Archived News for Finance Sector Professionals

With Twitter’s planned billion dollar stock market float coming up, speculation abounds as to what changes may be made in a push for profitability.

Optus swoops on NSW contract

Optus has beaten its perennial Australian rivals to secure a government contract for IT services.

Rio's robots drive tension, save money

Mining giant Rio Tinto is helping usher in the robot revolution, with its plan to replace some of the world’s highest-paid train drivers with robotic equivalents.

Erratum highlights rough state in Spain

The Spanish government has moved quickly to undo a typo worth billions of dollars.

France mulls bans to boost little book-sellers

Politicians have approved a bill that bans the online-superstore Amazon from offering free postage on books into France - a move that was crippling small French bookstores.

Leighton case shows big players make rules

An expert on corruption in the corporate world says allegations of dodgy deals at Leighton Holdings show the lack of respect for and authority in Australia’s regulatory bodies.

Push to mill Gay for remaining cash

An insider-trading case could be thrust back into court, with the Federal Police considering re-opening investigations of former Gunns timber boss John Gay.

When the roof catches fire, the US may have no water

As the United States prepares for its fourth day of a stoush over healthcare funding that has shut down the country, experts are trying to quantify the effect it will have on various sectors.

Grain farmers push for time to inquire

The Federal Government may delay its decision over whether to allow an American firm to buy out one of the country’s most prominent grain companies.

Industry Minister holds on new plan for Holden

Australia’s Minister for Industry has visited the site at the centre of a beloved Australian industry.

Payers push for tighter belt on politicians

Ratepayers across Queensland have just a few weeks left to put a price tag on their politicians.

Robots invade increasingly tricky jobs

Ever since clog-wearing Luddites threw their shoes into automatic looms in the 15th century, people have feared having their jobs replaced by machines.

Consumer chair says fees should come before new roads

The head of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says it is not worth spending piles of money on new roads when we can change the way people use current ones, and make more money from that.

Deep cut to ditch unloved tunnel

The much-lauded infrastructure project that saw $3 billion spent on a tunnel under the Brisbane River has been sold for a song.

Sino Iron steps forward after years of rushing back

It seemed work on CITIC Pacific's huge $10 billion Sino Iron project would never be complete, but now the company says its ready to move into its early production phase.

Auditor says WA health revenue still bleeding

Western Australia’s Auditor General says the state’s Health Department is losing revenue from private patients that it should be making, and has been warned about before.

Talks halt on Foxtel's run for triple threat

Clandestine negotiations have been going on between Telstra and News Corporation to launch a Foxtel-branded broadband service, but reports say the talks have now hit a snag.

ECB policy to remain 'expansive' for now

The European Central bank’s monetary policy is “an expansive monetary policy and it will remain expansive as long as necessary,” according to its Executive Board member Joerg Asmussen.

Markets wait on Alibaba's magic word

The massive wholesale trade website Alibaba has defended its unusual command structure, which has also led to it likely being floated on the US Stock Exchange, rather than the Hong Kong equivalent.