Insights

Investors still cautious as Fed speakers offer mixed messages.

Investors are pleased TPG finally sealed the deal on acquiring AAPT, while Amcor and Brambles get ticks of approval for their respective demergers.

It's been two years since Julia Gillard promised to tackle rising energy costs for households. Yet cost-saving initiatives like smart meters and time-of-use tariffs are a long way off the political agenda.

As governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney has the task of repairing its reputation and culture, both of which were tarnished by the GFC. It's early days yet, but he looks to be making all the right moves.

Qantas budget offshoot Jetstar will further reduce flights to the Northern Territory and close its aircraft base in Darwin, blaming intense competition from foreign airlines.

Almost two years ago a senior British insurance industry figure likened QBE Insurance Group to a speedboat driven by its then boss Frank O'Halloran: "If you're driving a speedboat fast enough the wave never catches up to you, but if you slow down or stop, the wave could wash over you," he warned.

QBE Group has shocked investors by revealing that its bottom line will plunge into the red this financial year and profits will remain under pressure throughout 2014, as the insurer reels from its aggressive expansion in the United States.

Something is missing from the great Qantas survival debate - the company's main shareholders.

Brambles has launched a thorough review of overheads with the spin-off of its Recall documents handling business as it seeks to drive return on capital to 20 per cent over the next five years.

The stockmarket fell as investors shrugged off strong leads from Wall Street, focusing instead on a profit warning by QBE that saw the insurer's shares dive more than 22 per cent.

Uranium processing at Energy Resources of Australia's Ranger mine will not be allowed to restart until federal agencies are satisfied it is safe, after Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane imposed a formal suspension on the controversial mine.

Two of the biggest stakes in Sandfire Resources are likely to change hands in the next 12 months, according to the copper miner's managing director, Karl Simich.

The Productivity Commission has recommended fast tracking approval of major development projects in a suite of new reforms it says will help get projects off the ground as the mining boom recedes.

Changing chairs on darker days

Childcare company Affinity Education Group and adult education company Vocation both made positive starts on their sharemarket debuts on Monday. Affinity has joined G8 Education to become Australia's second childcare operator listed on the ASX. After raising $75.5 million at $1 a share, mostly to buy childcare centres, Affinity closed the day at $1.04 in a weak market, lifting the company's capitalisation to $93.1 million. Vocation surged 7.41 per cent, or 14¢, to close at $2.03 on its debut. The company, which is a combination of three vocational education and training firms, had raised $253.3 million by selling 75.4 million shares and has a market capitalisation of $406 million.

Lion chief executive Stuart Irvine says the food and beverages giant will use its 10 per cent stake in takeover target Warrnambool Cheese & Butter to protect its cheese business as the three-way takeover battle intensifies.