Insights

Ian Narev has blamed his bank's financial planning scandal on 'poor advice' from a few individuals, but renewed allegations around CBA's Bankwest buy are potentially far worse and may not be so easily brushed aside.

The doves are pointing to weaker economic data and dour confidence figures for rate cut calls. But both are not what they seem.

Though the proportion of women earning incomes in the top 1 per cent has been rising in the UK, progress is almost non-existent at the very top of the distribution.

The financial system inquiry's interim report will dominate local headlines, while the US profit-reporting season kicks into high gear.

The potential for poorer economies to catch up to richer ones has long been a dominant economic narrative, but an OECD report suggests that outcome may prove elusive for some emerging countries.

More Australians are attaining tertiary degrees than ever before, yet many end up working in menial jobs with little or no relevance to their chosen field. Are they just wasting time and money?

In this week's essential reading guide, Kohler tackles the great retirement rort, Gottliebsen analyses the future for building cartels and Bartholomeusz appraises Country Road.

The Abbott government has falsely claimed slashed spending can dig Australia out of a hole. But it's the big-picture economy, not national debt, that needs urgent action ... or Australia's situation can only worsen.

Slowing lending growth suggests the housing market will soon reach its cyclical peak. Subsiding investor activity will leave a void in the market, and it's unlikely it will be filled.

The demand for home loans was flat in May against expectations of a fall, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Gold prices jumped to their highest level in nearly four months overnight as investors shrugged off worries about higher US interest rates and shifted focus to problems in Europe's bank sector.

Fortescue Metals Group has increased production in the June quarter and achieved a record run rate in the month of June, although its prices fell amid a broader slump in the iron ore price.

Why the end of the mining investment boom will actually boost productivity

Australian business confidence is falling and growth is slowing. For investors, the higher dollar represents a perfect opportunity to invest offshore.

Rather than raise rates, the RBA is likely to follow other central banks and tighten lending controls for property.

The woes of Portuguese bank Banco Espirito Santo have renewed fears about the structural weaknesses of the European banking system, which will remain a source of vulnerability until the ECB takes definitive action.