Insights

Wall Street rebounded on the back of upwardly-revised GDP data, while European banks were spurred on by ECB stimulus expectations.

China's attempt to spread its soft power far and wide is sparking a backlash against Beijing-funded Confucius Institutes around the globe.

KKR emerges as the frontrunner for Treasury Wine Estates, while the impending float of Medibank moves a step closer.

Wesfarmers chief executive and B20 chair Richard Goyder discusses the importance of B20 and how Wesfarmers is on the hunt for buying opportunities.

'New style' hybrids really are a hot topic at the moment, and not for the right reasons. You do not have to be a keen market observer to have noticed all the press lately surrounding hybrids, in particular the 'new style' contingent convertible Basel III compliant securities (aka 'Cocos').

If you examine the balance sheet of the average Australian household, it becomes harder to argue for fresh APRA initiatives.

Surprisingly, Australians seem to be far more comfortable with unequal pay outcomes than most other nations.

Despite shifts in the macroeconomic environment, investors with a long-term unconstrained equity strategy will be able to find stocks with hidden potential.

History suggests investors should be optimistic for the long term but would be wise to exercise short-term caution.

The Indian Prime Minister is being hailed as a visionary for his efforts to transform the nation into a global manufacturing hub.

In this week's essential reading guide, Kohler bemoans housing's curse, Gottliebsen identifies the reasons investors are turning their back on Australia and Bartholomeusz analyses the iron ore market.

Housing and retail sales figures will dominate local headlines, while US jobs data will hog the spotlight as investors search for more clues about the timing of a Fed rate rise.

The government's decision to play down the impact of the GFC and structural shifts in the economy lets it pin fiscal woes on Wayne Swan. But this revisionism distorts our perception of the current economic environment.

Among other things, a much weaker dollar will help free up the RBA's ability to bring monetary policy to bear on the housing market.

The big retailers have lodged some concerns with Treasury over the interpretation of the proposed grocery industry code.

For the third year in a row, the extent of sea-ice around Antarctica has surpassed the previous record high. Scientists haven't yet been able to pin down what's happening.