The latest Brisbane Times Business headlines

+ Subprime 2.0 is on its way—On the second anniversary of the bailouts of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, it’s now obvious that weak lending standards, serving the political interest ...

+ Pace of mortgage growth picking up—A stable interest rate outlook and slowing house price growth has lured home buyers back into the market, with the pace of mortgage credit growth pick...

+ Saudi billionaire's assets remain in reach of tax office—The liquidator of a company belonging to Saudi construction and finance billionaire Maan al-Sanea does not want the ATO to know his Cayman Islands bas...

+ Baby John spins Cudeco's fortunes—The embattled copper explorer Cudeco has enlisted the help of the former game show host John ‘‘Baby’’ Burgess to stem its recent share slide.

+ Empire strikes back as new province beckons—Seasoned geologist David Sargeant visits mining operations on his holidays - and brings back more than the odd postcard.

+ Economy heading for dream run—The Reserve Bank has presented the incoming government with a glowing picture of the economy, arguing that near-perfect conditions are likely to conti...

+ New lease of life for broadband—THE Labor government's victory yesterday ensured the $43 billion national broadband network lives to fight another day even if the project's survival ...

+ Growth strategy pays dividend for Aldi—THE German supermarket chain Aldi has increased its Australian profits by almost 30 per cent and will allocate more than $1 billion in new capital fun...

+ A quieter debut at Adelaide headquarters—WHEN Jane Kittel took charge of Westpac's sprawling Pacific Island business four years ago, her first day involved dealing with contingency plans as r...

+ Push to have One.Tel case dismissed—JAMES PACKER and Lachlan Murdoch have foreshadowed asking the NSW Supreme Court to dismiss the One.Tel special purpose liquidator's $244 million damag...

+ Doubts on whether resource rent tax will reach start line—LABOR'S shaky minority government may or may not make it to July 2012, the proposed start date to its proposed tax on iron ore and coal producers. So ...

+ Worries that Labor reforms may not go ahead in new environment—SUPERANNUATION reform is back on the agenda with the decision of two key independents to back a Gillard government. But there are concerns key reforms...

+ Politics takes over the dollar—CURRENCY traders are used to hanging off every word uttered by central bankers, not rural independents.

+ Sweet spot for wheat growers—THE grains exporter AWB says the drought in Russia and hot weather in other parts of Europe has continued to boost demand and prices for Australian wh...

+ Number of proposed new LNG projects 'unrealistic'—AUSTRALIA is looking to ''sanction an unrealistic number of projects'', according to a liquefied natural gas report card by Macquarie analysts, which ...

+ Becton set to lose control of two funds—The property group Becton looks set to lose control of two property funds, but the final verdict has been delayed until tomorrow because some unit-hol...

+ Busy time for leasing agents—LEASING deals are being worked on across the Sydney central business district as long-term contracts near expiry and agents are appointed to garner th...

+ Westfield eyes asset sales to raise development cash—WESTFIELD may look to generate funds for development through asset sales as the opening of stage one of the

+ Investors take the axe to Macquarie shares—INVESTORS have cast doubt on Macquarie Group's claim that it can deliver a profit of at least $1 billion this year, after the investment bank warned i...

+ Sea of red ink after 'bath' kills kingfish—FANCY a hydrogen peroxide bath? It seems about 80 tonnes of farmed kingfish in the Spencer Gulf, South Australia, did not enjoy it either - they died.

+ Andean backs Goldcorp bid but is open to higher offers—ANDEAN RESOURCES is ready to evaluate any higher offer for the group, already the subject of two bids from Canadian gold companies.

+ Countdown to evidence against Ariff—PROSECUTORS are preparing to serve eight volumes of evidence in their case against the banned liquidator Stuart Ariff, a court has heard.

+ Broadband a goer, but not much else is clear—We have a victor in Australian politics, but it is neither certainty nor stability. We will operate for an unknown period with a Labor government that...

+ Downer flies north to claim its long overdue reward—Collecting a $31 million bad debt that's eight years overdue is a top priority for Downer EDI, with two representatives of the engineering contractor ...

