Insights

BHP Billiton has hinted that its iron ore expansion in the Pilbara could be done more cheaply than Rio Tinto's, in what would be a reversal of the companies' traditional positions on the cost curve.

WesTrac has acquired Caterpillar Global Mining's distribution and support business operations in north-eastern China for $US130 million ($143 million).

Woodside Petroleum has defended its lower than expected forecast for output next year by pointing to a decline in sales of gas into the domestic market as well as maintenance shutdowns for the shift.

More than $5 billion has been wiped off QBE's market value in just two days, as investors punish the company for repeatedly disappointing - and analysts warn further pain could follow this week's shock profit downgrade.

BHP Billiton says gas exports from North America could account for 11 per cent of Asian demand by 2030, but this will still be less than half the amount exported to the region by Australia.

The relatively successful debut of Brambles' document management business and Redcape's pub chain on the Australian Securities Exchange will give ammunition to company boards to push the go button on demergers and asset sales to unlock shareholder value during a period of flat income growth.

Holden chief executive Mike Devereux didn't confirm that his company was quitting manufacturing in Australia when he appeared before the Productivity Commission on Tuesday, but he did make one thing clear.

Westfield is facing an investor backlash to its proposed split, with institutional managers threatening to vote the deal down if the share component of Westfield Retail Trust is not reworked.

Billabong waves in brand new era

Air New Zealand has forecast a 20 per cent rise in pre-tax profits for the first half as solid bookings in the lead-up to the busy Christmas-New Year holiday period bolster its confidence. Days after Qantas warned it would slump to a pre-tax loss of up to $300 million in the first half, New Zealand's flag carrier said it had "sufficient confidence" in its expected bookings this month to forecast a 20 per cent rise in earnings before tax to $NZ167 million ($152 million) for the six months to December.

Investors are taking on record levels of housing finance as first home buyers struggle to enter the growing property market.

Wholesale reform of electricity distribution is essential to ensure households and businesses are charged only for the costs incurred while moving to limit investments to match demand, research by the Grattan Institute has found.

Qantas executives will face off with heavyweights from unions representing the bulk of the airline's 30,000-strong workforce next Wednesday over the latest round of job cuts.

The sharemarket reversed early gains to finish flat on Tuesday, with a slump in insurer QBE erasing early rises fuelled by record highs on Wall Street overnight.

Recall Holdings chief executive Doug Pertz says the company will hunt for acquisitions to drive earnings growth after the document management business was spun out of parent Brambles.

Toyota Australia says its ability to continue producing cars in Australia will be at "serious risk" unless workers vote in favour of a revised workplace agreement this week - that is, if the agreement even makes it to a vote.