Code blue

While no stock is shockproof in volatile times, investors can expect these 10 blue chips to weather the storms.

Cleaning up helps ride out times of instability

Decontamination work provides a stable source of income for a firm faced with wild revenue fluctuations.

Merrill Lynch warns of mining dangers

A broker report anticipates a sharp drop in commodity prices and mining share prices.

Market update

Analysts take a look at coal and gold; Macquarie Group; Coca-Cola Amatil; Harvey Norman and the banks.

Broken takeover dream

Acquisition-hungry Rio Tinto had its sights set on gobbling up Alcan, but the global financial crisis shattered its hopes.

Opportunity stocks

Looking for long-term value in the sharemarket seems quaint but it is possible.

Chinese eye Sundance

Another resource company comes under China’s gaze

Breaking up is good for some

Finding value stocks with good growth potential is not a simple task.

Top teams smarten up on IT

Top executives are switching on to smartphones and tablets and the productivity opportunities that they open up.

Mining investment estimates in doubt

The Reserve Bank may have got it wrong on capital expenditures in the resources sector.

Executives see the bright side

Executives presenting at Macquarie’s annual conference last week were upbeat.

Nuclear power a hot property

The outlook for uranium over the next decade is increasingly tight supply as demand increases.

Tide is turning

Featherstone | When the Australian dollar begins to fall, small-cap industrials are well-placed to bring profits home.

Mining for scale

The world’s largest miners want to increase production to meet demand.

Top 10 mining stocks

There is action aplenty among mining stocks and these mid-sized companies are in the thick of it.

Top 1000 - The tide turns

Profits are up and the economy’s healthy, so there’s much to be glad about.

1. BHP Billiton

Ranking on the 2010 Most Respected Company list.

Markets strengthening

Frith | Shares have good upside potential.

Chaney’s brilliant career

The former geologist has wrought his alchemy over a conglomerate of big businesses, despite the critics.

Innovation cures domestic paralysis

Frith | Foreign markets look attractive to companies that run out of domestic growth opportunities, but companies need to offer something unique to meet success overseas.

Boards cop a pasting

BlackRock’s flagship fund manager Evy Hambro says companies should be giving back to investors.

Canada beckons Australian capital

Frith | Watch out, fellow Commonwealth citizens, because cashed-up Australian energy and resources giants and even a grocery chain are eyeing Canadian assets.

Carbon tax – game on

Despite BHP Billiton’s Marius Kloppers’ firm views, business is divided on carbon pricing.

Copper arrests investor interest

Big things are expected from the copper market. Copper prices on the London Metal Exchange hit a two year high on September 29 and Goldman Sachs believes that their preferred base metal will remain in high demand.

Promising signs for M&A lawyers

The bidders are deal hungry, the banks are ready to lend again, and boards are welcoming, so law firms can look forward to plenty of M&A work.

Pressure on profits

Global economic challenges continue to cast long shadows on the Australian sharemarket.

Pressure points in going alone

Frith | The global risk model for large resource projects is changing but a benefit to investors may be a greater diversity of listed companies in which to invest.

Point of low return

Australia is not immune to the ills of the world economy.

Iron ore producers jostle for rail

BHP and Rio Tinto may be forced to share some of their private rail lines.

Market update

Brokers rate David Jones despite debacle, UBS says buy on Macquarie Atlas, Emeco Holdings moves mountains, Ardent Leisure expected to bounce, and Gillard appointment boost interest in local mining.

Living with the tax

Despite the change in leadership and potential for renegotiation, mining companies are still wary that investor confidence has been permanently dented.

What went wrong at Rio?

How could a headlong rush into an unsuitable marriage get the better of one of the world’s most respected companies?

Fresh focus on local mining investment

Ten must-have shares in a tricky market

With the economic recovery still a little shaky, BRW selects a diverse mix of the most solid companies to invest in.

Management Update

Middle manager advancement, innovative links in agribusiness and Steve Granland gets a guernsey.

Exposure Warranted

Strong results in the US suggest equities may be a goer both locally and in Asia.

A good reputation’s worth gold

Frith | An ill-conceived change to the taxation of our natural resource will see cash flow away from the country in hundreds of billions of dollars.

Policymakers must step lightly

Frith | BHP Billiton’s Don Argus sees dangerous waters ahead

Miners worth a close look

M&A activity means junior miners are in demand.

Shell, PetroChina target Arrow

Frith | It’s 100 years since Shell started operating in Australia and 10 years since its rebuff over Woodside Petroleum. Now it has its eye on coal seam gas.

The man who rules the world

Marius Kloppers explains how he runs BHP Billiton, the company that feeds China's remarkable growth, which underpins the global economy.

Where to dig

Australian miners have rewarded investors handsomely in recent years, and many will continue to do so.