+ The burning question is whether the independents have made a decisive choice—It is trite but true that the markets dislike uncertainty, and the minimalist move after Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott sided with Labor yesterday sug...

+ Finals tickets reveal a lot about the codes—Fans of AFL will spend nearly three times as much as NRL supporters for finals tickets this month, even though total spending in each code on football...

+ Spare a thought for change and innovation—Edward de Bono, the father of lateral thinking, would agree with Rob Oakeshott.

+ One decision made, many still to come—The government has been decided in a way that is inherently unstable.

+ King set to abdicate as Stewart takes Leighton throne—AFTER months of boardroom tensions and rifts over succession planning, Leighton Holdings is set to announce David Stewart as the new chief executive a...

+ RBA holds fire—Borrowers can breathe easy after the Reserve Bank opted to keep rates on hold again, despite a strengthening economy.

+ RBA may stay put for months—Sub-par growth in the US, continued market nerves and conflicting economic data here are all reflected in softly-softly comments by the RBA.

+ Home loan guide—Everything you need to know about your home loan, including repayments calculators, stamp duty estimators and savings plans.

+ Aussie wheat exports jump 52% as supplies dwindle—Australia's wheat exports jumped 52 per cent in July from a year earlier as buyers sought to replace dwindling supplies from the drought-stricken Blac...

+ Home ownership prospects fade for many—Saving for a first home has become more difficult for renters, leaving more of them in the so-called rental trap, a new survey shows.

+ Woolies' hardware plans hit a snag—Woolworths' plan to secure 150 sites for its new big-box hardware chain has hit its first hurdle with the Victorian planning minister rejecting a perm...

+ Fairfax gives a taste of what is to come for premium content charges—IT IS nearly 18 months since Rupert Murdoch announced his intention to charge people for articles they read online and, despite early scepticism, news...

+ Bank emphasises its diversity—Macquarie Group's earning slump has highlighted the strength of lesser-known divisions that are profiting from the taxpayer-backed wholesale funding g...

+ Australia's AAA rating secured despite risks—Whatever the shape of the next government, Australia remains among the safest places in the world to invest.

+ Two suburbs' rent rises among nation's highest—The increased cost of renting a house has been greater in two Brisbane suburbs than almost anywhere else in the country, new data shows.

+ Felled timber firm owes $520m—THE timber investment company Willmott Forests has collapsed, owing about $520 million.

+ Staff cull on the cards at Macquarie—MACQUARIE GROUP is expected to push ahead with a round of staff cuts as its main business units continue struggle under subdued global trading conditi...

+ Corporate finance unit leads the way—THE slump in earnings at Macquarie Group's core businesses has led the bank to highlight the strength of lesser-known divisions, including the Corpora...

+ A fuzzy day for inquisitive bankers—The prudential watchdog, John Laker, left it to his co-workers at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority to explain the future of banking regu...

+ Aevum stands firm on 'inadequate' takeover offer from Stockland—THE takeover battle for the retirement and aged-care group Aevum has intensified, with its directors again calling the $1.50-a-share bid by Stockland ...

+ Australian banks will have to apply tough new global rules—THE banking regulator has shot down expectations among local lenders that they may escape the worst of tough global banking rules now being planned.

+ Agency ignores election to lock in rating—WHATEVER the shape of the next government, Australia remains a magnificent investment proposition.

+ Agribusinesses wither on the vine—IN APRIL last year the first of the big tax-effective agribusiness schemes, Timbercorp, collapsed. Within three weeks Great Southern followed it to th...

+ Andean Resources likely to blame disclosure tardiness on time zones—ANDEAN RESOURCES will respond today to criticism that disclosure was not what it could have been before and during last Friday's receipt of two takeov...

+ Golden age is over for the millionaires factory—Once upon a time, back when investment bankers ruled the world, Macquarie Bank's Nick Moore and his cronies were pushing the hierarchy to rid the orga...

