Insights

Wesfarmers boss Richard Goyder, one of the most powerful chief executives in the country and the chairman of a select group of global CEOs advising the G20, has dismissed chatter that Australia's reputation as a welcome harbour for foreign investment was tarnished by last week's GrainCorp decision.

Fairfax Media late on Wednesday offloaded its holiday rentals website Stayz to US-listed holiday rentals group HomeAway for about $220 million.

He may be 83, but Westfield founder Frank Lowy can still run a press conference like an old pro. Fronting the announcement of the property group's latest restructure, Lowy bristled when asked if he would remain as chairman.

The ABC is an important institution, but new media opportunities should be reserved for private-sector organisations, according to News Corp's Australian chief executive, Julian Clarke.

Nine Entertainment will hit the public market on Friday with a value of $1.9 billion, after pricing at the bottom of the indicative price range in the hope of boosting demand in the secondary market.

In its much anticipated sharemarket debut on Wednesday, Dick Smith was unable to generate the kind of fanfare that has surrounded new listings this year.

The sharemarket rose despite gross domestic product data showing economic growth fell short of modest expectations.

East coast gas prices are rising faster than expected before the start of a suite of gas export projects in Queensland from 2015 and as long-standing domestic supply contracts mature.

Perhaps we don't need the Reserve Bank to talk the Australian dollar down. The Australian Bureau of Statistics hammered the currency on Wednesday.

Fairfax Media late on Wednesday offloaded its holiday rentals website Stayz to US-listed holiday rentals group HomeAway for about $220 million.

He may be 83, but Westfield founder Frank Lowy can still run a press conference like an old pro. Fronting the announcement of the property group's latest restructure, Lowy bristled when asked if he would remain as chairman.

In one of the biggest shake-ups in the retail sector, Westfield Group is splitting its international business from its Australian and New Zealand operations, in its second major restructure in three years.

Wesfarmers boss Richard Goyder, one of the most powerful chief executives in the country and the chairman of a select group of global CEOs advising the G20, has dismissed chatter that Australia's reputation as a welcome harbour for foreign investment was tarnished by last week's GrainCorp decision.

Investors that rolled the dice on the Dick Smith float needed to answer just one real question. Can this company make two different sets of investors rich in just over a year?

Almost three years after stepping down as executive chairman of the world's biggest shopping centre empire, Westfield founder Frank Lowy has agreed to become non-executive chairman of the two remodelled and renamed listed property trusts unveiled to shareholders on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister has announced the high-profile make-up of his Business Advisory Council as he unveiled the first review of competition policy since the Hilmer report.