Insights

Jotters argue Joe Hockey's decision to green light Saputo is too quick, while a speech by Abbott's lead economic advisor rankles.

Saputo still has hurdles to jump in its bid for WCB, while Air New Zealand denies it has its eyes on Virgin.

The Chinese Communist Party is keen to see its SOEs emerge as world-class multinational players, and still determined to grow the sector in the only way it knows how.

Telstra's lead in Australia seems unshakeable and it's NBN windfall is secure. But the telco's prospects in new market categories inside and outside of home are less certain.

When Prime Minister Tony Abbott chose Maurice Newman as chairman of his business advisory council - to give senior politicians "dependable and fearless advice" - he picked a businessman whose views appear to be trapped in a time warp.

News Corp's shares took a tumble on Tuesday after the media group reported its Australian newspapers dragged down its first quarterly result as a stand-alone company.

Australia is the most difficult place in the world to start a new agribusiness project even as demand from Asia's middle class surges, says Deepak Saxena, who just completed one of the largest greenfield agribusiness projects in Australia.

BSkyB pleaded with European football officials for three days to reopen negotiations for the live television rights to Champions League matches after BT entered exclusive discussions.

The Chinese have become the biggest travel spenders in the world, and hotels are taking notice. Across Europe and the US, back-office planners and front desk clerks are learning about Chinese customs to attract new travellers and keep them returning.

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has appointed three telecoms veterans to the board of the company charged with building Australia's national broadband network, one of whom owns a significant number of Telstra shares, while another had left NBN Co on unceremonious terms.

The chief executive of one of the country's largest power generators has quit after an investigation into unauthorised changes to the employment contracts of some senior officials.

Crikey! Writers want to get paid?

Treasurer Joe Hockey's big tick for Saputo of Canada's $449 million takeover offer for Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory Company improves the odds on him also approving Archer Daniels Midland's $3.4 billion bid for GrainCorp, but the politics of the two deals are different.

One of Australia's most senior bankers, Westpac's Brian Hartzer, has denied that lenders are lowering credit standards in the rush to sign up new customers.

Asciano has urged the Abbott government to tighten industrial relations laws - including workers' ability to take protected strike action - "sooner rather than later".

Seven Group lowered its earnings guidance again on Tuesday as the slowdown in mining services hit its WesTrac business, which announced plans to cut 630 staff.