Insights

The bureaucrats in Brussels are convinced austerity will get Europe back on track. But comparing Greece's experience to that of the US, it's clear that these measures just compound the problem by forcing the private sector to deleverage further.

Ten Network's latest profit downgrade has private equity firms sniffing around for a cheap bid, while Mantra's weak IPO has fears of float fatigue seeping in.

The state of Sydney's pylons, cables, transformers and switching yards is a key issue for 2014, but media scare stories about the risk of city blackouts adds little value to the debate.

The Federal Reserve still doesn't have the conditions it needs to plot a firmer path towards hiking interest rates.

In this week's essential reading guide, Kohler tackles the politics of oil, Gottliebsen sheds light on dodgy sharemarket practices and Bartholomeusz analyses the intensifying battle for DJs.

The European project has buckled under the weight of stagnant economies and a fractured sense of identity. Asia can capitalise on Europe's decline, but it must also avoid its mistakes.

Investors take profits after yesterday's strong rise, while gold stocks lift on worries about Iraq.

Excess capacity through overinvestment and the slowing pace of urbanisation will weigh heavily on China's investment outlook, which in turn will have consequences for Australian iron ore producers and the broader economy.

Self-managed super funds have easily outperformed managed funds over time, in spite of super industry efforts aimed at reining them in.

Central banks such as the Fed are becoming more hawkish in their growth forecasts, but they're not about to take quick steps to end their money printing or raise rates.

The number of wealthy people around the world is growing … and where they invest depends on their location.

The use of shareholders' funds to buy-back shares owned by Shell comes at a big cost to the company's other investors.

Twitter has teased out Australia's affinity for political debate, except when a major sporting event takes place.

Watch the presentations from this conference

The will of the majority has prevailed at the meeting of Westfield Retail Trust securityholders, paving the way for the separation of the group's international and Australasian businesses.

With provisioning low and earnings growth from core operations looking increasingly limited, Westpac appears to be entering an earnings cycle peak.