EDITORS' PICKS

In this week's essential reading guide Kohler inspects the irony in the High Court's refugee ruling, Gottliebsen spots the Australian dollar's safe-haven potential, Bartholomeusz anticipates increased SABMiller hostility towards Foster's and Maley exposes the threats to Obama's stimulus package.

The High Court's supreme irony
Alan Kohler
Julia Gillard has essentially been held to account for sloppy Coalition policy by the High Court, and must now swallow the bitter pill of compromise to close down the asylum seeker issue.

CEO PULSE: A vote of no confidence
Alan Kohler
The mood of Australia's CEOs is fast deteriorating, and their view on the carbon tax doesn't make pretty reading for the government. But the tax isn't the only thing troubling them.

Blowing up a Swiss safe haven
Robert Gottliebsen
The Swiss appear to have rid the franc of safe haven status, leaving gold as potentially the last bastion of refuge for scared investors. But could the Australian dollar be another?

The 'L' word is back
Robert Gottliebsen
European bank stocks plunged overnight on the back of fear not seen since 2008. In contrast to last time, markets are scared of what they actually know – and Australia won't be immune.

SABMiller hostility on tap
Stephen Bartholomeusz
With seemingly little room to manoeuvre on price, SABMiller has been forced to become increasingly hostile in a bid to secure Foster's. But dampening the view of Foster's value won't be easy.

Branching out NAB's UK banks
Stephen Bartholomeusz
It's not clear why NAB would sell its British banks outright at the moment. Either Cameron Clyne fears the worst for European banking or there's a much more creative transaction in the works.

Obama's shaky jobs scaffold
Karen Maley
Barack Obama's spending package correctly identifies the 'spiral of negativity' threat to the US economy, but faces severe dilution from spending cuts and tax hikes elsewhere in the economy.

Watch out for a corporate margin call
Karen Maley
As markets shrug off debt fears, many analysts are seeing hope for a positive end to 2011. But others are warning of a reason for worry – namely the looming threats to corporate profits.

Reckless radicalism is taking hold
Rob Burgess
Australia has reached a dangerous point as political tensions take hold of the nation. But before we start changing the rules, we must take stock and realise that they are not broken.

Sudden sunshine amid Labor gloom
Rob Burgess
After weeks of bad news, Labor is starting to see some glimmers of hope. And with a bit of luck from the market gods, the ALP could yet avoid electoral armageddon.

Snapshot of a manufacturing crisis
Ziggy Switkowski
As the history of Kodak Australia shows, tactical assistance can help soften the blow of a manufacturing death – but the government cannot pick industry winners.

Labor's unlikely IR saviour
Ken Phillips
Major IR chaos will continue unless Labor implements quick, dramatic reform to the Fair Work Act. To do this, however, it must bring Tony Abbott on side.

A spring clean for property pessimism
Christopher Joye
Australia's economy is growing solidly, evidenced by GDP figures, but our housing market faces some considerable challenges. There is, however, cause for optimism.

TECHNOLOGY SPECTATOR: Microsoft wants RBA's change
Charis Palmer
With Microsoft Points, Facebook Credits and iTunes leading a virtual currency revolution, the Reserve Bank has no choice but to take notice.

CLIMATE SPECTATOR: Solar PV grid at parity! Now what?
Giles Parkinson
Australia is one of the first countries where solar PV is reaching grid parity, but it is also one of the least prepared for it. Perhaps it's time for the industry to change its sales pitch.