Insights

The business making pay cards that can stop fraudulent political expenses is just one of many biting away at Australia's big four.

European stocks lifted after business and confidence indicators hit two-year highs, while Wall Street was closed for Thanksgiving.

Local market expected to begin little changed with Wall St closed for Thanksgiving.

Miner to spend $400m expanding Pilbara iron ore production capacity.

If Toronto's scandalous mayor can still be trusted by the people to run the city - something's very wrong. But it's the reason top public sector jobs should come with private sector salaries.

Local currency retreats from gains posted after upbeat business investment data.

Murray Goulburn hires professional lobbyists to bolster its Warrnambool bid, while Hockey considers buying a stake in Qantas.

Labor botched the Gonski reforms, but Christopher Pyne's description of 'revelations about the Shorten shambles' is an insult to voters, given his prior knowledge.

Jotters consider the options for struggling Qantas, with one labelling foreign ownership complaints a smokescreen for the government guarantee it really wants.

New research shows managers' concerns over the commitment of independent contractors are misplaced, with freelance workers showing high levels of enthusiasm and dedication to their clients.

Rio Tinto has hinted its iron ore expansion to 360 million tonnes could be delivered at less than half the $US5 billion ($5.5 billion) it was originally tipped to cost, after the miner late on Thursday outlined a strategy for reaching the target.

As the drums roll for National Australia Bank's annual meeting on December 19, the spotlight will turn to the issue of board renewal, including the bank's chairman Michael Chaney.

A side deal in the free-trade agreement with the United States that the Howard government negotiated nearly a decade ago is a wildcard as the government deals with divisions in its ranks over Archer Daniels Midland's $3.4 billion takeover offer for GrainCorp, the biggest grain handler in eastern Australia.

A side deal in the free-trade agreement with the United States that the Howard government negotiated in 2004 is a wildcard as the Abbott government deals with divisions in its ranks over Archer Daniels Midland's $3.4 billion takeover offer for GrainCorp, the biggest grain handler in eastern Australia.

Women's fashion retailer Specialty Fashion Group, whose portfolio includes Katies and Millers, will branch out into menswear for the first time after it agreed to buy the Rivers shoe and apparel brand for $5 million cash. The deal will add $180 million in revenue to Specialty for fiscal 2014 as well as 160 Rivers stores across Australia.

Mortgage Choice has been fined for false advertising, after it wrongly claimed customers had saved an average of $10,000 over five years by refinancing their home loans. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission said the claims were based on calculations made by a group of 300 customers.