EDITOR'S PICKS

We've chosen six of the best and most-read commentary pieces from the past week, including Alan Kohler on which shares are being shorted most heavily, Robert Gottliebsen on why credit rationing is a real danger and Stephen Bartholomeusz on the end of Australia's credit-driven spending spree.

By Eureka Report ·
22 Feb 2013

The spending spree is over
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Australians have been spending like drunken sailors, drawing down home equity to fund consumption. Now, falling asset prices will produce some terrible hangovers.

A very short party
James Thomson
Yesterday's market euphoria over the Fed's expanded liquidity rescue package didn't last long. As the noise dies down, attention will shift back to grim economic realities.

Rudd refills the pork barrel
Barrie Cassidy
Kevin Rudd's refusal to roll back a culture of voter bribery and one off payments shows a lack of intestinal fortitude.

Bendigo shafts the shorters
Robert Gottliebsen
Bendigo Bank had more stock on loan than any other Australian company at the end of last month, but short sellers who plotted to profit from a share-price slump have now been seriously burned.

Who's on the short list?
Alan Kohler
Australia seems to be top of the league tables for stock lending and short selling. Here's why, and which shares are currently being shorted most heavily.

Devastation looms
Robert Gottliebsen
Curbing inflation during a global slowdown is bad enough, but with the pressure Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swan are putting on banks, our economy is in danger of a serious downward spiral.