+ Aevum sets cat among the pigeons—The battlelines have been drawn in Stockland's tilt at Aevum, with the release of the retirement village operator's target's statement.

+ Warning on earnings points to a business model caught in a downward spiral—The shattered business model of Macquarie Group, as evidenced by its 25 per cent profit downgrade yesterday, raises questions about whether Nicholas M...

+ Seeking a leader to seize the moment—Of all the stars that had to align for China to challenge BHP Billiton's takeover bid for Rio Tinto there was one that shone brighter than the rest.

+ Leaseback deal to raise $900m—WOOLWORTHS is looking to raise up to $900 million through the sale and leaseback of a portfolio of more than 30 neighbourhood and sub-regional shoppin...

+ Plan to resurrect Commsecure from liquidation—SOME possibly welcome strangers have ridden into town with a plan for reviving the former Welcome Stranger Mining company.

+ Broadvector sets sights on ageing market before float—THE junior bio-technology company Broadvector has locked its gaze on two areas of the health system tipped to boom along with the greying of Australia...

+ Jetset gets nod for Stella union—JETSET TRAVELWORLD shareholders have overwhelmingly approved a merger with Stella Travel Services.

+ Potash needs iron hand—A twice-burnt China is shying away from the idea of taking on BHP for Potash Corp; it needs a real fighter on its side, like Xiao Yaqing.

+ Macquarie alive, but not kicking any more—An organisation that once dazzled the world with its business daring has lost its mojo.

+ Macquarie trick may be all played out—The shattered business model of Macquarie Group prompts the question: is Nicholas Moore the right man to lead the bank in the new era of tight credit ...

+ Quiksilver warns of tough ride—THE leading surf, skate and snowboard apparel brand Quiksilver has joined rival Billabong to warn of tough trading conditions for branded clothes, esp...

+ Profits under siege at the millionaires factory—Macquarie's downgrade makes it the latest in a list of companies to find that bouncing back from the financial crisis is not so easy.

+ Bob's way out - the Katter flap—Holding his hat over his heart, Bob Katter can reasonably claim neither mob is worthy of his allegiance.

+ Willmott felled, owes $120m to banks—Timber investment company Willmott Forests has gone into receivership owing banks about $120m, making it the latest forestry investment scheme to fail...

+ China vows to increase foreign imports—China has vowed to make it easier to import goods into its huge market as Beijing seeks to address controversial trade surpluses with its trading part...

+ BHP morphs into an ideology—Australia's biggest company is no longer just a stock. It's also become a bet on Australia's increasing ties to Asia's dynamism.

+ Biotech IPO to target key ailments as Australia ages—Broadvector has locked its gaze on two ailments which are tipped to boom along with the greying of the population - prostate cancer and hip replacemen...

+ New rules may raise mortgage rate—BANKS may inflict higher mortgage rates on borrowers to offset the costs of new liquidity rules that are tipped to drive up the price of the safest fi...

+ Economists predict unemployment fall to 5.2%—Employers continued to hire at a rapid pace in August regardless of - and in some cases because of - the election, boosting internet job ads by 2.8 pe...

+ AFL players on hunt for huge pay rise—AFL Players Association prepares to make biggest wages push in the sport's history.

+ After 10 good years, gold has not lost its lustre—Producers of the shiny, yellow metal have been buying each other up like there's no tomorrow.

+ National accounts sweep away economic nonsense of the election campaign—Our big problem will be how to manage inflation pressure.

+ Broking gets pushed to the brink—Australia's listed - and unlisted - stockbroking sector is looking grimmer by the day.

+ Hedge funds take a punt on hurdles in AXA deal—HEDGE funds have flocked to the key companies involved in the proposed National Australia Bank and AXA Asia-Pacific merger, taking huge bets on the po...

+ Investors see pure gold as contest for Andean Resources heats up—INVESTORS believe the contest for ASX-listed Andean Resources is far from over despite the Canadian company Goldcorp having the upper hand with its ag...

+ Golden State says it's good to talk—Investors in the oil and gas explorer Golden State Resources can expect to endure several months of grovelling from the company.

