Insights

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.

National Australia Bank chief Cameron Clyne is increasingly confident the lender can deliver a long-awaited lift in performance over the coming year, amid signs its troubled British arm is finally on the mend.

Black October was anything but for Australian investors, as broad gains, fuelled by speculation that the US Federal Reserve would continue printing money, pushed the local market to five-year highs.

Tatts reported strong growth in earnings on Thursday but flagged its wagering business would need further investment as competition with corporate bookmakers intensifies.

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.

Watchdog keeps eye on pennies

The Senate inquiry into the performance of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission will conclude that ASIC needs to be a more proactive and effective corporate law enforcer, and the recommendations ASIC put to it on Thursday will nudge it in that direction if they are adopted.

Woolworths boss Grant O'Brien has welcomed the end to the year-long political campaign in the lead-up to the federal election, saying it should eventually feed into higher consumer confidence, but the retailer has not seen a sizeable boost in spending since election day.

The shake-up in the dairy sector took a fresh twist late on Thursday with New Zealand heavyweight Fonterra seeking to acquire a 10 per cent stake in Bega Cheese.

Flight Centre has had a strong start to the financial year as Australians' love affair with travelling shows no signs of abating despite fluctuations in the dollar. The travel agency told shareholders it was on track to reach its target of an 8 to 12 per cent rise in underlying profits this year to as much as $385 million.

Toyota Australia has followed Holden by asking employees to compromise on workplace terms in an effort to cut costs. The Japanese-owned car maker will not ask staff to take a pay cut, but instead give up "outdated" workplace practices as it aims to shave $3800 off the price of building its Camry sedan by 2018.

Woolworths boss Grant O'Brien has welcomed the end to the year-long political campaign in the lead-up to the federal election, saying it should eventually feed into higher consumer confidence, but the retailer has not seen a sizeable boost in spending since election day.

The shake-up in the dairy sector took a fresh twist late on Thursday with New Zealand heavyweight Fonterra seeking to acquire a 10 per cent stake in Bega Cheese.

Flight Centre has had a strong start to the financial year as Australians' love affair with travelling shows no signs of abating despite fluctuations in the dollar. The travel agency told shareholders it was on track to reach its target of an 8 to 12 per cent rise in underlying profits this year to as much as $385 million.