Insights

China's local governments are cashing in on 'green opium' despite a decade-long ban on building new golf courses, highlighting a central tension between the nation's economic and environmental development.

Australia's rising dollar is causing tremendous damage to our export industries, but the RBA can't cut rates further for fear of creating a property bubble. The government can no longer sit back and hope for a miracle.

Both the S&P 500 and Dow hit new records after upbeat manufacturing and spending data encouraged investors, while the Australian dollar lifted above US95c.

China's growth figures are notoriously unreliable and, as its economy slows, inaccuracies become even more important. All signs point to China becoming a normal economy... with abnormally large problems.

Australand looks set to go to Frasers Centrepoint after the target's board gave the tick of approval, while Medibank Private gears up for a marketing bonanza.

'Horror budgeting' has helped Australia in the past, when conditions were starkly different. But Joseph Stiglitz's modern take says one piece of the puzzle is missing.

Which is the best investment - shares or residential property? It's a question that enthrals most Australian investors, with many vehemently liking one, but not the other, and lots of people putting most if not all their investment eggs into just one of these asset baskets.

With sharemarkets in many parts of the world at or near all-time highs, some analysts are wondering if the most likely direction they will take as 2014 proceeds, is downwards.

At its meeting this week, the RBA decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 2.5%. It is now almost a year since the Australian federal bank last tweaked the cash rate, and according to Paul Bloxham, Chief Economist, Australia & New Zealand, HSBC Bank Australia this holding pattern is set to continue.

Move comes amid miner's transition from construction to production phase of operation.

The details of Coles' defence against the ACCC show how hard the regulator will have to work in this case… and with stakes so high, losing will be a terrifying prospect for both parties.

Local market slips after yesterday's window dressing as investors focus on year ahead.

With declining real wages and a likely softening in inflationary pressures, the easing cycle has further to run.

Sure, privatisation delivers savings to customers except, as NSW and Queensland would be wise to note, when asset sales undermine the competitive landscape.

The online car advertiser has looked closer to home for its latest deal, which will extend its reach into financing.

Macquarie is driving remarkable growth in its mortgage book as part of its post-GFC strategy. If its growth rates are sustained, it could become a disruptive force in the retail banking market.