EDITOR'S PICKS

Five reasons I'm bullish for 2013
Alan Kohler
As money shifts back into equities around the world, 2013 is shaping up to be a 'risk-on' year. And there's good reason to expect the trend will continue.

Li Na serves Australia a tourism Grand Slam
Robert Gottliebsen
Only recently Melbourne stood to lose the Asia Pacific Grand Slam to Shanghai, but Li Na's imminent appearance in the women's final is about to vindicate the $400 million invested to keep the event in Australia – big time.

Combet's timely rebuke of dollar denial
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Industries waiting for the dollar to drop are living dangerously. Greg Combet is right that business models have to change – and not just in manufacturing.

Kerry Stokes: Australian Of The Year?
James Kirby
A donation of three Victoria Crosses by Kerry Stokes has captured the public imagination, but is it enough to see him bag the celebrated title?

Why rates have no further to fall
Stephen Koukoulas
An improving global economy, local house prices and Australian dollar stability will be the Reserve Bank's focus in upcoming meetings, and they're set to disappoint analysts who think the rate cut cycle will continue.

Currency wars on our doorstep
Alan Kohler
Japan's entry into the currency war should set alarm bells ringing. It brings the battle uncomfortably close to Australian borders.

Private electricity and public cowardice
Alan Kohler
Privatising Queensland's electricity is perhaps the best thing Campbell Newman could do for his state. The only reason not to go ahead is gutlessness.

Australia Inc is walking into a trap
Rob Burgess
Wayne Swan is glossing over the economic threats closing in behind us as trade-exposed businesses continue to scale back investment. And market events could well block the road forward to long-term wealth.

A toothless Tiger caught in an aviation duel
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Tiger Airways' Australian quarterly figures show just how canny Singapore Airlines was to put the discount carrier under Virgin's wing as it uses both airlines to fight a proxy war with Qantas.

Iraq pours oil on an LNG fire
Robert Gottliebsen
Iraq's first new oil discovery in 30 years is another indicator that the world will soon become flush with oil and gas. Australia's LNG plants, with their inflated construction costs, could take a hit.

The savvy foreigner usurping our super opportunity
Christopher Mason
Australia's super funds are asleep at the switch as Canadians – looking for secure, long-term returns – move in on infrastructure assets.

Time wrought Gillard's transformation
Michael Gawenda
Not long ago, Tony Abbott held the upper hand in media coverage and it felt like Australia had no prime minister at all. Ironically, as we enter an election year, the tables have turned.

Buyers beware of Chinese data
John Lee
The most recent official Chinese economic data is riddled with convenient contradictions, so while the outlook appears generally bright, investors had better conduct thorough due diligence.

The spectre protecting a sinful little Cyprus
Oliver Marc Hartwich
Cyprus is in a similar spot to Greece but its crisis is more urgent, the creditors more sinister and the timing much worse. However, fear of creating a eurozone precedent means the tiny nation will survive its sins.