Insights

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.

Local data will take a breather, but investors will have plenty of information to digest from the US, including GDP figures for the March quarter and consumer confidence data.

Cormann's approval of IAG's purchase of Lumley Insurance means deal is free to proceed.

Australia's banks have been put on notice - they shouldn't be taking their billions of dollars of annual profits for granted. But the big four won't give up without a fight.