Investment down $42bn
Business investment is set to be $42 billion lower through the downturn says the federal Treasury.

Another day, another pay revolt
Shareolders launch a stinging protest vote against excessive pay packages.

Super tax skewed too much to high earners
Low and middle-income earners could receive boosts to super savings and 9 per cent compulsory contribution.

Companies miss super target
$6bn black hole looms

Banks wait to see who will jump first
First increases in the cost of standard variable mortgages since June expected to come today.

Aussie hits year high on rate rise
Dollar shoots up to its highest level this year after RBA announce rise in target overnight cash rate.

Reduce pollution, get permits
Federal Government should withhold half of permits allocated under its emissions trading scheme.

Recovery spells doom for low interest rates
Glenn Stevens has indicated he is keen to start lifting interest rates.

G20 board releases bold plan on executive pay
Executive bonuses would be scaled back, reviewed yearly and unlinked from short-term share price movements under a bold plan.

Why big does not always mean better
Ian McIlwraith looks at the top of the salary mountain and how the big packages break down.

NZ taxman takes Aussies to court
Telstra and Toll Group are among the companies pursued by New Zealand's Revenue Department for millions.

Good news from across the ditch
Australian banks have good news from across the Tasman, as NZ emerges from worst recession in decades.

Directors take judge to task
A contest over whether James Hardie board approved a misleading media release about asbestos compensation to be fought again.

Easy credit gone and jobless queues rising
Even in the affluent US capital, the beggars are visible.

Australia leads world in beating downturn
Government handling of economic crisis given a boost, with OECD singling out stimulus package for praise.

World Bank tells rich to pay their climate damage bill
Wealthy countries such as Australia should help fix the cost of climate change, the World Bank says.

Reforms pave way for Telstra break-up
Telstra set for biggest shake-up since its privatisation.

With neighbours like these, who needs Americans
Growth in China and the rest of Asia should put Australia's recovery on the map well in advance of Europe and the US, writes Ross Gittins.

Surprise drop in full-time jobs
The seemingly healthy outcome masks a sharp drop in the number of full-time jobs.

Interest rates will rise as stimulus withdrawn: Swan
Interest rates to rise as the federal government withdraws its fiscal stimulus measures.

Air fuel surcharge set to rise
Qantas could raise fuel levies on air tickets due to higher jet fuel prices.

Dollar to keep rising as expectations firm of rate rise
The Australian dollar has surged to a one-year high and could climb further as markets bet the Reserve Bank will raise rates.

Gas finds put us in big league
Australia could soon be rated in the top 10 countries for gas reserves, says a leading industry report.

Gas finds put us in big league
Australia could soon be rated in the top 10 countries for gas reserves, says a leading industry report.

Trade deals a blow to economy
Australia's current account deficit doubled in the June quarter, a worse-than-expected shortfall that may push the economy into contraction for the period, economists say.

And on the last day they came, bearing gifts awash in red ink
The last-day stragglers of reporting season came bearing gifts — mostly of red ink.

Victorian boom leads recovery
Investment surge could force rates up.

Victorian boom leads recovery
Investment surge could force rates up

It's time to look for the upside of the downturn

NZ a winner in battle for tourists
Australia coming off worse in the battle for trans-Tasman tourism

NZ a winner in battle for tourists
Australia coming off worse in the battle for trans-Tasman tourism

It's time to look for the upside of the downturn

ASIC raises alarm over new CFD trade risks
Regulators are moving to close a legal loophole that is potentially putting hundreds of millions of dollars at risk in an already-risky trading instrument

Lowering company tax may be harder than we expect
Ken Henry and Bernie Fraser, present and former treasury secretaries, were talking about company taxes on Friday.

Spending soars as we wield the cards and cash
We are spending more than at any time since the December cash-splash, but spending more carefully.

Spending soars as we wield the cards and cash
We are spending more than at any time since the December cash-splash, but spending more carefully.

Treasury boss dampens 'premature' celebrations
Treasury boss Ken Henry has called for an end to "premature" celebrations about surviving the global crisis, warning that a "second shockwave" could be around the corner.

