BHP, Rio, Fortescue hammered as iron ore price slumps
Iron ore has entered bear market territory after the metal’s biggest one day fall since August, rattling domestic miners as investors flee resources stocks. The Fin
Forge faces probe on trading while insolvent
The directors of collapsed mining contractor Forge Group are set to come under investigation after the company's administrators found the group could have been insolvent for almost three months before its collapse. The Aus
Austal seals deal for $125m defence work
Austal has added an extra year’s work to its Henderson shipyard and opened the door for more foreign defence orders by closing a $125 million deal with a Middle East navy.
ASIC probes Leighton share surge
The Australian Securities and Exchange Commission will investigate possible insider trading in Leighton Holdings shares last week ahead of a $1.15 billion takeover bid by controlling shareholder Hochtief. The Fin
Tigerair steps up battle against Jetstar
Tigerair Australia is set to put additional planes in the sky, open a new Brisbane base and make changes to its hedging program as the Virgin-backed airline steps up its battle with Qantas Airways’ low-cost subsidiary, Jetstar. The Fin
WA beef buy deal killed off
A major WA beef processor says it has gone from being hunted to a hunter after rejecting a big offer for its family-owned operations. The West
Coles refutes liquor business analysis
Wesfarmers' Coles supermarket business has reportedly disputed an investment bank analysis that suggests no progress has been made in its liquor business turnaround in five years. The Aus
The Australian Financial Review
Page 1: The Australian Securities and Exchange Commission will investigate possible insider trading in Leighton Holdings shares last week ahead of a $1.15 billion takeover bid by controlling shareholder Hochtief.
Federal cabinet will soon sign off on a white paper on the federation, paving the way for Tony Abbott to propose changes aimed at reducing inefficiencies, including duplication between state and federal bureaucracies.
Page 3: Tony Abbott has all but confirmed the Commission of Audit will not be released until after the April 5 Senate re-elections in Western Australia, saying the government was only beginning to consider its findings.
Page 6: WA Premier Colin Barnett will act as Treasurer and Transport Minister, adding to his already extensive duties, pending a cabinet reshuffle later in the week.
Page 9: Low interest rates and rising market sentiment have resulted in more than $70 billion worth of homes changing hands last year across the nation up from $54.6 billion the year before.
Page 11: Revelations of a uranium contamination of groundwater in NSW’s Pilliga forest have set back efforts by Santos to gain public acceptance for coal seam gas drilling in the state.
Page 15: Iron ore has entered bear market territory after the metal’s biggest one day fall since August, rattling domestic miners as investors flee resources stocks.
Page 17: BHP Billiton’s preparations for a sale of its West Australian nickel business have fired up speculation about other potential asset sales that would accelerate debt reduction and raise the chances of an early capital return.
Page 20: Tigerair Australia is set to put additional planes in the sky, open a new Brisbane base and make changes to its hedging program as the Virgin-backed airline steps up its battle with Qantas Airways’ low-cost subsidiary, Jetstar.
With iron ore prices falling to its lowest in close to a year, shares in Fortescue Metals Group tumbled more than 9 per cent on Monday, wiping about $450 million off the value of Forrest’s stake.
Page 23: Technology giant IBM’s local managing director, Andrew Stevens, has conceded further Australian redundancies may be needed as part of a major repositioning of the company, designed to compete in a market focused on cloud computing, mobility and analytics.
The Australian
Prime Minister Tony Abbott is set to put a white paper on federation reform to state premiers at the next Council of Australian Governments meeting in a move aimed at cutting inefficiencies between state and federal governments, according to reports.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says $2 million will be given to support the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) to combat terrorism, while a further $8 million will be granted for humanitarian efforts such as water access and medical care.
A rising proportion of small businesses is enjoying improved revenue flows, and there has been a sharp jump in those firms expecting better times this year, a new survey shows.
A Western Australian breast imaging company has been found guilty of false and misleading conduct after it promoted its unproven services as a radiation-free alternative to mammograms.
New modelling from the parliamentary library estimates that large job losses since the Abbott government came to power could cost taxpayers over $600 million.
Wesfarmers' Coles supermarket business has reportedly disputed an investment bank analysis that suggests no progress has been made in its liquor business turnaround in five years.
Woolworths has handed SPC Ardmona a $70 million contract just weeks after the federal government was warned that its refusal to give the food processor a $25 million bailout could kill the company.
Spanish ACS is in a hurry to enforce its control over Leighton and its board, with management and minority shareholders put on notice in no uncertain terms from yesterday's proportional bid.
The directors of collapsed mining contractor Forge Group are set to come under investigation after the company's administrators found the group could have been insolvent for almost three months before its collapse.
Incoming David Jones chairman Gordon Cairns says his first priority is to persuade the troubled retailer's chief executive Paul Zahra to stay on -- but he will take a more measured approach to pursuing merger discussions with arch-rival Myer.
Billionaire Gina Rinehart is yet to hand over a stake in the Rhodes Ridge iron ore project to Wright Prospecting, almost six months after a High Court ruling ended her efforts to maintain her interest in the massive deposit.
Shipbuilder Austal has won a $US125 million ($138.71m) contract to build two vessels for an unidentified naval customer in the Middle East.
The West Australian
Page 10: Lack of any debris is leading investigators to suggest that Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that disappeared early on Saturday had a catastrophic disintegration at 11,000m over the South China Sea.
Page 14: Tony Abbott wants to relax media ownership laws, potentially leading to more consolidation across the sector.
Federal Liberal MP Ken Wyatt says it would be cold-hearted of the Abbott Government to fail to keep homelessness funding programs at current levels.
A major brawl is looming between recreational and commercial fishers over flagged cuts to herring catches, with the two sectors at loggerheads over who should shoulder the most “pain”.
Business: A major WA beef processor says it has gone from being hunted to a hunter after rejecting a big offer for its family-owned operations.
Gindalbie Metals has warned its Karara Mining subsidiary could be in breach of debt covenants by the end of March.
Austal has added an extra year’s work to its Henderson shipyard and opened the door for more foreign defence orders by closing a $125 million deal with a Middle East navy.
Gina Rinehart’s son John Hancock is set to join the board of a Pilbara iron ore aspirant.
Slumping metal prices dragged the Australian sharemarket deep into the red yesterday as investors began to question whether China’s economic and investment fundamentals really were “different” to previous growth miracles.