budget assume that if it's in deficit, the way you get it back to surplus is to cut government spending.

China's calling - and we need chutzpah to go with wine and cheese

HAROLD MITCHELL In the famous 1975 ''Thrilla In Manilla'', Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier slugged it out in the greatest boxing match of all time.

Hostilities boil over into world war spree

MICHAEL WEST Here we are sitting pretty at the tail end of the biggest boom in history. You could be forgiven for thinking things were not too bad.

Retail

China roars along e-tailing superhighway

Richard Cooper and Richard Dobbs Mass consumption is coming of age in the internet era.

Greek economy recovering but few jobs

Greece's long recession may be over by 2014 but the jobless rate will stay above 20 per cent for another three years.

Tiger Australia narrows quarterly loss

Tiger Australia expects to be better positioned to tap opportunities for further expansion following the ownership tie-up with Virgin Australia.

Qld govt approves Crown increase in Echo

Queensland's Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation allows Crown to lift its voting stake to above 10 per cent in Echo.

$A down and staying down

Evan Schwarten The Australian dollar appears to be settled for a long stay below the 100 US cent mark.

Australian slump affects Nuplex earnings

Nuplex shares have dropped nearly nine per cent after it cut its full-year earnings guidance again.

Currencies

Dollar dives like a 'falling knife'

GLENDA KWEK What’s been driving the dramatic plunge in the dollar, and why we shouldn't expect a rebound any time soon.

China buys into power network

Drew Cratchley A state-owned Chinese power company is set to take a major stake Singapore Power International's Australian assets.