Insights

Thames Town was once mocked by Western media for its weirdness, but residents have learned to appreciate its slower pace of life.

Consumer confidence and housing finance data will dominate local headlines, while a raft of economic indicators in the US will be of interest to investors abroad.

In this week's essential reading guide, Kohler riffs on the slow death of the tie, Bartholomeusz examines recent market volatility and Gottliebsen calls on government to make it easier for self-managed super funds to invest in infrastructure projects.

Stocks yield higher returns and are less risky than investing in fine wines.

As the price of oil falls to $US50, a plan to unlock £200bn of extra oil revenue needs a rethink.

Policymakers have been consciously reinflating asset prices ever since the GFC to stave off a downward deflation spiral, but the day of reckoning may be approaching.

Can a firm stance from ASIC prevent another large scale episode of mortgage fraud?

Office politics has emerged as a potential game-changer at two ASX-listed companies.

If low oil prices are sustained, the reversal of capital flows from oil-exporting countries will have implications for liquidity, volatility and prices in global asset markets.

While wearable devices promise self-knowledge, we run the risk of becoming self-delusional. It's too early to tell, but our obsession with connectivity may leave us more isolated.

Commonwealth Bank now believes that rates will stay at 2.5 per cent for all of 2015. Here's why.

Seven developments to expect in the mutual fund industry in 2015.

The political hurdles to serious tax reform are high, but the consequences of inaction are just as severe.

Australia's retail sector will experience four important changes in 2015 that will shape its future. Are our retailers ready?

The financial services regulator is taking aim at crooked mortgage brokers.

Positive comments from the Federal Reserve fuelled the US market, while European stocks jumped after the ECB said it would undertake further stimulus measures.