Insights

Chevron, the operator of the $52 billion Gorgon natural gas venture in Western Australia, says some ''uncertainties'' remain in the construction of the project after its budget jumped 21 per cent last year.

News Corporation boss Rupert Murdoch has taken a thinly veiled swipe at management consultants from Boston Consulting Group, lamenting the ''damage'' done to his media empire by ''ignorant consultants''.

ANZ chief executive Mike Smith said he expects the Australian dollar to maintain its strength as long as the US Federal Reserve keeps up monthly asset purchases.

Dr Philip Pells is no greenie. He consults to coal companies. But when it comes to AGL's controversial coal seam gas project at Gloucester, NSW, this engineer and water expert is strident in his criticism.

One of China's top corporate officials has reassured Australian miners the process of urbanisation in the Asian nation has several decades to run and will continue stoking strong demand for minerals.

Coles has paid $1 to officially become the owner of a $40 million Sydney supermarket leased to arch rival Woolworths, after it was caught using an elaborate tax-haven structure to conceal its identity as the owner.

Exactly one year ago, OceanaGold chief executive Mick Wilkes promised high-calibre institutions would come onto the junior's share registry if its new Didipio mine, in the Philippines proved a success.

Nine Entertainment's prospectus, to be officially launched on Monday, will show its first-half earnings will grow at a faster rate than the second half, but full-year television profit will still come in at about $80 million less than the equivalent projected earnings from its rival Seven.

Paladin Energy chairman Rick Crabb has urged shareholders to cool their lust for executive scalps at the troubled uranium miner, saying that succession planning was in train and that board changes would be counterproductive while an asset sell-down was under way.

Virgin Australia is pushing for Sydney Airport to build a rapid-transit system between its terminals after baulking at plans to plonk all of the airline's operations at what is now the international terminal.

National Australia Bank has called for a deeper and more liquid corporate bond market to boost Australia's financial system and bring it in line with other developed economies.

The US economy probably slowed in the third quarter and employers hired fewer workers in October, indicating expansion was losing momentum even before the partial government shutdown, economists expect reports to show this week.

Rupert takes aim at his own shop

One of China's top corporate officials has reassured Australian miners the process of urbanisation in the Asian nation has several decades to run and will continue stoking strong demand for minerals.

Coles has paid $1 to officially become the owner of a $40 million Sydney supermarket leased to rival Woolworths after it was caught using an elaborate tax haven structure to conceal its identity as the owner.

Dr Philip Pells is no greenie. He consults to coal companies. But when it comes to AGL's controversial coal seam gas project at Gloucester, NSW, this engineer and water expert is strident in his criticism.

Chevron, the operator of the $52 billion Gorgon natural gas venture in Western Australia, says some "uncertainties" remain in the construction of the project after its budget last year jumped 21 per cent.