Insights

The float of Dick Smith in early December doesn't stack up - or at least the $520 million price tag doesn't. It just doesn't sound credible to make a three-plus bagger return on an investment held for only a year. On Tuesday morning the Woolworths boss Grant O'Brien, who sold the consumer electronics business to private equity group Anchorage for $94 million, will be asked by his shareholders to explain that commercial riddle.

Banks are reining in home lending to investors in resource sector hot spots, as lower spending by miners hits regional property markets and prompts banks to reassess their exposure.

The market has started the week higher, with global investor sentiment boosted by record highs on Wall Street.

A global deal to lift sanctions against Iran could unleash a flood of oil onto world markets by next year just as crude output picks up in Libya, Iraq, and North America, triggering a slide in prices and a major shake-up of the energy landscape.

The dollar is on track to record its biggest monthly loss against the US dollar since June, amid Reserve Bank jawboning, rising Chinese interest rates, commodity price weakness and heightened expectations of a near-term wind-back of the Federal Reserve's stimulus program.

Saputo's chief executive has issued a "call to action" to Warrnambool Cheese & Butter shareholders, throwing them an extra $10 million in a final effort to clinch control of the company.

There is more to data centres than space and power. IT Pro has gathered advice on what to look for when considering new facilities. bit.ly/I8EcNF

Good venture capitalists do more than just invest money in start-ups. They help the business grow by taking seats on the board, mentoring, steering and making sure ideas pass a litmus test, say experienced New York-based Adam Rothenberg and Warren Hogarth. bit.ly/1cKHyji

Attacks on the Android mobile operating system rose by more than 30 per cent in the three months to July, while spam leapt by 125 per cent, according to the latest threats report by antivirus maker McAfee. Researchers found attackers often attempt to avoid detection by splitting functionality of malware among a number of components, such as a two-part program consisting of a Trojan app that downloads second-stage malicious software. The report lists more than 700,000 new samples of Android malware.

Microsoft is hoping to bring 3D printing to the masses with the launch of a free 3D printing app for Windows 8.1 devices.

Traditional manufacturing is not under threat just yet, but 3D printers are being used to make smaller customised runs of spare parts on site.

Robust demand for LNG should see the sector withstand threats of increased supply abroad and changes to the gas pricing mechanism.

Four strategies to get the next generation in the home ownership door.

Calculating pension starting dates, franking credits on ETFs, and more.

Do you know how much super you should have by now?

The use of Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements by SMSFs is on the rise.