EDITOR'S PICKS

My name is Mr Market, and I'm a QE-aholic
Alan Kohler
This year's market correction foreshadows an eventual, painful withdrawal from quantitative easing as the US economy sobers up. Like American currency appreciation, it shows stimulus has been working

Australia's banks are bleeding hot money
Stephen Bartholomeusz
If just the Fed's hint at a potential quantitative easing wind-back was enough to slug Australian bank stocks, be wary of broader market effects when QE actually ends.

The unwelcome home sign
Stephen Koukoulas
House prices are falling despite favourable affordability, low interest rates and rising wages. If weakness gains momentum, the central bank may have to react.

How Australia can build the next boom
Jessica Irvine
The government should cash in on the low interest rate by creating an independent agency, similar to the Reserve Bank, to nurture a new era of infrastructure construction.

The currency union that'd drag Australia south
Oliver Marc Hartwich
Like an All Black prop, the push for a trans-Tasman monetary union refuses to yield. But too many elements for an ANZAC dollar are missing.

KGB INTERVIEW: Bill Shorten
Kohler & Bartholomeusz
The federal minister says productivity levels are soaring, Australian manufacturing has a strong future despite Ford's closure and the country needs a speedier IR dispute resolution mechanism.

Chinese urban legends stumped Labor
John Lee
Julia Gillard’s budget missed forecasts by miles because of misguided notions about Chinese urbanisation and iron ore consumption that are still widely accepted in Australia.

How Abbott would raise Hilmer from the dead
Alan Kohler
After a prolonged holiday from Australian microeconomic reform, the Coalition has plans to stimulate investment with competition measures initially proposed in the Hilmer reforms.

BHP's coal sweat
Stephen Bartholomeusz
BHP Billiton’s coal position would be unsustainable even if that market hadn’t suffered a structural shift. Big cost reductions are its only chance at a viable future.

CLIMATE SPECTATOR: Gone to a Better Place
Daniel Palmer
Electric car group Better Place was innovative, exciting and potentially revolutionary but its business plan fell short. It's no surprise to see its demise.

Dollar dips and rate cuts go hand in hand
Stephen Koukoulas
The market is right to be pricing in prospects of further rate cuts in the months ahead, even if the Australian dollar drops below 90 US cents.

FAMILY BIZ: Beware the ticking conflict bomb
Leon Gettler
Family business conflicts can't be avoided and how they're handled makes all the difference. With family dynamics, business issues and ownership all in the mix – poor conflict management can lead to an explosion.

Why Abbott's lighting fires in Geelong
Rob Burgess
Tony Abbott's suggestion that national disability scheme bureaucrats be used to fill Geelong's economic hole left by the Ford closure is clever, but also unlikely and confusing.

Canberra serves up a political donations debacle
Bernard Keane
Both parties have made a meal of the latest underhanded political donations bill, which is likely to see parliament once again leave the real issue unresolved for some time.

Light-headed over Buzzfeed’s fluffy formula
Ben Shepherd
CNN and YouTube are the first giants to attach themselves to quirky content provider Buzzfeed, a website many say has uncovered a digital age goldmine.