Insights

Veda Group has become the best-performing public float of the year to date after the credit reporting and data services company's shares soared 40 per cent on its first day of trade.

Fresh from concluding the long-promised free-trade agreement with South Korea, Australia's Trade Minister has a new challenge.

So long, debt ceiling, we hardly got to know you. The case for killing it off was summarised on Thursday by Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox. It was an artificial device that imposed unnecessary inflexibility and created openings for political opportunism, he said.

The former boss of St George Bank, Paul Fegan, has resigned as chief financial officer of mortgage insurer Genworth after serving less than a year in the role.

A rising tide lifts all boats, but geared Australian share funds blitzed their rivals in the 2013 financial year, the best returning almost four times the average fund.

Departing Minerals Council chief Mitch Hooke has criticised the Abbott government for its rejection of a foreign takeover of GrainCorp, and warned the mining industry that too much focus on austerity and shareholder returns could jeopardise its future.

Directors of movie maker and amusement park operator Village Roadshow have used a legal loophole to vote their shareholding in favour of the company's remuneration report and avoid a first strike.

A lack of detailed information about Westfield's split into domestic and international segments has failed to inspire the market but the restructure makes sense.

Local market slips below 5,200 after Qantas shares plunge as airline flags job cuts and warns of first-half loss of up to $300m.

As airline capacity expands at a faster pace than actual demand, Qantas needs to consider alternative profit-maximising strategies with a smaller, more sustainable market share.

The latest attack on the Prime Minister's Office over its 'obsessive' need for control shows how Abbott's attempt at an iron grip is backfiring.

New editor Peter Cai outlines his vision for China Spectator.

Beadell Resources is the best performing stock on the Uncapped 100 today after the spot gold price recovered in overnight trade.

Forecasting is patchy at the best of times but with the massive ramifications of an impending taper the Reserve Bank has little choice but to wait for the Fed to make up its mind.

Local market falls after wider than forecast trade deficit, Qantas drops sharply.

Veda's shares rose as high as $1.78 on the company's first day of trading on the ASX.