Opinion

Nauru is a good example of why a sovereign wealth fund is not such a smart idea.

The big commodities exporter has stolen a march on Australia with a China deal to use giant ships at cheaper rates.

In this week's Podcast, Catie Low, Tim Treadgold and James Lush discuss property prices, the iron ore slump, corporate finance challenges and the Barrack Square restaurant lease.

The drives across Australia’s south-east, take in spectacular coastal and mountain scenery, making it very hard to select the best.

The premier and the treasurer are making some headway in their concerted efforts to rescue the budget.

If Western Australia’s small iron ore miners thought all the bad news about falling prices was in the open, they got a shock this week when the two biggest producers, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, launched a war of words, complete with threats of fresh expansion programs.

Last week’s increase in reported sales was short-lived, with the AFL grand final, Royal Show and long weekend all conspiring to pull the week’s reported sales figure down to its lowest level since the end of July.

Debate is hotting up over longer-term climate trends, historical temperature statistics and a recent expansion of the Antarctic sea ice.

Standfirst: The IMF and Reserve Bank have urged reform of housing taxes but we should tackle this in a broader context of tax reform.

Misinformation and pseudo science are being used to thwart fracking, which is in its infancy in Australia.

Sydney is an amazing city with lots of iconic attractions, so it’s hard to summarise a week there in short-form, but I’ll try – I love visiting and experiencing what it has to offer, but have no great desire to live there.

In this week's Podcast, Mark Pownall, Dan Wilkie and James Lush discuss the state government selloff, BGC, the budget surplus, and a wrap-up of the retail property sector.

The key Royalties for Regions project threatens to sap the government as it fends off claims of favoured treatment and political donations.

It is always hard to pin a stock market correction on a single event, but when investors look back at what’s happened over the past few weeks as the stock market has dropped by 5 per cent (half way to an official correction) they will focus on the float of a single company, the giant Chinese trading house, Alibaba.

Monitoring the stock of property for sale is an important health check on the market and, coupled with activity, gives us a sense whether it is a buyer’s or seller’s market.

It is difficult not to sympathise, if not agree, with Pope Francis I’s claim that the spate of conflicts around the globe today effectively form a “piecemeal” World War III.

The share market's gains for 2014 have been wiped out, the value of the country's biggest export is at a five-year low and the Aussie dollar has slipped below 89 US cents - all thanks to China.

ARE you being forced to sell someone else’s way? Are you uncomfortable using a “system” of selling?

A new ASX investment vehicle is good news for those looking to diversify their portfolio.

The next move in US interest rates will be up, which will have an effect worldwide – including on Australia’s residential property market.

Northern NSW is a beautiful part of the country, with a stunning coastline and gorgeous hinterland.

In this week's Podcast, Mark Pownall, Saskia Pickles and James Lush discuss big resource finds, oil and gas, state ICT, associations and Tap Into Safety.

Both the EPA and Colin Barnett wished the bad headlines would go away … and to a large degree they did.

China’s new coal-quality rules have ruffled feathers in the Australian coal industry.

Monitoring the stock of property for sale is an important health check on the market and, coupled with activity, gives us a sense whether it is a buyer’s or seller’s market.

An upcoming Senate inquiry is a sign Australia’s precarious liquid fuel security situation may finally be getting the attention it deserves.

Personality testing of potential employees is one tool to ensure the right appointments are made for the long term.

Sales aren’t made on price, they’re made based on desire, need, and perceived value combined with urgency.

Selling assets needs careful management and is much more than just an opportunity to fill the coffers.

Investor interest in base metals stocks is rising, as iron ore process continue to slide south.

In this week's Podcast, Mark Pownall, Shanna Crispin and James Lush discuss the EPA, Anketell, Navitas, small bars, luxury boat builders and Triplify.

From the industrial development of Gladstone to the untouched wonder of Fraser Island, Queensland continues to amaze.