Insights

Mary Jo White's appointment as head of the US Securities and Exchange Commission promised a regulator with more teeth. A year on, it looks like she's getting ready to deliver just that.

Wall Street slipped as retail and jobs data failed to inspire, while intensifying violence in Iraq saw the price of crude jump.

An expanding middle class and increase in internet penetration highlights the growth potential of the Asian e-commerce boom for Australian businesses, but they are lagging behind their global competitors.

Rio Tinto's strategy of reducing debt and increasing returns to shareholders suggests a lack of investable opportunities and an uncertain outlook. The falling iron ore price is adding to the pressure.

Nexus Energy shareholders have cut Seven Group down to size by rejecting a lowball takeover offer, while Leighton ponders a selling spree.

The ECB's move into negative rates will lift demand for Australian bank bonds and mortgage-backed securities, driving bank funding costs lower.

Australian house prices are among the costliest in the world, but it doesn't have to be that way. The fault lies with our major banks, the RBA and government policies.

Local market slips as investors focus on valuations, downgrade in iron ore space.

Group says it will strengthen its balance sheet, streamline operations.

Qantas has moved to extend the maturity of a large portion of its debt, which will provide much needed flexibility during the critical restructuring period.

As family businesses pass from generation to generation, there's often the temptation to take the business in a new direction. These famous families did just that... and reaped the dividends.

Despite solid economic growth, the labour market remains anaemic, especially in the non-mining sector. A plan to boost employment is needed to bolster the economy.

Leighton Holdings' unwieldy corporate structure is set to be simplified, aligning it more closely with the interests of ACS and Hochtief while paving the way for improved profitability.

Robert Cooke's expansion plans for the Healthscope empire have been blocked, as the hospital operator prepares to return to the ASX.

New analysis shows Direct Action will end up 300 million tonnes short of its emissions target by 2020, equivalent to 1½ years of electricity production. Why won't the government reveal its own costings to explain why it remains so 'confident'?

There's a new but familiar shape soaring in the fast-growing world of unmanned aircraft: the paper aeroplane.