Insights

Huawei has broken its silence after the Coalition government decided to uphold a ban on the Chinese telco participating in the national broadband network, saying the company is "extremely disappointed".

To many investors, the stories of an Asia-led Australian agriculture boom are as ancient as our wide brown land. The relatively low valuations of ASX-listed agribusinesses compared with their international peers suggest Australian investors remain cautious about this long-promised bonanza.

The Australian sharemarket has closed slightly higher for the week, after shedding some of its gains following stellar earnings performances by two of the big four banks.

The battle over Australia's dairy assets is set to reach fever pitch, with two local companies now potential takeover targets in a scrum that includes five dairy players - three among the world's largest.

University students are out on the streets protesting about it, but the Abbott government is highly unlikely to sell its $20 billion-plus HECS student loan portfolio. Education Minister Christopher Pyne stirred up a hornets' nest last Monday when he said the government would consider it, but obstacles to a sale are probably insurmountable.

German media major Bauer has expanded its presence in New Zealand, striking a deal to buy a number of high-profile magazine titles from APN.

Wayne Sidwell, the man behind Wellcom Group, took a prominent position on the directors' trades front with his disposal of $13 million of stock.

Melbourne-based MAB Funds Management has moved to take advantage of strong institutional and private-sector interest in non-discretionary retail assets and put a neighbourhood shopping centre on the market.

Commercial office transactions in Melbourne's CBD have reached $1.8 billion and may hit a record $2.25 billion peak by year's end, research from Jones Lang LaSalle shows.

The nation's oldest department store appears to have been flooded since September's federal election by exuberant Liberal voters happy to celebrate the victory with a new suit, dress or bottle of perfume.

We're in the middle of teaching SMSF newbies about "timing". This week we're going to address how to do it yourself.

Another low-rise building on a super-site opposite Albert Park Lake will be replaced with a major apartment complex.

The telegenic Tom Waterhouse vowed in May that we would be seeing less of him on television following the controversy created by his spruiking of live odds across our most popular sports.

Corporate bookmakers have stepped up the tempo in the battle for the punter's dollar,writes Colin Kruger.

One of the world's many hypocrisies is the manner in which captains of industry tend to be highly critical of the capacity of governments to resolve the problems of the world - but then, when governments come up with ideas that suit their short-term interests, the captains back them in blind.

'Give me a break," said Charlie, my hard-working economic forecaster.