DataRoom AM: Rio's buyback
A $5 billion buyback program could be announced by the iron ore miner soon to provide larger capital returns to shareholders.
Government bonds are far too risky for retail investors
Government bonds have traditionally been considered risk-free investments, but retail investors have many reasons to be wary.
SMSFs should get a piece of the infrastructure pie
By making it easier for self-managed super funds to invest in infrastructure projects, the government could both bolster its push for infrastructure-led growth and build community consensus for major projects.
Beware of shiny suits spouting advice
Commissions still have the upper hand over skills in the financial advice sector.
High-cost miners will still be squeezed by iron ore
The modest rise in the iron ore price could hint at some price stability amid a belated supply-side response, as higher-cost production starts to be withdrawn from the market.
A tech-tonic shift in the market
The latter half of last year saw dozens of new tech players on the ASX. But is it merely a redux of the '90s dotcom boom, or can the momentum be sustained?
An opportunity for Australian NGOs in China
Engagement between Australia and China in the business and public sectors has increased, but interactions in the philanthropic sector remain scant.
Retailers need to reinvent themselves
Unless retailers can balance bricks with clicks, the days of department stores and shopping malls will be numbered.
The government must do some heavy lifting on obesity
Australia has a growing obesity rate, but so far the government has taken a back-seat approach. Further apathy will end up costing us all billions.
Could rate hikes derail the US economy?
The US economy is booming, but there are concerns that the Fed's tightening of its monetary policy could spook markets and take the recovery off course.
Subdued lending could stall the economy
Housing credit growth continues to surge but lending activity appears to have peaked, which could put the economy's rebalancing process at risk.
Low oil prices could hobble the US' LNG hopes
The slide in oil prices is already undermining the economics of US-sourced LNG and delaying new projects, much to the benefit of existing projects in Australia.
Syriza could set Greece on a course for economic turmoil
Left-wing party Syriza is in the driver's seat for Greece's January 25 election, but its ill-thought-out Keynesian program is bad news for the beleaguered country.
Scoreboard: Stocks ease
Lower oil prices caused European and US sharemarkets to dip across the board, while base metal prices strengthened.
A boon for Australian banks
2014 was a year of mixed fortunes for the big four, but a rebound in credit growth could see them more willing to spend and invest in the coming year.