Insights

QBE may soon resume the auction of its US insurance business, while Rio Tinto agrees to sell its Riversdale Mining assets for a pittance.

Wall Street ended mixed after the Federal Reserve reduced its monthly asset purchases and confirmed rates would stay low for a considerable time.

Howard and Costello were criticised when they delivered their harsh first budget, but the RBA's rate-cutting spree and the union movement's blunders helped to buoy public sentiment. Hockey and Abbott have had no such luck.

It's unrealistic and almost certainly counter-productive to hold non-executive directors to the same standards as executives. AICD's latest push may finally bring that fact proper recognition.

The Australian economy has lost some of the momentum it was building in late 2013 according to the latest Investment Outlook Report (Australia) from van Eyk. The investment research house attributes the economy's current condition to a combination of factors including a weaker Chinese economy and falling commodity prices, and the RBA's decision to leave interest rates on hold since August 2013.

The Victorian Government has approved a plan for development of one of Australia's largest urban renewal projects, intended to house 80,000 people that will leave a legacy for centuries - but all without properly evaluating its environmental sustainability.

A paltry sale price for Rio Tinto's Riversdale assets completely validates Tom Albanese's replacement with Sam Walsh. But Walsh will be hoping no further shocks emerge from operations in riskier jurisdictions.

The high-profile satellite operator suddenly faces trouble on many fronts.

The price pendulum is continuing to swing in favour of base metals prices. But how long this continues will ultimately come down to supply and demand factors.

The maker of programmable logic devices used in mobiles and other products has huge upside, and a recent price drop presents a good opportunity.

This week we look at Sims Metal Management, Newcrest, Western Areas, Insurance Australia Group, and Atlas Iron.

Local sharemarket climbs 0.6% in thin trade on buying on defensives, iron ore miners.

Tabcorp's David Attenborough has helped insure the company's long-term future with cheap long-life licences through his ACTTAB acquisition.

Investing overseas, eServGlobal's price fall, and the Woodside-Shell buyback.

Edward Snowden's revelations of close collaboration between US tech companies and the NSA have given China a prime opportunity to cement its rise as an internet and technology powerhouse.

The Fed and the Bank of England are moving to tighten their monetary policies, which will result in interest rate rises, but they will face challenges in balancing market stability with growth.