Insights

US stocks move sharply lower as retail earnings paint mixed picture of US economy.

In the end somebody has to pay for higher education.

The week in clean energy saw France reserve the right to keep Alstom, GDF Suez bag a 1 GW wind deal and utility solar subsidies come to an early end in the UK.

The US will install solar equal to 10% of Australia's entire power capacity this year while China will add even more. Solar is surging around the world, yet slumping down under.

The immense cost of data duplication across medical providers will challenge state and federal governments, but one Victorian region has shown that huge savings can be made without a GST increase.

Wall Street finished lower following disappointing earnings reports from retailers, while selling action continued on the Australian dollar.

A likely slowdown in capital inflows following the end of the mining boom and easing demand for the currency from asset managers could provide welcome exchange rate relief for the RBA.

Australia's passivity toward disputes in East Asia is largely explained by the fact that we seem to have no skin in the game. But doing nothing is becoming less and less of an option.

Investors seem confident KKR's bid for Treasury Wine Estates won't be the last, while Shell and PetroChina look close to selecting a partner for a gas sale option at their Arrow LNG project.

Current formulas used to carve up the GST revenue take the wealth of states into account. The plan to devolve some power to the states is not unworkable, but it needs to be carefully thought through and executed by degrees.

Local market shrugs off iron ore price worries as investors look for bargains.

Should Australians be worried by reports of a potential downgrade to the nation's prized AAA credit rating? Probably not.

Fossil fuel subsidies cost governments in emerging markets $US500 billion a year, but aligning prices with international benchmarks would cut emissions equivalent to Germany, France and the UK combined.

The major representative body for Australian manufacturers says reducing the renewables target 'would deliver mediocre or negative benefits to energy users'. Given AiGroup's membership, this completely transforms the political debate.

A slowdown in the housing market, shaky consumer confidence and a likely fall in the Australian dollar suggest the case for a rate rise in the near term has all but disappeared.

Local market little changed despite a fall in the iron ore price weighing on miners.