Safe haven investments are investments that provide a low level of risk during periods of extreme economic uncertainty.
The problem is that a safe haven investment is a safe haven investment until it…
College day betting lead to a fascination with the stockmarket for this physicist.
Dan Raustadt Flikr
The last Space Shuttle recently returned to Earth. That reminded me that 45 years ago I was undertaking a PhD in physics at Australian National University, investigating the re-entry of the space shuttle…
BHP Billiton CEO Marius Kloppers is expected to announce the company’s first profit fall in three years.
AAP
It has been an anxious day for Australian investors. Shares have dipped as the market awaits BHP Billiton’s full-year profit report.
It is expected that the market heavyweight will post its first profit…
Mitt Romney’s running mate, Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan, has articulated a bold – if perhaps inefficient – vision for the US economy.
AAP
Much ink has been spilled over the budget proposals advanced by Mitt Romney’s choice as Vice Presidential running mate, Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan.
Acting as Chair of the House Budget Committee, Ryan…
There are economy-wide gains to be made from lowering the corporate tax rate, but businesses will need to make concessions of their own.
Image from www.shutterstock.com
Yesterday, the government’s business tax working group released its discussion paper on possibilities for tax reform. The paper makes a case for a broader base and lower tax rate (the corporate tax is…
If China opens up its capital account, there will be significant ramifications for Australia.
epSos.de
In previous articles on The Conversation, I have noted that our economic relationship with China stands on only one leg.
In contrast to two-way trade – merchandise trade topped $120 billlion in the year…
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and Julia Gillard are at loggerheads over the investment chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
AAP
This week, San Diego is hosting the latest round of talks over the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Australia and New Zealand are at loggerheads over this secretive new trade treaty spanning the Pacific Rim…
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called on miners to accept that the resources they mine belong to the people.
AAP Image/Alan Porritt
Prime Minister Julia Gillard delivered one of her strongest messages to the mining sector last night, telling mining bosses at a Minerals Industry dinner in Canberra that they don’t own Australia’s minerals…
Australia’s mining boom is both a boon and a bane to our economic development.
Australia’s stark comparative advantage in mining is both a boon and a bane to our economic development. Investment in the mining industry as a share of Australia’s GDP has already reached unprecedented…
Irrational decision-making can have significant consequences for financial markets.
AAP
Fred Tomczyk, a 20-year veteran of the financial services industry, has his finger on the pulse of investor sentiment: “ … the preference for cash that we’re seeing among new investors suggests a stronger…
Despite Cameron’s half-hearted efforts, democratisation of listed UK corporations is unlikely.
AAP
Executive remuneration is out of control in the United Kingdom. The final report by the High Pay Commission concluded that “there is rarely a link between directors’ incentives and the way a company performs…
Are ordinary homeowners perpetuating Australia’s property bubble?
AAP
While my recent commentary (here and here) demonstrates Australian housing is in a bubble, I have not explained where this situation has come from.
Asset markets, in this case, property, are the subject…
There is more behind the Qantas lockout than short-term industrial disputes.
AAP
As the initial shock of the Qantas lockout of its workforce abates, it is time to consider the wider implications of this action.
One lesson is the folly of national identification of companies that are…
By 2050, China’s economy is projected to be as large as the US and India combined.
AAP
Opposition leader Tony Abbott has sparked some controversy with his suggestion that Australia’s trade emphasis should be on Japan, rather than China.
Abbott’s suggestion that it would be easier to negotiate…
How safe is your nest egg from share market fluctuations?
Flickr/peregrinari
Think the share market volatility doesn’t affect you? Guess again.
With almost 60% of Australian superannuation funds invested in shares, anyone paying compulsory super contributions has something to…
The share market is often driven back into the black by canny investors looking for a bargain.
AAP
After falling by almost 20% in week-long sell-off, the Australian share market has bounced back and began trade today up more than 3.5%.
The market’s recovery follows a strong comeback on Wall Street…
Uncertainty about the US economy is driving investors back to the safe-haven metal.
AAP
The price of gold reached a record high of $US1607.01 an ounce on Tuesday as investors turn to the precious metal amid uncertain global economic conditions.
University of Western Australian Professor…
Find out where your money goes.
Ahmad Nawawi/Flickr
Welcome to “One small thing …”. We asked our authors what one small thing they, or you, could do for the environment. We’ll bring their answers to you on Friday afternoons.
Today’s one small thing comes…
Is legal action becoming a bad habit for tobacco companies?
effb/Flickr
This week’s legal action by tobacco giant Philip Morris to overturn the federal government’s plain packaging proposals is not its first attempt to stifle anti-tobacco legislation.
Philip Morris is also…
It is far from clear whether Philip Morris' tactic against plain packaging will succeed.
AAP
In the latest salvo in the fight over plain packaging for tobacco products, Philip Morris is launching legal action under Australia’s bilateral investment treaty with Hong Kong.
The key aspect of Philip…
Despite attempts at regulatory reform, ratings agencies still act with little threat of litigation.
AAP
Standard & Poor’s downgraded Greece’s sovereign debt rating by three notches on Monday, reflecting its view that it would be next to impossible to imagine a scenario where the country could restructure…