+ Australian insurers count cost of NZ quake—AUSTRALIA'S big insurers are likely to have heavy exposures to the earthquake that hit the South Island of New Zealand on Saturday.

+ Cash register rings at Grace Bros family's final sale—ONE of the last remaining relics of the once mighty Grace Bros department store empire, a blue-chip equities portfolio valued at just over $40 million...

+ Qantas is thinking of flying down to Rio—QANTAS is considering tapping into the booming Brazilian economy by flying to either Sao Paulo or the popular tourist destination of Rio de Janeiro.

+ More finding jobs despite uncertain political climate—EMPLOYERS continued to hire at a rapid pace last month regardless of - and in some cases because of - the election, boosting internet job ads 2.8 per ...

+ Car sales in Australia steering towards annual record—THE federal election and uncertainty about the shape of the next government has failed to dent the surge in new car sales. The market is still on trac...

+ Our economic challenge will be feast not famine—Perhaps we're seeing the emergence of a new law of elections: the real issues facing the economy in the next term won't bear any resemblance to those ...

+ Stimulus critics have short memories—Amid the hullabaloo after the recent election, the implied rejection of the federal government's stimulus spending is one of the most stinging outcome...

+ The days when they went for broke are over, and now what they face is going broke—Australia's listed - and unlisted - stockbroking sector is looking grimmer by the day as investors dry up, corporate activity flatlines, professional ...

+ Canadian buyers have no doubts—It seems every man and his dog is saying the gold price will go higher. If gold's form in the last 10 years is any guide, it's not a bad bet.

+ Don't bruise the boss's brand—How you are perceived publicly can harm your employer's reputation, writes Tony Featherstone.

+ Girls get most capital out of desperate dad—I made an offer to the children the other day. It was prompted by the realisation that our 14-year-old is never home. I assumed that we would lose her...

+ Ersatz patriot shames the central bank—A Jewish gene? Immigrants who are making Germany dumber? It is hard to imagine what precisely was running through the mind of the Bundesbank board mem...

+ Own up to mistakes—Fixing any problems quickly and recording what went wrong are powerful management tools, writes Max Newnham.

+ Office sector is on the up and up—THE purchase of 343 George Street in Sydney for $78 million by the City of Sydney council has proved that the office sector is on the upward trajector...

+ Southerners take the lead in space race—IN THE past year, the southern capital of Melbourne has edged out rival Sydney as having the biggest amount of lettable space in the central business ...

+ Season prompts a 'steady-as-she-goes' outlook for trusts—IT IS clear from recent government data that the commercial and residential property sectors are in the middle of a consolidation.

+ Asian money attracted by stability—ASIAN investors are increasingly active in the Australian property market, with buyers snapping up big and small properties, evidenced by the recent p...

+ Reporting a mighty year for REITs—AS THE final siren rang during the week to mark the end of the 2009-10 reporting season for the real estate investment trusts (REITs), brokers said it...

+ Industrial market catches recovery wave into calmer waters—THE Sydney industrial market is moving into a recovery phase after a few lean years where supply was outweighing demand and any spare space was being ...

+ Immigration cuts would hit University funds—The appalling bipartisan consensus on immigration could combine with subdued markets to produce a cash flow crisis in Australia's universities.

+ Pressure building on Kimberley coast—The Montara oil spill off Western Australia's Kimberley Coast could have been so much worse.

+ When it comes to investing, women win hands down—I made an offer to the children the other day. It was prompted by the realisation that our 14-year-old is never home.

+ Risks are too high for accidents—The Montara oil spill off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia could have been so much worse. Australia was lucky: the slick headed north. Indones...

+ Women facing an uncomfortable future in retirement—A man is not a financial plan. But for a troubling number of women, finding themselves without a man in their later years could be poor planning indee...

+ Now for the good news: the boom is bouncing back—This time three months ago it was clear the economy was being propped up by the rapidly withdrawing budgetary stimulus.

Last new 8/9/10 4:47pm.