Treasury boss dampens 'premature' celebrations
Treasury boss Ken Henry has called for an end to "premature" celebrations about surviving the global crisis, warning that a "second shockwave" could be around the corner.

Treasury boss dampens 'premature' celebrations
Treasury boss Ken Henry has called for an end to ''premature'' celebrations about surviving the global crisis, warning that a ''second shockwave'' could be around the corner

Shopper confidence jumps to record high
Consumers are hitting the shops as the fastest jump in confidence ever is recorded.

Fabulously rich, becoming fabulously richer
It's hard to know where to begin with the incredible story of strength and wealth demonstrated by the Commonwealth Bank's annual results.

Worst may be over for job market
Australia's jobs market might be pulling out of its nosedive.

Retail players eager to corner Indian market
India's likely retail revolution is the new frontier in food distribution.

Big four gain as foreign banks lose market share
The big four banks are gaining market share in loans at the expense of foreign banks operating in Australia, with most of the lending going towards mortgages and households as business credit declines.

Inflation threat may mar economy's recovery
The emerging threat of higher inflation poses real dangers for the economy even as the current run-up in unemployment is turning out less than earlier feared, according to the Melbourne Institute.

Reserve calls time on guarantee
Australia's banks are under mounting pressure from the Reserve Bank to wean themselves off a Government guarantee that has given them one of the cheapest funding sources in the world.

When out is not really out
The effectiveness of directorship bans is being called into question.

Smaller banks need help
Business confidence may have turned up and the stock market is jumping, but Wayne Swan has a new crisis to deal with: the lifeline he extended Australia's second-tier banks has run out and he's done nothing about it.

Investors told to watch executive pay
Investors have been urged to remain sceptical about companies freezing executive pay, with the real extent of salaries unlikely to be known until later this year.

Australian study: racism when hiring
A foreign or indigenous-sounding name gives people less chance of landing a job in Australia, a study has found.

Trade turnaround keeps Australia in the black
Australia's economy expanded in the March quarter while the rest of the developed world slumped, figures showed yesterday, unleashing a wave of confidence across local markets.

Australia dodges recession
Australia has dodged a recession, with data released today showing the economy expanded in the first three months of the year.

Economy showing signs of stabilising
Figures show healthy retail and home sales and stronger factory orders, but corporate Australia's not doing quite so well.

Survive those taxing times
An audit strikes terror into the hearts of many. But never fear, there are steps you can take to limit the likelihood of being targeted over claims.

Working to 67 is a grey area
If the retirement age is lifted by two years, employees, bosses and colleagues will have to change their attitudes.

A decade of debt until we're free
Australia will remain mired in debt for at least 10 years, with net debt projected to reach about $188 billion within four years, says Phillip Coorey.

Fed to the rescue
How Ben Bernanke and his central bank headed off a depression. Stuart Washington reports.

Beware the false dawn
After the downturn comes uncertainty, with no two super funds yielding the same return.

The market catches a cold
After the past year of sharemarket convulsions, financial markets don't need an official declaration of a pandemic to panic.

High taxes, high confusion
Many of Australia's biggest businesses aren't certain how much tax they pay, according to a survey of 79 of the biggest.

Recession worries 'averted worst'
Australians might have worried themselves into a "pre-emptive" recession to guard against risks that have yet to eventuate.

Aussie equity raisings surge
Australia has led the world in the amount of new equity raised by companies from global sharemarkets over the past six months.

Recession inevitable - leaders told to act
The world's richest economies will contract by more than 4 per cent this year - the most pessimistic forecast yet for the global economy.

Shore up our jobs future
We must act to ensure our workforce's competitiveness.

Obscene salaries set to stop
The Federal Government will introduce new laws to curb excessive executive payouts.

Planning beyond the economic crisis
Companies should think twice before cutting back on IT departments during economic downturns.

Rubbish to riches
Tough economic times and eco-awareness are a perfect match. The time is ripe to build it, bake it or fix it.

Reporting season's moment of truth
Debt-riddled companies are falling like flies. Barbara Drury looks at five key indicators that can help investors in turbulent times.

Sackings aren't always profitable
Find out alternatives to job cuts for struggling businesses.

