Insights

International shares have spluttered recently thanks to worries about the looming threat of US inflation, more Russian sanctions, the defaulting Argentinian economy and the collapse of Portugal's Banco Espírito Santo.

Rio Tinto's remarkable, price-decline beating combination of volume improvements and cost reductions has surpassed even the miner's own expectations.

It is too early to say whether the surge in the unemployment rate reflects the next stage of Australia's economic downturn, but it does suggest there is some way to go in the rebalancing process.

Italy's industrial royalty, the Agnelli family, has managed to thread the needle of family ownership in one of the world's biggest car companies. But the family's road has been littered with both riches and smoldering crashes.

The emergence of solar and the prospect of electric vehicles and affordable batteries is leading to a push to reform how consumers pay for power they consume, but the debate so far has neglected the need to reform how consumers get paid for producing power.

As an increasing number of Australian SMEs look to expand into China, it's crucial to keep in mind the cultural differences between the two countries. A new report has some tips on how companies can succeed as they venture into the unknown.

Up until recently, historically low levels of debt and cheap equity appeared to fuel a bumper year for M&A transactions, but the withdrawal of two big deals this week suggests a fresh bout of instability.

Some of the world's most prosperous businesses have been closely held by family members for generations.

A new sponge-like material that generates steam from sunlight could cut energy use in power-hungry desalination plants and boost solar thermal plant efficiency.

Major transformations are underway in the energy sector, and power network owners need to be on board for the competition changes in the areas of generation and consumption.

The electricity networks lobby is fighting back against calls for writedowns on unneeded assets, claiming they'll elevate financing risk premiums and power prices. Yet such writedowns for NSW and QLD networks before privatisation would reduce risks for investors and reduce prices for consumers.

The local building and construction players are already using technology but the problems of chronic underinvestment and a lack of innovation need to be nipped in the bud.

Facebook's 9000-word Privacy Policy is a detailed reminder that the social network isn't really free - it's an exchange, and you need to know what you're trading.

A month after carbon price repeal, Australia is seeing a drop in hydro and a rise in most fossil fuel generation, while rising electricity demand has made a return.

LG has raised the stakes with its new flagship smartphone but the G3 is let down by some frustrating missteps in critical areas.

Alan Greenspan's prediction of a slump in oil prices should worry central bankers in developed economies, particularly as they attempt to stave off the threat of deflation.