Insights

Revenue is on the rise and doubtful debts are down at US casinos. It may be just one indicator, but it's a good sign that American consumers are getting ready to blow their dough.

Hochtief CEO says Leighton was not influenced in exec decision

DataRoom: NZ dairy giant takes Bega stake on hopes it will win battle for WCB.

Local market expected to begin little changed on weak EU jobs data.

Local currency loses more than two US cents on euro zone unemployment data.

US stocks trade mixed in last local trading session of October as investors digest latest batch of corporate earnings.

Gold was hit hard overnight while improved jobless claims failed to move investors.

Weakening commodity prices indicate that China's growth spurt has lost momentum. A slowdown in the Middle Kingdom will have a greater impact on Australia than US tapering.

Jotters give a mixed assessment of NAB's results but all agree that personal banking has been Cameron Clyne's greatest triumph.

Fonterra takes a slice of Bega in the race for WCB, while Qantas forks out $60 million for Jetstar Japan.

The RBA governor drew a link this week between falling terms of trade and a lower dollar, but omitted a number of factors that could potentially push it higher.

The fate of the car industry theoretically rests with the Productivity Commission but Ian Macfarlane won't want to be known as the man who killed motoring.

The corporate regulator wants more investigative powers and tougher penalties for white-collar criminals, after a wide-ranging reassessment of the way it carries out its job.

National Australia Bank boss Cameron Clyne will be hoping a record full-year profit, an improvement in problematic British banking operations and a juicy dividend will boost his ranking among key stakeholders.

Qantas has confirmed that it will inject another $60 million into Jetstar Japan as a weaker yen pushes up the budget airline's fuel bill and its plans to establish a second base are delayed.

Mining juggernaut Newcrest nearly saw off a pesky legal challenge to its flagship Cadia operations on Wednesday when the NSW government tried to whisk through retrospective legislation late in the evening.