Insights

Job creation in the US continues to strengthen, but there are a couple of reasons why the Federal Reserve will exercise caution when it comes to lifting rates.

Buyers of Apache's remaining oil and gas assets vanish as global crude prices continue to crumble, while local energy firms look ripe for takeover.

The local market is expected to follow US and European sharemarkets lower ahead of US earnings season and jobs data due later this week.

Even if interest rates were 25 or 50 basis points lower, there would be few business capital investments ready to roll.

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.