+ Share slump hits richest where it hurts: in the pocket—AUSTRALIA'S rich-listers are looking a little bit poorer after panic selling wiped a further $35 billion from the sharemarket in trading today. The pl...

+ The bank within a smartphone that could help lift millions out of drudgery—The iPhone has become a symbol of something Steve Jobs never envisioned: Chinese sweatshops.

+ Industry suffers for surplus—The overall aim of the recent federal budget, to return to surplus, is certainly a responsible one at such an uncertain time for the global financial ...

+ Tough times dragging on—THE move to appoint administrators to St Hilliers's construction business is further evidence of the parlous state of the sector and experts warn of m...

+ Price-comparison app set to put traditional retailers in a flap—Imagine walking into a department store, trying on a pair of shoes or moisturiser then pointing your mobile phone at the barcode to get a list of real...

+ Global crisis as shares crash—Global financial markets have slid into a crisis of confidence, with depositors reportedly pulling their money out of banks in Greece and Spain, and A...

+ Hammer falls on a glittering career—Life as a lawyer could never match the adrenalin rush of valuing gems for the great auction houses, writes Miriam Steffens.

+ Be mobile web friendly 'or lose your customers'—Australian businesses that don't have a mobile-friendly online presence may as well let their competitors walk into their stores and poach their custo...

+ How the humble app is changing the face of shopping - and retailers—The online shopping revolution, enabled through smartphones, is coming whether stores like it or not, writes Adele Ferguson.

+ A land of opportunity again—INVESTORS in the Americas have returned to their own market with a vengeance, with the region beating out all comers as the best-performing region, ac...

+ Assets offer super benefits—PRIVATE investors have taken advantage of lower interest rates by snapping up smaller assets through spirited auctions before the end of the financial...

+ Still pretty but less vacant—IN A sign that conditions on the north shore are improving, albeit slowly, iNova Pharmaceuticals (Australia) has taken up space in a new leasing deal ...

+ All things normal with lead role for monetary policy—In case you missed it, the secretary to the Treasury has spelt it out: with the budget's planned return to surplus next financial year, fiscal policy ...

+ Industrial evolution—THE conversion of former warehouses into shops, offices and housing has breathed life into the development sector and suburbs that were once industria...

+ Intervention v free market: Nasser digs himself into a hole—I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees. Asked the Lord above, have mercy now, save poor Bob if you please.

+ Tough times for developers—PROPERTY developers are expected to be under pressure for at least the next two years amid warnings that house prices are not likely to show much impr...

+ Locals brace for final act of Greek tragedy—The Australian economy is unlikely to escape unscathed if events in the eurozone take a turn for the worse. Clancy Yeates reports.

+ NEWSMAKER JAMIE DIMON—America's leading banker was left a little red faced this week, writes Damien Murphy.

+ BHP story that almost never was—Ladies and gentlemen, we have the great pleasure to unveil today a landmark charitable initiative that will assist the underprivileged in their fight ...

+ Brain drain is more a practical reality—Today's detailed look by Good Weekend magazine at the emergence of a large, interconnected community of Australian information technology entrepreneur...

+ Why shale gas is still the next big thing—Mining companies are increasingly taking an interest in shale after it took off in the US, writes Paddy Manning.

+ Success in short term is a real long shot—The structural shift to digital is changing the landscape, writes Kirsty Simpson.

+ Price war to intensify as mobiles give power to buyers—IMAGINE walking into a department store, trying on a pair of shoes or moisturiser, then pointing your mobile phone at the barcode to get a list of rea...

+ European money markets dry up—AUSTRALIAN banks have been forced to shift to a cautious footing on funding with money markets in Europe effectively closing, says the ANZ chief execu...

+ Resources lead slide in big names—SOME of the biggest stocks fell the hardest this week. The resources sector led the sharemarket lower and BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals...

+ Budget cloud's silver lining—Victorian budget a mixed bag for commercial property market, says Knight Frank.

+ Canberra pays $40m for land to build airport quarantine centre—AMP Capital and Folkestone have sold 144 hectares at Mickleham, near Melbourne Airport.

+ Billabong founder supports chairman—Gordon Merchant has dispelled rumours that Ted Kunkel, could soon be asked to leave.

+ How heavy hitters took heavy hits—Australia's rich-listers are looking a little bit poorer after panic selling swept the sharemarket.

+ Shale the next big thing in gas—It's a resource that could double gas reserves and the hunt is on for fields that may dominate future production.

