Crikey » BUSINESS

A grand tour of economic risks to Australia

Crikey — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:50:22 +0000

The Federal Reserve's monetary policy "tapering" will be a key influence on the economy for Aussie governments after the election -- but Japan and China loom large as well. Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane report.

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One handout too many: General Motors should go back to Detroit

Crikey — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:42:24 +0000

It's time to end automotive assistance. General Motors' demand for a wage cut shows this is one industry not worth keeping, say Crikey's Bernard Keane and Glenn Dyer.

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Morning Market Report

Marcus Padley — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:41:52 +0000

The spin off company is called New News Corp (NNC) which owns the newspaper and publishing business in Australia, US and UK. 21st Century Fox is the second company -- which will initially trade under the company’s current name News Corp (NWS).

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Senate committee rejects transparency on export finance billions

Andrew Crook — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:24:49 +0000

The federal government's controversial Export Finance and Insurance Corporate had escaped reforms aimed at exposing its inner workings to public scrutiny.

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We need to build it, but will they come? Private infrastructure problems

Bernard Keane — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:45:56 +0000

Poor assessment of risk, and motorists' loathing of tolls, has long made infrastructure funding problematic. The NSW government is trying for a new approach.

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Co-operative model fails, leaving UK banks looking shaky

Glenn Dyer — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:45:55 +0000

The collapse of the Co-operative Group banking firm in the UK shows the banking sector remains the biggest worry in a still faltering European economy.

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The rich kids happy to (publicly) revel in mummy and daddy’s wealth

Myriam Robin — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:06:51 +0000

The way we spend our money tells the economy what type of world we want. So is splurging it on champagne really the right message? These rich kids are happy to show it off.

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The ‘golden age of gas’ not in Oz yet

Crikey — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:06:42 +0000

Australia has many decades of gas. But, if this is true, how can we be looking at big gas price increases and possibly supply shortfalls within a few years? A new Grattan Institute report by Tony Wood delves into the big issues.

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When ‘social cost’ gets slippery: how lobby groups spin their case

Bernard Keane — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:06:39 +0000

Good causes have a tougher time convincing policymakers of the merits of addressing social issues. So they rely on "social cost" to get into the policy space.

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Productivity Commission releases its annual report card

Glenn Dyer — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:06:35 +0000

The Productivity Commission last week issued the first of what will be an annual examination of our productivity performance, and despite scattered reports about how it has worsened and likely to continue to worsen, the real story from the...

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Murdoch gives lessons in how to divorce-proof a business

Myriam Robin — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:12:41 +0000

Rupert Murdoch’s numerous divorces (this is his third) provide plenty of lessons for other business owners keen to protect their assets.

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Cut the chatter: Fed heads off instability with soothing words

Bernard Keane — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:12:37 +0000

The US Federal Reserve has affirmed its intention to maintain monetary easing, heading off a developing market rout overnight.

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Job data remains stronger than expected, with unemployment at 5.5%

Glenn Dyer — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:50:05 +0000

The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed a small fall in the monthly unemployment rate of 5.5% (seasonally adjusted) for May from 5.6% for April and just 1100 new jobs created in the month

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Greek tragedy: broadcaster shut down as crisis worsens

Glenn Dyer — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:49:57 +0000

Remember Greece? We've heard a lot about Cyprus in recent times, but Greece is still a basket case and going from bad to worse.

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Morning Market Report

Marcus Padley — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:49:27 +0000

The German constitutional debate about the legality of the ECB’s OMT (Outright Monetary Transactions) program continues with the head of the Bundesbank arguing that Germany risks significant losses and grave damage to its credibility and ultimately...

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Consoles at dawn: Xbox One v Playstation 4

Myriam Robin — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 01:23:48 +0000

If you want to bury a competitor, learn from Sony. But to succeed, the company needs to do even more, analysts say.

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Wesfarmers board to blame for Target layoffs

Glenn Dyer — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 03:04:51 +0000

Wesfarmers has continually mismanaged Target, and as a result hundreds of people have now lost their jobs.

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Morning Market Report

Marcus Padley — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 03:04:34 +0000

The Market is down 34. ASX 200 Futures were down 40. The Dow Jones finished down 117. The Dow was up 12 at best and down 153 at worst. Worst sectors — energy, financials, materials. US wholesale inventories were +0.2% for April...

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Surveillance, secrecy and the cost of intelligence outsourcing

Bernard Keane — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 03:07:22 +0000

A culture of secrecy, unaccountability and outsourcing created the conditions for the Obama administration's mass internet surveillance programs.

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Gender-based discrimination alive and well in corporate Australia

elsewhere — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 02:56:36 +0000

Throwing down the gauntlet to ASIC: Newcrest Mining test

Glenn Dyer — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 01:19:15 +0000

ASIC stands accused of being a sluggish guardian of late. Goings-on at Newcrest Mining last week -- which ASIC has vowed to examine -- are a test to the organisation.

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Obama’s surveillance state revealed in detail

Bernard Keane — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 03:02:36 +0000

Two major revelations have exposed the extent of the Obama Administration's mass surveillance of phone and internet use.

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Dollar SMASH! Commentariat changes its tune on strong currency

Crikey — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 03:02:32 +0000

Forget the problems of a strong currency -- suddenly the dollar is a symbol of national economic virility, write Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane.

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Morning Market Report

Marcus Padley — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 03:02:03 +0000

France’s unemployment rate was up 0.3% to 10.8% for the first quarter, beating expectation of 10.9%.

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A first close-up look at the soon to fly A350 prototype

Crikey — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:56:52 +0000

On a hot clear southern French spring day, Ben Sandilands takes a look at the A350 XWB MSN1, the first to fly of a small fleet of test and certification A350-900s soon to be released by Airbus.

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