In search of greener pastures
After a horror 2008, some sectors and companies will emerge stronger.

Economy: Forget ideology, just use common sense
The global financial crisis is an opportunity for reform.

Business leaders too fearful to act
The speed and intensity of the economic crisis have paralysed business leaders and prevented them taking appropriate action.

Loans crunch for Australian businesses
Many big Australian companies must refinance this year, leaving them vulnerable to the health of credit markets and the ability of Australian and international banks to lend.

Australian economy: Zero growth for 2009
Growth in the Australian economy is expected to come to a standstill this year, before experiencing a slow recovery in 2010.

How we got burnt by the market regulators
Forget the 1980s. That was just a warm-up for the main act. These are the dying days of the real decade of greed.

The big ones that did not happen
It was the year that wasn't: 2008 was shaped as much by the things that didn't happen as by the things that did.

Lessons after the market mayhem
The falling market has been an expensive teacher with a valuable message.

Spending our way to safety
The Treasury has estimated that Australians will spend seven dollars out of every 10 paid out in its $10.4 billion economic package.

Executive bonuses broke economy
With the economy close to actually starting to shrink, the former governor of the Reserve Bank has pinned the blame for the financial turmoil on executives who took excessive risks to secure multi-million dollar bonuses.

Workplace agreements: Increased penalties loom for employers
Courts will be given new and greatly expanded powers to stop and penalise employers that break work agreements covering a range of areas including redundancies, annual leave, rostering and child care.

Treasury hints at taxation changes
Treasury secretary Ken Henry has hinted there might be a radical shake-up of the tax system that would cut away complexity.

New battery-powered credit supercard
A small Australian tech firm is set stop up to $1 billion a year in credit card fraud with its new battery-powered supercard.

Companies set to axe jobs
Jitters in the world economy are starting to rattle Australia's jobs market, as a survey shows businesses expect to pay higher wages and lay off workers in the next year.

Fastest growing businesses revealed
Despite growing concerns over economic growth, Australia's entrepreneurs are still extremely confident about their futures, according to an annual list of Australia's 100 fastest growing small to medium enterprises.

Melbourne Cup amongst losers in economic squeeze
The big spenders are on a budget - pulling out of racing marquees and hotel bookings and cutting back on fine dining. But the little people will eventually pay the price.

Think tribal, act flexible
Future employment structures will affect how we interact and where we live.

Real returns from virtual worlds
The craze in online virtual worlds among children and teenagers has started a stampede of companies attempting to cash in on the boom.

Don't fret over the bonus
Perks, like the performance bonus, are threatened with the market drop

Moving up the ladder
Age is no longer a prerequisite for senior management

Make the most of the squeeze
The credit crunch has decreased demand for some positions and boosted it for others.

Mid-life talent crisis
Why do some promising managers fail to succeed in leadership roles?

Career paths shift with global warming
The global climate crisis will reshape organisations.

CEOs see economic slump
The sentiment among Australia's business leaders is clear.

Is it time for a pay rise?
Australian wages have unexpectedly accelerated.

The truth about turnover
Bad managers and the high expectations of generation Y are being blamed for staff turnover.

Mind the gap
Baby boomers, generation X and generation Y require different management strategies.

What goes around
A national skills shortage has created varied opportunities in different parts of the country.

Life choices
Cutting your working hours to chase a better lifestyle can have its downside.

Eight signs your workplace is ill
Emotional outbursts and rambling meetings are among the symptoms.

Slouching towards power
The baby boomers are retiring and the generation that has always had a resigned air is starting to take over.

We'd like to work less - even with a pay cut
A new study reveals too many Australians are overworked.

Australians with the greenback blues
Working in the US may not carry the attraction it used to for Australians.

Neuroleadership for beginners
Understanding how the brain works can transform business management.

Green-collar jobs growth predicted
Opportunities in environmentally friendly industries are expanding.

'Stupid curve' sidelines women's careers
Talented women are being wasted in and lost from the workforce.

Look before you leap
In this climate, consider a career move carefully.

Flexible working rights
Employees will be guaranteed a right to request flexible working arrangements.

Who owns an idea?
Legal cases relating to trade secrets and intellectual property are on the rise.