+ Old Castlemaine Gaol ripe for development—Mount Alexander Shire Council is selling one of Castlemaine's most significant attractions.

+ Battered media sector keeps its fingers crossed—Advertising revenue is the very oxygen of a sector a bit short of puff.

+ Company bigwigs step up to the plate and stock up—Buying and selling turnovers were roughly equal this week, against a background of falling prices.

+ Eurozone's storms to unsettle trade winds—The Greek crisis is not expected to send a tsunami this far south, but Australia's economy will feel the tremors.

+ A blazing IPO start—Facebook has burst out of the IPO gate with an initial public offering that has raised billions.

+ Miner slugged with $95m tax bill—Businessman Tony Sage's Cape Lambert Resources has entered a lengthy trading halt.

+ You too can be a forex trader but be warned, it's a gamble—So the $A goes through parity and every Tom, Dick and Harry is suddenly a currency expert.

+ Weaker sharemarket down and falling—The sharemarket ended a horror week in which investors worried about Europe's finances.

+ Banks to tread with care—Global financial markets here and in Asia were jolted yesterday by fresh fractures in Europe.

+ Greece's options: a rock, a hard place, and oblivion—Whether Greece is in or out of the eurozone, its future remains grim.

+ Jac puts a j'accuse to government—But the BHP chairman's leap into the trade of free-market demagoguery reveals him as a master of none.

+ Politics is just a diversion as BHP whacks the zombie—Jac Nasser's publicity campaign had the media well and truly sucked in.

+ Situation 'normal': time to put fiscal policies away—The Treasury says managing demand is the affair of monetary policy.

+ Ray of hope in Retravision cash-flow woe—Retravision stores in Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales will continue to trade.

+ Talented Aussies follow smart money abroad—The question needs to be asked: Is there a way to stop the Australian brain drain?

+ Stores need a mobile presence—Google says Australians lead the world in using smartphones as in-store shopping tools.

+ The app crisis alarming retail—As consumers increasingly consult their smartphones during their shopping trips, the old ways of doing business are facing irrelevancy.

+ Cape Lambert halts trading after $95m tax slug—Tony Sage's Cape Lambert Resources has gone into a lengthy trading halt today after being hit with a $95m tax bill.

+ BHP's big message: India isn't making it—Amidst the petty local political noise, the really big message in the speeches by BHP's chairman and CEO this week was entirely missed: implicit in th...

+ Billabong founder Merchant backs chairman Kunkel—Major shareholder Gordon Merchant has moved to dispel rumours that chairman Ted Kunkel may soon be asked to step down.

+ Paladin says Malawi mine at full output—Paladin Energy's Kayelekera uranium mine in Malawi is back at full production today after striking workers returned to the site.

+ Paladin says Malawi mine return to full output—Paladin Energy's Kayelekera uranium mine in Malawi is back at full production today after striking workers returned to the site.

+ Market crash lifts chances of rate cut—Plunging shares and investor jitters driven by the European crisis have increased the chances of another 50 basis point cut by the Reserve Bank.

+ How to create the Silicon Billabong—Lamenting the fact Australians travel to Silicon Valley to further their IT careers is a little bit like worrying about our golfers joining the PGA.

+ Administration fears for Retravision—Retravision Southern reassures employees that they will be paid if the company falls into administration.

+ Australian business news review - May 18—Today's financial news from the papers.

+ Greece downgraded on euro exit risk—Fitch ratings agency has downgraded crisis-hit Greece by one notch to CCC, citing the ‘‘heightened risk’’ that the country may be forced to abandon th...

+ ABC set to overhaul news programs—Journalists and production crews are preparing for an overhaul of the way they operate.

+ Magic with an iPhone—Fairfax launches technology allowing readers to wave their iPhones over an article to see extra content.

+ May the Games revenue stream begin—Every four years some lucky city gets the chance to remake its future and fortunes.

+ Olympic sponsorship dollars drying up—The market for sponsoring Olympic athletes has been slowly dropping since the Games in 2000.

+ ACCC to investigate internet clothing deals—AUSTRALIA'S competition watchdog will launch an investigation into clothing importers who are reaching agreements with international suppliers to stop...

+ Refund delays sow seeds of doubt—When a company cannot pay its debts as and when they fall due they are insolvent. When an individual cannot pay their debts they are bankrupt. When a ...

+ ABC set to overhaul news programs—Journalists and production crews are preparing for an overhaul of the way they operate.

+ Vogue appoints new editor—Edwina McCann has been appointed editor of Vogue Australia, following the resignation of Kirstie Clements.

