Opinion

It appears no-one has outwardly canvassed the possibilities raised by a simple, three-word question – was anyone trading?

Politics and investment advice are two subjects largely foreign to Briefcase.

Few would disagree that February 2007 was the month the dual questions of perceived water shortages and suspected climate change were firmly embedded onto Australia’s political stage.

The revelations at the Corruption and Crime Commission are deeply disturbing.

Australians are getting used to the idea of a two-speed economy, with resource-rich Western Australia and Queensland rocketing away from the southern rust-belt states.

With the political stage now set for a federal election in October or November, and any upheaval in the upper echelons of Western Australia’s two major parties before the February 2009 state contest unlikely, a cursory look at various contenders is worthw

In 1997, gold explorer Westgold Resources bought a parcel of St Barbara shares from Perth investor, Ron Woss.

State Scene dislikes pooh poohers – those who, just for the heck of it, pull down everything others feel nice or comfortable about.

Western Australia’s remarkable run of good economic news continued this month with the unemployment rate falling to the lowest level since official records started 30 years ago.

Regrets abound in financial markets, especially when share prices fall sharply. But what about shares that rise sharply; can anyone have regrets about that?

It never rains but it pours, so they say.

Conflicts of interest have been in the news lately, but mainly at the top end of town, and mainly because of internal boardroom squabbles.

Clandestine political lobbying, restrictive retail hours, “bandit trading”, petty government enforcers, jailing and hefty fine threats, phony referendums, political opportunism, and much more.

If you can buy a big bottle of multi-vitamins for $20 why do some people still pay $30?There is a one-word answer: ignorance.

From 1920 until 1990, humanity faced a dangerous worldwide fraternity – the Bolsheviks – bearers of a primitive, murderous ideology whose founder, Vladimir Lenin, unfortunately, gained executive power violently in Petrograd in 1917.

Stamp duty on housing transactions is something that I have kept a weather eye on, to some degree, for the past year or two.

With Labor’s leadership change over made inside 11 months of a scheduled national election, it’s most unlikely John Howard can now stand down from the position of prime minister, even if he so wished.

While the retail trading hours debate has waned for the time being, I thought I’d throw a little bit of fresh light on the subject from a personal perspective.

Perth’s overdue residential property price correction, which promises to prune 20 per cent off the value of most homes, also promises to be memorable for two other reasons – it is

The Alinta Ltd management buy out has resulted in a massive amount of commentary this past week, much of it unflattering to those behind the move.

Has Wesfarmers become just another tired, diversified industrial, destined for the knacker’s yard, or is it one of the best investments on the stock market, destined to disappear

Last week, State Scene highlighted new Labor leader Kevin Rudd’s ploy of copying John Howard’s interview style and approach to campaigning.

One month after the most recent federal election, held in October 2004, State Scene chose to write a predictive column.

If there really is a boom in Western Australia, someone forgot to tell the top Perth-based industrial companies.

The retail trading debate is on again. This time I have far less sympathy for so-called small business than before.

What a year it has been.

The Business Council of Australia needs to reconsider exactly what it is that it believes to be a functioning and appropriate federation.

For State Scene, 2006 will be memorable for several reasons.

It's quiz time and today’s questions is: How much financial detail should be available to shareholders in a company?

Does history repeat itself? A question that has kept Briefcase awake recently after a series of events which are eerily like 1987, the time of the last great boom (and bust).

State governors sometimes comment on topics that are then dutifully reported in the media.

Local government is one of those subjects that tends to agitate business.