EDITORS' PICKS

A grim outlook for commissions
Alan Kohler
Just because the report from the joint parliamentary committee did not explicitly recommend banning commissions on financial products, don't think that they won't go.

Doing business in the dark
Alan Kohler
By sticking to his guns on emissions trading, Malcolm Turnbull has finally delivered the Australian business community some certainty. It might be of impending doom, but at least it's certain.

The carbon horror show
Robert Gottliebsen
The government's carbon trading legislation will strip billions out of Australian company earnings. It is little wonder the full horror of this policy proposal is starting to dawn on some Liberal Party members.

We're scaring off housing investors
Robert Gottliebsen
Rising interest rates are shrinking the already depleted pool of home investors and causing a chronic under-supply of housing. This is a vicious cycle that land tax is greatly exacerbating.

Why Telstra and Conroy can wait
Stephen Bartholomeusz
If the Senate fails to pass the proposed legislative changes to telecommunications regulation prior to the Christmas break it will be a good thing – and not just for Telstra.

Murdoch gains on Google
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Rupert Murdoch's plans to monetise his online content could move closer to fruition if Microsoft proceeds with its plan to pay publishers to leave Google and list their content exclusively on Bing.

What's wrong skip?
Claire Delahunty
Russia's decision to ban Australia's kangaroo meat has ravaged harvesters and meat processors, but may be the catalyst for creating a more professional industry with up to seven times the kangaroo head-count.

Passing the point of no return
Bill Gross, Pimco
With returns on cash deposits at near negligible levels, where does the individual investor go next? 

Turnbull's last stand
Alister Drysdale
The revolt launched by Howard loyalists among Liberal ranks may yet claim Malcolm Turnbull, but the dissent highlights the identity crisis in the party.