The remarkable decision by ASIC yesterday to ban all short-selling for 30 days caused a delay in the opening of trade this morning as investors scrambled to work out what it all meant, writes Stephen Mayne.
Economy business
Green is the colour of money
The announcement of a $100 million research centre to focus on clean coal technology options is a welcome move by the federal government, writes Giles Parkinson.
What’s next ASIC? Ban trading altogether?
We now have the second most restricted market in the world, writes Michael Pascoe.
Improvising with the Fed
The rescue of American International Group might have settled the future of that organisation but it has done little to settle the market, writes Alan Kohler.
Wall Street II: Australia will lose billions on AIG and Lehman
Malcolm Turnbull’s opening two salvos in Question Time yesterday were right on the money, writes Stephen Mayne.
Sharia compliant financing scare hits Wall Street
Before you know it, nasty beady-eyed Saudi wahhabist ayatollahs will be taking over the US economy, perhaps in the same manner as they took over Griffith University and News Corporation, writes Irfan Yusuf.
Wall Street drags globe down the gurgler
There are no hiding places for investors looking for protection against the global slowdown that the Bush Republican administration and Wall Street has gifted the world, writes Glenn Dyer.
Cap-and-trade chaos
One of the unique features of cap-and-trade emission reduction schemes is the regulatory and legal exposures they bring with them, writes Giles Parkinson.
Finding $39million a month: the pips squeak at PBL
There is a very easy to understand equation at PBL Media, 75% owned by CVC and 25% by the James Packer-controlled Consolidated Media Holdings, writes Glenn Dyer.
Wheels come off the Phillip Island motorcycle GP
The motorcycle grand prix at the world famous Phillip Island circuit is just a month away, yet it has no major sponsor, writes Our man in the pit lane at Phillip Island.
ASX complicity on the “Macquarie Model” under the pump
The ASX Guidance Note talks tough on future floats but this is largely irrelevant because the “Macquarie Model” is a dead parrot., writes Stephen Mayne.
Market shocked by missing trade surplus
Just when we though our trade performance was on the up, a nasty reminder of our frailty, writes Glenn Dyer.
National accounts paint the economy as a snail
Its clear that the dramatic contraction in sales growth reported in some sectors of housing and retailing in the quarter coincided with the dramatic surge in petrol prices in particular, writes Glenn Dyer.
Big banks passed on rate cut with almost indecent haste
The RBA has stamped its authority the banking cartel: we can expect more pressure to come, writes Glenn Dyer.
Gustav’s death sees oil and commodity prices plunge
Hurricane Gustav had more of an impact in its death than in its assault on the US Gulf Coast and the various oil producing, refining and distribution facilities, writes Glenn Dyer.
Full marks to Woolies for fronting Four Corners
4 Corners provided plenty of ammunition for those concerned about Australia’s unique and hugely profitable grocery duopoly, writes Stephen Mayne.
Eddie Groves: “It’s the auditor’s fault”
Eddy Groves has come out swinging, claiming that ABC’s woes lie at the foot of former auditors, Pitcher Partners, and not the company itself, writes Adam Schwab.
Black Friday: we’ll never see another day like it for losses
Who would have thought that almost 10% of the biggest losses announced over the past two decades could happen on the one day. Stephen Mayne charts last Friday’s historic action.
Economists: Rate cut a little bit of theatre
Tomorrow’s much-touted rate cut by the Reserve Bank will have little real impact on household budget, say four leading Australian economists. But it’s a welcome signal.
Morning Market Report
The highs and lows from today’s sharemarket.
GP survey reveals heavy reliance on drug reps
More than 70 per cent of Australian general practitioners regularly see drug company sales representatives, writes Ray Moynihan.
ABC Learning nears death as desperate Gunns asks for $430m
After days of argy bargy, Gunns has not come up with a formula for capital raising writes Stephen Mayne.
AWB victory edges closer
AWB constitutional reform is looking more likely by the day with John Anderson’s statement in support yesterday a major milestone given he created the farmer gerrymander in the first place, writes Stephen Mayne.
Kohler: Bernanke’s miracle a testament to American capitalism
The export boom in the United States and the mining investment boom in Australia are simply stunning, writes Alan Kohler.
Time to clean out the sceptics from the Business Council
Despite the change of government, it would appear that the carbon club remains in control of the peak business body for CEOs, writes Stephen Mayne.
