Insights

Barings Bank was one of the most prominent and oldest merchant banks in the world, with the family even earning the nickname 'the sixth great power'. Then it all came crashing down.

The original purpose of negative gearing was to boost the housing supply, but instead it has encouraged speculation and driven up prices. Yet politicians are too scared to tackle it.

Grocon construction workers were expressly opposed to forming a picket outside Myer last year - so who was protesting? It's time for the competition watchdog to sharpen its teeth.

If only the government had done a better job at communicating the fiscal crisis; if only the ABC were more supportive. Alas, neither of these is Tony Abbott's real problem.

US markets fell as investors let their pre-earnings season jitters show, while European bank shares slumped amid the threat of further US fines.

A missed payment deadline puts Nathan Tinkler's planned purchase of the Wilkie Creek coalmine in doubt, while the IPO market continues to bloom ahead of Healthscope's float.

Irrational joy at the carbon tax repeal recalls two-and-a-half decades' worth of fear and wrath over industrial relations shifts, which data shows have actually changed nothing.

Local market steady in cautious trade despite slight lift in business confidence.

It is amazing in this era that meter readers still visit our homes. The Grattan Institute is right to propose meter upgrades to enable better pricing, but it needn't be so spooked by the Victorian debacle.

India's involvement in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will strengthen its ties with East Asia, but domestic reforms are needed if it is going to consolidate the benefits of the agreement.

Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz believes high-level inequality and low levels of equality of opportunity will continue to challenge advanced economies such as the US and Australia.

Australia will reap long-lasting benefits from the FTA signed with Japan, with agricultural and food exporters primed to capitalise on a wealth of opportunities.

A profit warning and a surge in debt levels suggest the wrong person was in the job as CEO.

The Environment Minister has been foremost among his party in acknowledging climate change and the need to curb emissions. Yet his rhetoric around the effectiveness of carbon pricing is evidently wrong.

We fired up a PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to determine how well the homegrown movie streaming service stands up against the US giant.

Ross Sudano named new CEO of discount retailer, sees long-term growth in retail sector.