Insights

Janet Yellen, President Barack Obama's choice to lead the US Federal Reserve over the next four years, has championed the idea that the Fed can stimulate the economy simply by speaking clearly.

Germany's huge trade surplus, a source of pride for Germans but an irritant to the rest of Europe, could undergo much tougher European Union scrutiny, officials in Berlin acknowledged.

Optimism about a strengthening in the housing cycle has prompted CSR to signal full-year earnings will come in at the top of analyst forecasts thanks to cost cutting and price rises.

Billionaire Kerry Stokes says the government should review a regulatory environment in which the media group he controls, Seven West Media, competes against rivals such as Google that do not pay any tax here.

Aurizon has received a stinging rebuke from shareholders for its executive pay, incurring a "first strike" despite it attempting to allay concerns by making it harder for managers to earn bonuses.

Westfield and its Westfield Retail Trust offshoot have reported steady sales for the third quarter, with the US and Europe eclipsing Australia with improved consumer sentiment.

Myer chief Bernie Brookes says his plans to step down from the nation's biggest department store next August remain on track despite the retailer set to enjoy its "time in the sun" just as a new CEO takes over.

Fortescue Metals chairman Andrew Forrest has raised the prospect that the company could wipe another big chunk off its debt by the end of the year, putting efforts to deleverage its balance sheet further ahead of schedule.

The sharemarket suffered its biggest fall since September 30 after a negative lead from offshore was compounded as investors took profits from bank stocks.

When the Chinese Communist Party released its master plan for reform on Tuesday night, at the third plenum of the 18th Party Congress, commentators and analysts struggled to find bold reform messages to cheer for.

Optimism about a strengthening in the housing cycle has prompted CSR to signal full-year earnings will come in at the top of analyst forecasts thanks to cost cutting and price rises.

Just days after receiving approval to build a $1.5 billion luxury hotel and casino at his Sydney Harbour development, Barangaroo, James Packer is making his most public pitch yet to build a $400 million casino resort in Sri Lanka.

Gail Kelly, the chief executive of Australia's second-biggest bank, Westpac, received a pay cut in 2013 but remains among the country's best-paid bosses.

Billionaire Kerry Stokes says the government should review a regulatory environment in which the media group he controls, Seven West Media, competes against rivals such as Google that do not pay any tax here.

Aurizon has received a stinging rebuke from shareholders for its executive pay, incurring a "first strike" despite it attempting to allay concerns by making it harder for managers to earn bonuses.

Westfield and its Westfield Retail Trust offshoot have reported steady sales for the third quarter, with the US and Europe eclipsing Australia with improved consumer sentiment.