Thais come calling with coal in mind

Thailand's Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding has been telegraphing its punches on coming to Australia well ahead of Transfield Services Infrastructure Fund breaking its cover yesterday.

Firmer finish to a rocky quarter of disasters

There were no obvious end-of-quarter shifts by fund managers.

IKEA Australia pays tax like a charity case living at the margin of society

Expansion plans seem not to be backed by any great performance.

AMP's Dunn enters AXA headquarters

CEO believes hard work is ahead in takeover, writes Eric Johnston.

Qantas continues to tinker with the levers

On the face of it Qantas would be a prime contender for the ASX award for continuous disclosure (if there was one). Over the past few months barely a fortnight has gone by without some update on how it is travelling financially.

Country Road to pay $1.1m

COUNTRY Road has agreed to pay $1.1 million in compensation to the chief executive it sacked when he was nine weeks into the job.

A stock and its index can go different ways

A SHAREMARKET adage has it that "a rising tide lifts all boats". In other words, when the sharemarket is on the rise it tends to take most stocks with it. Conversely, in a falling market, most stocks will fall along with the index.

$A breaks above $US1.03 as stocks slip

THE dollar teased its way to another near-record high yesterday, leaving analysts to predict it could soon breach $US1.05.

ASX mulls changes to entice new listings

THE Australian Securities Exchange is considering extending trading hours and watering down listing rules for smaller companies as part of efforts to drum-up more initial public offers from junior miners and explorers.

ASX plan to boost juniors

THE Australian Securities Exchange is considering extending trading hours and watering down listing rules for smaller companies as part of efforts to encourage more initial public offerings from junior miners and explorers.

Future Fund sells more of Telstra

THE Future Fund has sold down its shareholding in Telstra to less than 5 per cent, passing a key milestone in its gradual exit from the telecommunications giant.

Future Fund slashes stake in Telstra

THE Future Fund has sold down its shareholding in Telstra to less than 5 per cent, passing a key milestone in its gradual exit from the company.

...AND ANOTHER THING

BERNIE Ecclestone says he loves Melbourne but he never bothers to come here for his motor car race. He just loves us for our money. Colin Jones, South Melbourne

Changes at the top

CENTENNIAL Coal founder Bob Cameron will stand down as chief executive at the end of June and replace Ken Moss as Centennial's chairman.

Regent sweats on panel in BC Iron escape bid

SOME time today, Hong Kong-based Regent Pacific will find out whether its attempt to leave BC Iron at the merger altar is going to be scrutinised by the Takeovers Panel.

Regent merger - till panel do them part

Some time today the Hong Kong-based Regent Pacific will find out whether its attempt to leave BC Iron at the merger altar is going to be scrutinised by the Takeovers Panel.

No gain, plenty of pain in Singapore fling

Last October, when media reports of an imminent takeover sent the Australian Securities Exchange stock price soaring, the market operator kept schtum and traders were forced to operate in an information vacuum.

Secret tapes reveal former investigator hoped for film work with Crowe

THE former assistant director of the NSW Crime Commission Mark Standen was hoping to become a consultant on a Russell Crowe film in which the Hollywood actor played a retired FBI director, a jury has heard.

Shaken, then stirred into action

A Christchurch university convenes under canvas after the city's quake, writes Jo Gilbert.

Whatever happens, there's no going back

The ASX faces a challenging future even if the Singapore bid fails, writes Stuart Washington.