Salary packaging changes
Labor's first budget has trimmed fringe benefits.

Salaries rising faster at small companies
Companies surveyed by the Australian Institute of Management report that salary growth is picking up this year.

A long way to go
Women are still trailing men in remuneration and appointments to top jobs.

Biggest threat to business may be on inside
The most valuable and sensitive asset in organisations is often intellectual property.

Expats head home to cash in on boom
As signs grow of an economic slowdown in Britain, Australians are returning home in search of work.

Pockets fill as slowdown looms
Workers are getting hefty pay rises, but Australia's economy is at a turning point.

How to sell services more profitably
In every industry, products are becoming commoditized faster than ever.

Creating energy at work
CEOS need to encourage the crackle of imagination among staff.

Corporate baristas on the rise
Bosses are waking up and smelling the coffee.

Time to get out of the inbox trap
Executives are taking courses to escape the tyranny of the inbox.

Doors open to combat skills shortage
The skilled migration program will jump by 30% next year.

Skills training vital to win the race
CEOs believe the current skills shortage is restricting their ability to innovate.

Encouraging excercise pays off
Businesses are taking steps towards a healthier workforce by incorporating exercise.

Corporate social responsibility
Today's employees expect more from their employers than a weekly pay packet.

Shooting the messenger
Australians are still unlikely to blow the whistle on wrongdoings within an organisation.

How to improve financial performance
Many companies are leaving money on the table.

Aussies abroad not ready to come home
The world stage outweighs the pull of our advantages in lifestyle.

Survey puts figure on skills shortage
Australia's skill shortage is hampering capacity for innovation in industry.

Bosses' power to check email
Companies will be able to intercept emails under new laws.

Mum's the word for dads
There is now a push to pay dads paternity leave.

How to net the top talent
Recruiters are using the internet to lure the right people.

Family juggle too hard
Working women are delaying childbirth or opting out of parenthood to maintain balance.

Jobless uptick likely to continue
Higher interest rates are expected to dampen the spectacular gains of the jobs market.

No way to measure exec pay
There is no formal mechanism to measure if an executive's pay is too high.

Young workers finding the world is their oyster
Employer surveys are showing they must do more to keep an increasingly mobile workforce.

Where philosophy meets business
Melbourne Business School has hired a philosopher-in-residence.

Buoyant market allows employees to shop around
Employees are switching jobs more often as they take advantage of a buoyant market.

Don't turn your back on your board
Company directors, rather than governments or executive officers, are responsible for preventing business collapse.

Training managers, it's horses for courses
A novel program helps managers improve their communication skills with some equine help.

Facebook up to it
Businesses have only recently begun to utilise collaborative and interactive online applications.

The talent pipeline
Finding and attracting passive candidates is high on leadership agendas.

Why email is so old fashioned
Mobile texting is now outstripping the use of email among the young.

Hooked on technology
Has our love for electronic gadgets turned into a fully fledged addiction?

It's all down to experience
Employers are increasingly seeking out older workers.

Watch out for the Greenwash
Beware the world of the planet-friendly sales pitch.

Recruitment 2.0
Welcome to the brave new world of job hunting.

Good leaders look the part
How can you tell successful chief executives from the not-so-successful? That's easy - from their appearance.

Work ethics
Today's employees expect a lot more from their employers than a weekly pay packet.

What workers want
A shortage of talent means employees can make more demands of employers.

Good for you
The best companies value their employees and realise that looking after them results in better outcomes and higher productivity.

Not all work, no play
Australians worked less hours in 2007 than they did 20 years ago.

The way we live
A picture of a nation is uncovered among the annual collection of surveys and statistics.

Directors: an endangered species
There's a talent shortage in the public company boardroom.

Inequities, but there's climate change
Women are in an ideal position to push for higher pay and top-level positions.

Take your pick of perks
Employees are making more demands for benefits and employers are accommodating them.

Healthy outlook for job seekers
The bulk of new employment is expected to come from four industries.

Fatal attraction for bosses
Love between executives can make everyone nervous.

Green offices that slash absenteeism
Staff productivity is higher in a revolutionary Melbourne block.