David Symons
Christmas cheer rings hollow for retailers
David Symons With two weeks until Christmas, all corners of the retail trade have reason to be worried.
Pressure on BoQ for out-of-cycle rate rise
David Symons A profit warning from Bank of Queensland last night shows times remain tough in the sunshine state's commercial property market.
Real estate trusts front and centre
David Symons Investors in real estate investment trusts are having a big week. Yesterday Stockland managing director Matthew Quinn signed off on a $4 billion, 1121 hectare ''sustainable masterplanned community''...
Fairfax needs to focus attention on positives
David Symons When Fairfax announced Brian McCarthy's departure, there was no hint that the new boss would be allowed any latitude to revisit aspects of the strategic plan unveiled last month.
Retail sales flying out the door and overseas
David Symons Analysts seeking to explain the 1.1 per cent decline in October retail sales need look no further than the planes taking off from Tullamarine and Mascot, loaded with outbound holidaymakers, for much...
Biotechs shun bright lights for southern cash
David Symons In a reversal of past form, a trickle of North American biotechs is seeking ASX listings.
ISoft chief goes in hard with the apologies
David Symons As the annual meeting season draws to a close, the award for the most grovelling chairman's address looks likely to go to debt-laden healthcare software company iSoft.
White Energy may have better options
David Symons Controversy is rarely far away when large related-party deals are attempted, and a $500 million proposal for White Energy to acquire two NSW coal development properties controlled by five of the...
Numbers unlikely to be coming up for Aristocrat
David Symons It's going to be a long road back for Aristocrat after Friday's downgrade saw 2010 operating profit guidance slashed to no more than $60 million, compared with $116.4 million last year.
AXA deal could bring $2.6bn headache
David Symons Long-running legal battle cannot be ignored by AMP as it contemplates the acquisition of AXA's Australian and New Zealand business.
Why Premier Bligh walked the plank on QML
David Symons It's a fear of scrutiny, rather than a lack of external interest, that's given Queensland Premier Anna Bligh cold feet over privatisation plans for Queensland Motorways.
Awaiting the birth of a new media mogul
David Symons Will a new media mogul be born when PBL Media is brought to market next year?
Little chance for New Hope's Northern bid
David Symons Will New Hope walk away from the Northern Energy bid?
Hauling BHP to the table a struggle for FerrAus
David Symons Frustration levels are running high at FerrAus as it struggles to drag a reluctant BHP Billiton to the negotiating table to discuss access to the Mount Newman rail line.
Media musical chairs could stop next at PBL
David Symons It's anyone's guess where the musical chairs among old media proprietors and executives will end.
QR valuation pulls up a bit short of platform
David Symons Selling the QR National float within the proposed price range of $2.50 to $3.00 a share is looking increasingly unlikely.
Everyone's a winner in GPG sugar sale
David Symons The portfolio tidy-up at Gary Weiss's Guinness Peat Group has taken another step forwards with a conditional agreement to offload 19.
Guinness Peat burning along with sugar sale
David Symons Guinness Peat Group has taken another step forward with a conditional agreement to offload 19.9 per cent of Maryborough Sugar Factory to Thailand's biggest sugar producer.
Stockland not yet ready to retire its buying
David Symons The second of Matthew Quinn's three expensive chickens has come home to roost.
High dollar brings Stella period for beer lovers
David Symons CHeck out the prices now on offer in cut-price liquor stores, and you're left wondering how the local brewers will respond to the effects of a soaring Australian dollar.
