Insights

The regulator of accounting firms in the United States says Deloitte & Touche for two consecutive years had failed to correct deficiencies in its audit procedures to its satisfaction.

Timing is everything, but it helps to know current trends, writes Christine Long.

I recently received the following message on LinkedIn from a business owner I had never met or heard of: "What sort of a stunt do I have to pull to get a story on my business?"

The David Jones board was smacked with a strongly supported "first strike" as investors registered their displeasure over controversial share trades by directors, and the untimely resignation of chief executive Paul Zahra.

The strong iron ore price has restored the Fortescue founder's fortunes, writes Max Mason.

The sharemarket lost ground this week as investors absorbed news the US Federal Reserve might begin "tapering" its bond-buying program within months.

Murray Goulburn boss Gary Helou has attacked the federal government, claiming it has not given the co-operative a "level playing field" in its fight to take over Warrnambool Cheese & Butter.

Rio Tinto chairman Jan du Plessis was optimistic about the prospects for China changing economic gears, and relying on consumer spending rather than capital spending, as he warned of "bad and lazy habits" that have emerged in Australia amid the stagnation in Europe.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission suffers from a dual personality: regulating and assisting business while protecting investors, write Adele Ferguson, Ben Butler and Ruth Williams.

The Productivity Commission's raising of the possibility of lifting the age pension threshold to 70 is a warning to get serious about saving for retirement.

The war between the CEOs of Qantas and Virgin escalated this week in what has become a deeply personal fight, writes Matt O'Sullivan.

The sharemarket lost ground this week as investors absorbed news that the US Federal Reserve might begin "tapering" its bond-buying program within months.

Skyscraper designed to tower over the city

A large sub-regional shopping centre in Rosebud has changed hands as investors target higher returns from non-discretionary retail properties.

Prominent developer Simonds Homes has been accused of waging a dirty tricks campaign against a former business partner in a bid to boost homes sales to mainland Chinese property investors.

DORIS LESSING WRITER 22-10-1919 - 17-11-2013