DataRoom AM: Glencore eyes ASX
Talk of a secondary listing for Glencore on the ASX suggests a push to merge with Rio Tinto is still on the cards, while it's crunch time for PanAust's board as they weigh an offer from a state-owned Chinese conglomerate.
Bernanke's hands were tied on Lehman Bros
The former Fed chairman says the public still don't know what really happened during the 'Lehman-AIG' weekend in 2008.
ABS accuracy is all in the mind
Increasingly the health of the domestic economy is whatever you think it is -- literally.
What can go wrong for the markets?
"Like Chicken Little, we can't know with any certainty what the greatest risk will be in the future. That suggests a broad hedge against risk is prudent - especially when it's inexpensive. Risk management is not just for chickens"
Call date and final maturity date- beware of the price cliff
We think it is important to understand call / conversion dates relative to final maturity dates when analysing ASX listed hybrids. The difference between these dates creates price cliffs that investors need to be aware of. If secondary market credit spreads widen relative to the contracted coupon credit margin from an issuer, investors will stop pricing to the call/conversion...
Australian Small Caps: "Dodge, duck, dive, dip and dodge"
Marcus Burns, Senior Portfolio Manager, Australian Smaller Companies at Schroders, alert to recent irrationality in markets, outlines Schroders' approach to identifying value opportunities while surviving a market sell off.
A fresh start for NAB as Thorburn cleans house
NAB's new chief executive is not wasting any time when it comes to dealing with the land mines left behind by Cameron Clyne.
Declining energy demand? It's energy efficiency, stupid!
The IEA has found that energy consumption across the developed world was lower in 2011 than 10 years earlier - and the main reason wasn't the GFC, nor was it the offshoring industry.
Is the data real, or just another snow job?
The removal of seasonal factors in the labour data could be masking the true picture.
Prospects darken for Victoria's energy efficiency future
As the world starts to quantify the startling benefits of energy efficiency, the Napthine Government is using dubious logic to kill a Victorian scheme delivering a net $100m boost to the state's economy.
Macs caught in the lair of the iWorm
Microsoft Windows may have been the whipping boy for decades when it comes to vulnerabilities but cracks are starting to appear in Linux and OS X as well.
HTC banks on a selfie turnaround
HTC, once the world's top smartphone maker by volume, is hoping that its waterproof action camera and software for taking photos might help revive its fortunes.
Can Beijing limit the spread of China's debt disease?
Local government debt is a growing problem in China, and working out how to cope with it is one of Beijing's biggest challenges.
China's mythical coal habit is no excuse for climate inaction
China's coal consumption has recently decoupled from its economic growth. The net buildout of coal plants has dropped dramatically and planning rejections have been on the rise.
Murray's $3bn bank hit
New research from UBS suggests the cost of gold plating Australian banks to prevent a 'too big to fail' scenario will likely hit consumers before it impacts investors. In this video interview, The Australian's Michael Bennet analyses the potential $3 billion dollar impact.
Smart fiscal policy will help jobs
The unemployment rate in many countries remains excessively high, but fiscal policy combined with broader structural reforms could help support job creation.