+ Magic with an iPhone—Fairfax launches technology allowing readers to wave their iPhones over an article to see extra content.

+ May the Games revenue stream begin—Every four years some lucky city gets the chance to remake its future and fortunes.

+ Olympic sponsorship dollars drying up—The market for sponsoring Olympic athletes has been slowly dropping since the Games in 2000.

+ Records order in rugby scrum—Canterbury has been ordered to provide sales and other trade information to the Australian Rugby Union.

+ The mall the merrier for Centro revamp—The revamp of the new debt-free Centro Retail Australia has stepped up a notch.

+ Women's fashion chains finally find suitor—There might be light at the end of the tunnel in attempts to offload women's fashion chains.

+ Centro bolsters balance sheet with $690m disposals—THE revamp of the new debt-free Centro Retail Australia has stepped up a notch with the successful sale of a half share in three key shopping centres ...

+ Stop the presses, new ASIC website falls short—In a sign of the times, Australia's corporate watchdog is starting up a new website.

+ The truth behind delay in issuing tax refunds—When a government is trying to produce a surplus, it puts off paying costs as long as possible.

+ Billabong's chief wins key backer—Billabong founder and major shareholder Gordon Merchant has backed the appointment of former Target head Launa Inman to run the struggling surfwear gr...

+ IGA takes gourmet approach—Supermarket chain IGA is to take on its larger competitors with a national rollout of concept stores.

+ Warning on Indonesia's rising economic nationalism—Canberra's diplomat in Jakarta warns of a rising tide of economic nationalism in Indonesia.

+ Watch the smaller miners fall over first—Australian investors need to look beyond recent commodity price falls and BHP Billiton's comment that its development plans are being down-sized. It i...

+ Bank checks risk after JPMorgan—On hearing of JPMorgan Chase's billion-plus loss, Ian Narev was calling Alden Toevs.

+ CBA ready for Greek shock—Commonwealth Bank has plans to deal with shocks from a possible Greek exit from the euro.

+ IAG driving towards UK exit signs—Insurance Australia Group will push ahead with a formal review of its loss-making UK business, in a move that could lead to an exit from the troubled ...

+ BHP joint venture loses silver lining—BHP Billiton has quit a small joint venture to define the Altia copper and silver prospect in Queensland.

+ BHP wants to be free of unions—BHP Billiton has one key goal in demanding reform of industrial relations law: it wants its managers to be free to manage the business as they see fit...

+ Crunch time for smaller miners—Australian investors need to look beyond recent commodity price falls and BHP's comments.

+ Old virtues the new CBA theme—But sluggish quarterly results raise questions of how much pain the bank will absorb.

+ Paladin shares rebound—Paladin Energy have soared after announcing confidence of in a 'early return' to full production.

+ Cost blowout forces ABC into overhaul—ABC news journalists and production crews are preparing for an overhaul of the way in which they operate, as the management seeks to extract the most ...

+ Gold, gold, gold … and that's just for the TV networks—It's Olympic Games time again. Every four years some lucky city gets the chance to remake their future and their fortunes.

+ Slowdown hits Olympic hopefuls—THE market for sponsoring Olympic athletes has been slowly dropping since the Games in Australia in 2000, with brands also leaving it later to sign up...

+ Merchant more than happy Inman dropped in—THE Billabong founder and major shareholder, Gordon Merchant, yesterday backed the appointment of former Target boss Launa Inman to run the struggling...

+ Shift to online notices a step in the right direction—In a sign of the times, the corporate watchdog is starting a website from July that will replace newspapers as the venue for public notices on company...

+ Witchery hunt could lead to Country Road—There might be light at the end of the tunnel in Gresham Private Equity's continuing attempts to sell its ladies fashion chains Witchery and Mimco, wh...

+ BHP's aim is to break the power of unions—BHP BILLITON has one key goal in demanding reform of industrial relations law: it wants its managers to be free to manage the business as they see fit...

+ CBA prepared for shocks if Greece quits euro—THE Commonwealth Bank has put in place extensive contingency plans to deal with financial shocks that could follow if Greece leaves the eurozone.

+ Chevy chase over as Holden secures US export deal—IT HAS been rumoured, leaked and hinted at for almost four years but Holden finally confirmed its worst kept secret overnight - it will begin exportin...

+ Narev takes safety-first approach—Under the new management of Ian Narev, Commonwealth Bank is marketing itself as the solid and conservative player in the market - with an eye on longe...

