Insights

It was a tumultuous year in both economics and politics and Business Spectator's readers spoke with their clicks. Your most read stories addressed the housing boom, or bust; a vitriol-laced election; a raid on superannuation or the pivot on the NBN; and the wasted opportunities of the mining boom.

We take a look at some of the biggest announcements to hit the market over the year and how they were received.

The US economy has paid a heavy price for Congress' obsession with short-term debt dynamics. The US needs to sort out its finances, but slashing non-defence discretionary spending is not the answer.

The outlook for the year ahead looks encouraging. Here's our key rules for 2014.

Investors in equities did well this year … but offshore was the place to be.

Investors should look beyond the politics to get the real economic picture.

Here's seven reasons for our market's slide in recent times … but all's well that ends well.

The equities market will continue to surge as the world picks up economic momentum.

The broader market is holding its ground after a dramatic rally on Thursday, while gold miners are getting smashed as the price of gold slides in response to the Fed's tapering decision.

IT stocks are dragging on the Uncapped 100 today with UXC and Data#3 issuing profit warnings ahead of the festive season.

Telstra's sale of Hong-Kong based CSL is a prudent move to exit a heavily saturated market ripe for consolidation. It also provides the telco with more financial firepower to build on its growth strategy in Asia.

Institute of Public Affairs golden boy Tim Wilson is impressively well-versed in upholding corporate freedoms but somewhat less expansive on the rest of his new Coalition-appointed brief.

ANZ's board are exposing shareholders and depositors to a very risky business by lending money to coal projects. Approvals by Australian state governments won't save them from global concern to act on climate change.

There was no shortage of fodder for keen observers this year, including Julia Gillard's dramatic fall from power, Holden's not-so-surprise exit and the capitulation of Jaymes Diaz. GASP hands out the trophies for the biggest winners and losers of 2013.

After underperforming this year, top miners are more efficient and should see fortunes turnaround in 2014, while JB Hi-Fi promises to go from strength to strength.

Investor confidence in the US picked up strongly over the past year, with markets hitting record highs. But a number of high-profile businesses still found time to make some pretty disastrous errors in judgement.