Insights

The release of the federal budget will put an end to speculation over increased taxes and spending cuts, while the release of the US monthly budget will dominate offshore headlines.

In this week's essential reading guide Kohler tackles the budget mess, Gottliebsen appraises Rio Tinto's strategic model and Bartholomeusz ponders the next play in the Westfield saga.

Decades of plenty have allowed a generation to live high on the hog thanks to the wealth of others. Back to work Australia - the age of entitlement is at an end.

A quick list of everything we know so far about Tuesday's budget.

Local market closes weaker as investors wait for the federal budget.

The media monitoring company has received definite orders for 141 million shares at $2.04 each.

The fund manager has outperformed the Asian small caps index.

Companies are changing their strategies in the challenging economic environment … and so must you.

Half-year results from three of our top four banks offer an exceptional window into the sector … and the dividends keep increasing.

The focus of talk has been on when rates will rise … but there's also a chance they could fall again.

The big mining stocks are attractive to investment strategists … and BHP and Rio are key targets.

Goodman Fielder's biggest shareholder says it supports any strategy that boosts the share price of the company, including the sale of a business or the company itself.

Cheung Kong needs only 50 per cent of Envestra's shareholders to accept its takeover offer but it requires Foreign Investment Review Board Approval and wants to conduct due diligence.

The timing and size of the mining investment collapse will weigh heavily on Reserve Bank policymaking. If it miscalculates these factors, the economy could become a real mess.

Real estate group says lift in revenue, EBITDA shows strength of business.

Grant Samuel says restructure plan sweetener is unfavourable for Westfield Group shareholders.