Insights

Less than a fortnight after blocking a foreign takeover for grains group GrainCorp, Treasurer Joe Hockey has kept the business community off-balance by giving a Chinese government entity the green light to take full control of a swag of local coal assets.

BHP Billiton says it is "bullish" about the Bass Strait gas operations it shares with ExxonMobil, and has revealed hopes of another two decades of production there.

The sharemarket fell as a key measure of domestic consumer confidence weakened, with already shaky sentiment taking another hit when Holden confirmed it would cease local production in 2017.

BHP Billiton believes its US shale business will be profitable by the 2016 financial year, in what appears to be a slightly less ambitious schedule than the one outlined last year by former petroleum boss Mike Yeager.

The light at the end of the tunnel just moved further away for OZ Minerals shareholders, after the copper and gold miner revealed its difficult year would become a difficult 18 months.

Westpac will next year allow customers to make payments at credit card terminals through their smartphones, the latest sign of banks competing through investments in technology. From early 2014, customers with certain Android handsets will be able to access funds from debit or credit card accounts by waving their phones at merchant terminals.

Senior National Party figure Peter Walsh has repeated criticism that the government's rejection of the GrainCorp takeover was a decision made "on the hop", and one that it might regret.

Bega Cheese executive chairman Barry Irvin says a super Australian dairy company could be formed if Murray Goulburn accepts its bid for Warrnambool Cheese & Butter.

Despite motorists grumbling about the almost vertical leap in petrol prices this year, the average fuel price actually eased, although only slightly.

Yes, the Coalition's fall in the opinion polls has become an economic problem. The factors behind it are taking the shine off consumer confidence at a time when increased consumption and stronger business confidence are required to minimise pain in a transitioning economy.

A total of 2900 jobs to go at Holden, multiples of that likely to go in Australian supplier companies. Tony Abbott called last May's announcement by Ford that it would stop making cars in Australia in 2016 at a cost of 1200 jobs "a black day for Australian manufacturing". Holden's decision to stop making vehicles in 2017 could turn the car-making industry's lights out for good.

Kerry Stokes is likely to increase his stake in Seven Group Holdings without spending a cent, showing one-time nemesis James Packer he is still the master of powerbase consolidation.

Living national treasure Clive Palmer might be able to add "Good Samaritan" to his list of achievements next year, with beatification surely just around the corner.

Just hours after Holden's parent, General Motors, made history by naming Mary Barra as the first woman to ascend to the top job at a global car company, it pulled the plug on manufacturing in Australia.

Less than a fortnight after blocking a foreign takeover for grains group GrainCorp, Treasurer Joe Hockey has kept the business community off-balance by giving a Chinese government entity the green light to take full control of a swag of local coal assets.

BHP Billiton says it is "bullish" about the Bass Strait gas operations it shares with ExxonMobil, and has revealed hopes of another two decades of production there.