EDITORS' PICKS

Rinehart won't find a Fairfax megaphone
Alan Kohler
To influence Fairfax strategy and management, Gina Rinehart will need to buy more than 15 per cent of the company. And if her aim is to make money, Fairfax is a big gamble.

Fair Work's mammoth IR misstep
Alan Kohler
The problem with yesterday's equal pay ruling for community sector workers is that it poses a major threat to enterprise bargaining.

The Aussie bank saviour who got away
Robert Gottliebsen
Now that former NAB executive Frederick Goodwin has lost his knighthood, perhaps it's time the Australian government rewarded him – or his wife – for not making the same mistakes here.

Will China trigger a property revival?
Robert Gottliebsen
After fears of an exodus from Australia's property market, Chinese buyers have returned to the inner suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne.

Swan's blind bank bashing
Stephen Bartholomeusz
The federal treasurer and others have already begun pressuring banks ahead of next week's RBA rates decision, but a closer look at the funding pressures they're facing reveals the attacks to be unfounded.

Harnessing Facebook's raw talents
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Facebook has filed for its IPO and while it is impressively profitable, the social media network's business model is still a work in progress.

Bernanke holds a housing ace
Karen Maley
As US households watch the value of their largest asset being whittled away, it's increasingly likely the Fed will trigger a QE3 targeting residential property.

A Greek writedown chain reaction?
Karen Maley
Just as Jean-Claude Juncker's has admitted Greek debt writedown negotiations are "ultra difficult”, investors are becoming increasingly worried Portugal may follow suit.

The danger in Swan's rates crusade
Rob Burgess
The frenzy of political posturing against the big four's interest rate moves is out of step with Australia's real needs. And in the age of Twitter, that's more hazardous than ever.

Watch house prices fall in 2012
Steve Keen
As the number of first home buyers thins and mortgage debt decelerates, Australian house prices are set to fall by up to 10 per cent this calendar year.

An EU fix stuck at German denial
Oliver Marc Hartwich
Germany must recognise it is as much a part of the eurozone's current problems as Greece if it wants to offer workable solutions. Fiscal austerity alone is not enough.

Facebook's mobile wild card
Tony Faure
The social network's ad revenue is still relatively young, and it's likely to steam ahead as it begins to roll out advertising for the site on mobile devices.

A time for workplace ageism
Caleb Samson
Michael Gill's decision to sue Fairfax Media has thrown a spotlight on the issue of ageism in the workplace – and it's one businesses need to come to grips with.