+ Top ten global IPOs—With Facebook's impending initial public offering looming, here is a look at the top ten floatations of all time.

+ Euro crisis means no budget surplus: McKibbin—The fallout from the European debt crisis will force the federal government to abandon a planned budget surplus, a former Reserve Bank board member sa...

+ Facebook mania: pitfalls and profits—Facebook’s IPO is easily the most eagerly anticipated share debut of the year - but what should a local investor make of the hype?

+ Facebook mania: pitfalls and profits—Facebook’s IPO is easily the most eagerly anticipated share debut of the year - but what should a local investor make of the hype?

+ Facebook IPO triggers retail investor craze—If "Facebook For Dummies" helped you find friends and post pictures on the world's No. 1 online social network, then consider "Facebook IPO Confidenti...

+ Sydney airport chief blames regulation—Sydney Airport’s chairman, Max Moore-Wilton, has blamed delays at the airport on regulation rather than its own ability to meet increased demand from ...

+ JPMorgan loss rings local alarm bells—CBA boss Ian Narev's first reaction was to call his top risk executive, but says the specific trading strategy used by JPMorgan is different from what...

+ The Scarlet Pimpernel of funds management—The mysterious Peter Drake is executive director of the ill-feted LM First Mortgage Fund whose investors are hurting badly.

+ Fewer hours worked in shift to part time—April’s jobless rate may have fallen - but so has the number of hours worked, meaning more people are in part-time jobs.

+ CBA prepares for Greek eurozone exit—Commonwealth Bank expects "material" impact from a possible Greek eurozone exit, but has been preparing for such a step.

+ Pitfalls and profits in sharing Facebook mania—Facebook’s ascent from a tiny social media website created in a Harvard dorm to a cultural phenomenon within a few years has unsurprisingly sparked gl...

+ Top ten IPOs in history—With Facebook's impending initial public offering looming, here is a look at the top ten floatations of all time.

+ Investors dump CBA despite bumper profit—Commonwealth Bank reports another bumper profit but indicates that further growth will be challenging as local demand falters.

+ Billabong founder sacked former CEO—Gordon Merchant reveals he personally told former CEO Derek O'Neill he needed to go, backs Billabong's new boss but stays vague on its chairman's futu...

+ BHP walks out on Altia venture—BHP Billiton has walked out on a joint venture to develop the Altia copper and silver deposit in Queensland, just a day after the company’s chairman a...

+ Macquarie in $4b deal for European gas grid—A consortium led by Macquarie Group has bought the Open Grid Europe gas distribution network for $4 billion from E.ON, Germany's largest utility.

+ Insolvencies to stay at record highs despite rate cuts—Historically high levels of corporate insolvency are tipped to continue in the economy’s struggling industries, despite this month’s hefty cut in inte...

+ Toll share wipeout rises to $800m—Toll Holdings shares continued to tumble today as analysts began downgrading the transport company following its profit warning.

+ CBA posts $1.75b third-quarter cash profit—Commonwealth Bank has delivered a third-quarter cash profit of $1.75b but said demand for loans remains subdued.

+ Sonic upbeat on approval for buy—Sonic Healthcare managing director Colin Goldschmidt has expressed confidence that the company's planned $100 million purchase of pathology businesses...

+ Short sellers target a vulnerable Fortescue—It's not clear if Andrew Forrest has sweaty palms just yet. But after a 5 per cent slump in his Fortescue Metals share price yesterday and a 4.5 per c...

+ BHP boss threatens to invest offshore—AUSTRALIA'S most influential businessman, Jac Nasser, has slammed the Gillard government's record on tax and industrial relations, saying that unpredi...

+ Pressure building as LNG projects spring leaks—News that BG Group had blown out its Queensland liquefied natural gas project budget to the tune of $5 billion has sent a shiver down the collective b...

+ Mitsui doubts on iron ore expansion—Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co claims iron ore miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto could be falling behind their expansion plans due to continued ti...

+ Watchdog urged to probe local distributors blocking online sales—There are growing calls for Australia's competition watchdog to conduct an inquiry into local apparel distributors who are preventing overseas supplie...

+ Lowy scrubs up, gives question the brush—Cleaning and security are not the only things that Westfield likes to subcontract. At the shopping centre group's annual meeting yesterday, non-execut...

+ Making space for rich tourists—Space travel for the well-heeled citizen is about to lift off.

+ No leniency as tax fraud directors jailed—Lesley Mascall, along with her husband, 71-year-old Paul Mascall, has become the latest in a list of small business operators to go to jail after dabb...

