Insights

If solar is to be an unstoppable force a lot hangs on the economics of batteries, and I'm hearing and seeing different things. The US government's chief renewable energy scientist is sceptical but Silicon Valley's SunPower reckons they know better.

Oil and gas explorer plans to lift payments when PNG project reaches full capacity.

Investec Australia Property Fund has bought the Manning Clarke building in the ACT.

Perpetual and Ellerston Capital have agreed to sell the equivalent of 9.8 per cent of Goodman Fielder's shares to bidders First Pacific and Wilmar at the revised 70 cents a share offer if the board agrees to the takeover.

China's LNG imports rose 35% in the first quarter to 5.62 million tonnes, and the communist giant is set to overtake South Korea to become the second-biggest LNG buyer by 2020.

Subsidiary John Holland to build mine infrastructure in Pilbara, WA.

Local market falls 0.4 per cent in early trade after weak Wal-Mart results weigh on Wall Street.

Financial services groups ink deal that offers 0.104 of an IOOF share for each SFGA share

Analysts Solarbuzz say the Japanese maker has returned to No.1 in shipments after five years, confirming the value of brand recognition within the PV industry.

The Coalition's firm $29.5bn cap on NBN funding underscores its promise of a cheaper rollout, but it may have to fork out more dough one way or another.

Opposition Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen's budget reply will dominate local news, while global investors will keep a close eye on Federal Reserve minutes.

China's latest territorial posturing has pushed relations with ASEAN members to a new low and raises serious questions about Beijing's foreign policy goals.

US stocks have closed sharply lower on the release of key data and earnings from Wal-Mart.

China's newly released urbanisation blueprint is a step in the right direction. Whether it can be implemented or not is another question.

Lithium-ion batteries - used in Tesla's Model S and the Chevy Volt - have contributed the bulk of a 300 per cent increase in global green car batteries, with Panasonic riding a plug-in wave.

A modest pick-up in US inflation and improved labour market conditions will be welcomed by the Federal Reserve, but significant spare capacity across the economy will see rates on hold until next year.