Toys R Us founder dies as iconic retail chain folds
The founder of the embattled Toys R Us chain of children’s stores died on Thursday, a week after the company announced the end of its operations in the United States. ‘There have been many sad moments for Toys R Us in recent weeks, and none more heartbreaking than today’s news about the passing of our…
Investor Signposts: Week Beginning 15 February 2016
Craig James – Chief Economist – CommSec Job market in the spotlight · Only a spattering of economic statistics in Australia in the coming week. But dominating proceedings are minutes of the last Reserve Bank Board meeting and employment data. In the US, similarly minutes of the Federal Reserve meeting will be…
Coles in grocery world-first with eBay
Coles has become the first supermarket anywhere to sell directly on eBay. The Australian supermarket giant’s shopfront with the e-commerce behometh launched on Wednesday with a range of more than 4,000 products across categories including fresh food, personal care and household goods. While Coles already offers online shopping through its own website, it hopes to…
NAB sidelines Ken Henry in CEO search
NAB has removed Ken Henry from the decision-making process in the search for a new chief executive. The bank said on Wednesday that Dr Henry, who quit with CEO Andrew Thorburn after both were named and shamed in Kenneth Hayne’s final royal commission report, would play no role in the search. The bank has formed…
Australian shares tipped to start higher
The Australian share market is expected to tick higher on Tuesday but any gains could be short-lived ahead of the expected release of the final recommendations of the banking royal commission. The commission’s report is due to be handed to the federal government on Friday and publicly released soon after, although the exact timing is…
CommSec Daily Report Thursday
Latest NewsIn an uneventful start to the session, local shares have been treading water in the early part of trade on Thursday. The ASX 200 index traded in a tight range in the morning but is trading at its best levels approaching lunch, up 10 points or 0.2% higher to 5854.Improvements have been led by…
Labor looking at electoral funding reform
Labor leader Bill Shorten has repeated calls for a lower threshold on disclosing political donations amid reports his party is considering making sweeping changes to the system if it wins government. Under current arrangements, donors giving $13,000 and above must be identified but Labor wants the threshold dropped to $1000 which would match party rules….
Ghosn appeals against Japan bail rejection
Lawyers for former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn on Thursday appealed against a decision by a Tokyo court to refuse him bail, as he faces charges on three counts of financial misconduct.Since his stunning arrest on November 19 the auto tycoon has languished in a Tokyo detention centre, facing questioning over allegations he under-reported his salary…
CommSec Daily Report Friday
Latest News Local shares are edging higher for a fifth straight day but the gains appear to be running out of steam to close out the week. The ASX 200 is lifting by 7 points or 0.1% to 5802 towards lunch and is looking to close around 3.2% higher for the past five sessions. This follows Wall…
Little progress on ending US shutdown
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Democrats would pass new legislation to try to reopen parts of the government next week after talks between the Trump administration and Democratic negotiators failed to end a two-week partial government shutdown. President Donald Trump is demanding $US5.6 billion to build a wall along the US border with Mexico…
