Insights

Australian and New Zealand mortgage debt levels are virtually identical. But while Glenn Stevens sees no problem, the RBNZ is afraid, and taking action.

The $1.9 billion industry fund First Super has taken the unusual step of warning members in its annual report against seeing financial planners not aligned with the fund.

Holden has withdrawn further from communication with the federal government.

Speculation of a special dividend along with takeover prospects has pushed the share price of the only listed health insurer, NIB Holdings, to new highs in recent trading, as the federal government moves to privatise Medibank Private.

Forbes Media, which publishes Forbes magazine and has been making an extensive push into digital media and native advertising, is up for sale, the company confirmed in an email to the staff Friday morning.

ANZ executives sample product

As more and more young people face being locked out of the housing market by soaring prices, it's time to acknowledge the obvious.

The company charged with developing revolutionary "spray-on skin" technology developed by Australian of the Year Fiona Wood and used to treat victims of the Bali bombing is facing a revolt by its two largest shareholders.

The battle for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter is far from over despite the dairy group's board backing a revised unconditional $9-a-share cash offer from Canadian company Saputo late on Friday.

A very big pay day is soon to arrive for an unlikely trio: the Australian Taxation Office, the Insurance Commission of Western Australia and ... wait for it ... an enigmatic Dutchman who was once investigated for smuggling a Rembrandt out of the US.

The Australian Shareholders Association has joined an institutional shareholder revolt against David Jones that is expected to deliver a first strike against the remuneration report of the department store operator at this Friday's shareholder meeting.

Virgin Australia's board faces a rebuke from small shareholders for its handling of a $350 million capital raising which they claim rewards its major airline investors Air New Zealand, Etihad and Singapore Airlines.

Pirates, ne'er-do-wells and scurvy-laden scallywags are just some of the negative stereotypes historically associated with rum.

Just before the election Joe Hockey issued a press release with the following promise: "The Coalition is committed to delivering lower, fairer and simpler taxes for Australian families and businesses."

Leighton Properties has raised $413.19 million through the sale of its 177 Pacific Highway project in North Sydney to the Singapore-based Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust, but Leighton will keep the lease as its new headquarters.

Stocks in the US closed in the green ahead of the weekend with the Dow Jones Industrial Average ending 85.48 points higher at 15,961.70 registering a sixth week of gains. The S&P 500 also edged higher gaining 7.56 points to close at 1,798.18.