+ The little things matter—Beyond a wedding band and pair of lucky cufflinks, a lot of guys are too afraid to step into the world of accessories.

+ GE snaps up mining specialist—The Australian sharemarket may be trading 'ex-resources boom' but the appetite of international investors for local specialty mine service companies c...

+ Hockey issues warning on debt ceiling lift—The Coalition has raised the prospect of a US-style move to block government attempts to lift the debt ceiling, raising the prospect of turmoil on fin...

+ Westfield rolls with punches—Westfield has forecast a minor earnings upgrade for the full year based on a combination of profits from asset sales and the effect of its recent shar...

+ Lower tax helps CSR lift profit—Building products company CSR has reported a 'pleasing' lift in annual net profit and says it is well placed to benefit from a market recovery, but ha...

+ Tide recedes in river of gold for Calvert-Jones—Poor John Calvert-Jones, brother-in-law to Rupert Murdoch, has turned $7 million into $120,000 from a seven-year attachment to soon-to-be-rebirthed Ra...

+ Tough time takes toll on Footwork Express—Toll Holdings has flagged a possible sale of its struggling Japanese business, Footwork Express, after slashing its value.

+ Kloppers, Nasser lay it on the line—BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers and chairman Jac Nasser delivered speeches on different sides of the planet yesterday that sent the same ...

+ Nasser's defence is all-out attack—Diversionary tactic or standing firm in the face of the onslaught? Jac Nasser, local business legend and chairman of the world's biggest mining outfit...

+ Storm in parting of the red sea—Stockmarkets reeled as dismay swept their halls on the winds blowing from increasingly uncertain Europe and China.

+ 'Please explain' call over Trio Capital super theft—Australia's top fraud-fighting agencies have been called to account for their failure to pursue those responsible for stealing $176 million in Austral...

+ News shareholders shrug off market bloodletting—A day after British police laid their first hacking-related charges since News Corp's British newspaper scandal erupted last year, shareholders in Aus...

+ Paladin down on strike woe—Paladin Energy shares fell 10 per cent yesterday despite an in-principle agreement reached with local workers at the Perth-based uranium miner's Malaw...

+ Tax boost helps CSR make best of tough market—THE building products company CSR has reported a ''pleasing'' lift in profits and said it was well placed to benefit from a market recovery, although ...

+ Plot twists aplenty in this tragedy—A term gaining currency in investment bank dealing rooms is 'Grexit' - the exit of Greece from the eurozone.

+ Prison for offenders as courts get tough on tax evasion—LESLEY MASCALL will not be celebrating her 69th birthday at her home on Sydney's northern beaches at the end of the month. Along with her husband, Pau...

+ 'Grexit' effect could drive down dollar—A term gaining currency across investment bank dealing rooms is ''Grexit'' - the exit of Greece from the eurozone. And the chances of whether this wil...

+ BHP boss threatens to invest offshore—AUSTRALIA'S most influential businessman, Jac Nasser, has slammed the Gillard government's record on tax and industrial relations, saying that unpredi...

+ Golden investment that went floating down the river—Poor John Calvert-Jones, brother-in-law to Rupert Murdoch, has turned $7 million into $120,000 from a seven-year attachment to soon-to-be-rebirthed Ra...

+ Toll mulls sale of Japanese business after profit warning—TOLL HOLDINGS has signalled a possible sale of its struggling Japanese business Footwork Express after slashing its value and warning that soft retail...

+ $75b wiped off as investors grapple with crisis in Greece—MORE than $75 billion has been wiped off the value of Australian shares this month, as investors fret over how a breakup in the eurozone would harm th...

+ Jac attack: BHP chairman takes shot at Canberra over industrial relations and tax policies—Diversionary tactic or standing firm in the face of the onslaught? Jac Nasser, the local business legend and chairman of the world's biggest mining ou...

+ Nervous investors flee markets—SHARP falls in commodities prices, concerns about a slowdown in the Chinese economy and predictions of a breakup of the eurozone have sparked fears ov...

+ Singing from same song book—The chief executive of BHP Billiton, Marius Kloppers, and its chairman, Jac Nasser, delivered speeches on different sides of the planet yesterday that...

+ UTS freezes payments in construction spat—The University of Technology Sydney withheld a payment from the embattled Reed building group, after Reed allegedly lied about having paid subcontract...

+ Sorry Dr Henry, Australia is not a safe haven—What people called “safe haven” over the last few years is really just USD weakness.

Last new 19/5/12 10:03am.