Insights

It's been a strange journey for Treasurer Joe Hockey to the point where he has hired a man who ran one of Australia's banking giants to conduct an inquiry into a financial system that the big banks dominate.

Australia's largest business lobby group says regulators need to become more accountable.

The sharemarket fell for the fourth consecutive session as investors fretted over slightly more hawkish Federal Reserve minutes and sluggish manufacturing data from China.

The media regulator has indicated it would not object to a takeover offer for troubled broadcaster Ten Network from News Corp, but would examine all the Australian media assets owned by the Murdoch family.

Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens says he remains "open-minded" about using foreign exchange intervention to weaken Australia's currency.

The Victorian government has delayed until 2015 at the earliest - well after the next state election - any consideration of the development of unconventional gas reserves in the state, amid concerns over an electoral backlash on the issue.

Fiorente's Melbourne Cup win may have left the punters in clover, but it seems the bookies took a drubbing.

Premier Investments has joined other bricks-and-mortar retailers in calling for the federal government to get rid of the GST exemption on imported goods under $1000.

BHP has shrugged off shareholder reservations in continuing to develop its Canadian potash project. If successful, it will create a fifth pillar of its diversified portfolio - one that will rely on China's growing appetite.

Local market falls below 5,300 in subdued session, gold miners under pressure.

Any suitor that throws in a bid for the cheese maker may bite off more than they can chew.

The merits of forward guidance remain hotly debated as the policy continues to confuse markets. The value of a clear communications strategy has never been more important.

Both share sales were oversubscribed, according to bankers.

Our market is softer after mixed messages stateside, with gold miners the main casualty from tapering talk.

Miner's chairman sees Chinese growth above 7% in year ahead, confident of US recovery despite the risks of unwinding stimulus.

Canberra is taking its first steps in determining just how big an impact technological disruptors will have on bank profitability in the coming years.