AXA Asia wants more

FRANCE'S AXA SA and AMP were last night looking to revive talks with AXA Asia Pacific as the superannuation giant holds out for a sweetened offer after rejecting a joint $11 billion takeover bid, in a move that stands to reshape the nation's superannuation industry dramatically.

Flush with cash, ANZ faces pressure to hand some back

DAYS after it seized full control of its wealth management joint venture from ING, pressure remains on ANZ to push ahead with further acquisitions or return some of its billions in surplus cash to investors.

'Flawed laws' would steal police thunder

VICTORIA'S chief prosecutor and senior police are warning that the Rudd Government's strategy to fight organised crime may be undermined by poorly drafted laws.

36% tumble in household wealth

AUSTRALIAN households have lost a staggering 36 per cent of their wealth since the start of the economic crisis.

We've lost 36% of wealth

AUSTRALIAN households have lost an extraordinary 36 per cent of their financial wealth since the economic crisis began.

The Past Year Has Given A Warning That We Can No Longer Ignore

Rich countries can no longer live as they do if the world is to survive.

Storm's Trail Of Misery

The floodwaters from cyclone Charlotte had just started to recede when a second storm hit downtown Townsville this week. Eric Johnston and Vanessa O'Shaughnessy examine the story behind Storm Financial.

A Bitter Harvest

A Bitter Harvest Peter Yeldham Penguin, $24.95

Sapphires Add To Inverell's Lustre

WHEN Scottish immigrant and farmer Alexander Campbell gave Inverell its name he had no idea about the area's hidden natural wealth.

Sharpest Decline In Wealth For 18 Years

WEALTH held in the hands of Australians has posted its biggest annual fall in 18 years due to tumbling share prices and stagnant property prices, official figures show.

Students' Aid To Africa Is No Small Change

AUSTRALIANS are very generous and six students from George Anderson Walpole are among the largest donors as a percentage of their wealth, according to the school's chaplain Martin Parish.

El Segundo Pips The Hussler And Cat

DESPITE the wealth of challengers for the title, Cox Plate winner El Segundo has been ranked Australia's leading racehorse in the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.

Experience Loss Means New Faces

LAKE Macquarie City Council will lose a wealth of experience at the council elections next month, with five of the existing 13 councillors confirming they will not seek re-election.

8th A Date With Destiny

DOZENS of couples throughout Australia tied the knot yesterday, hoping that the eighth day of the eighth month of 2008 would bring them wealth, health and everlasting love.

Essential Questions For Flourishing Universities

Higher education is under thorough review and Australia, a country of vast wealth, has the chance to build upon its fine university tradition.

Grassroots View Of Musical Theatre

Director Aaron Joyner may lack megabucks, but he has a wealth of passion for musicals, writes Robin Usher.

Household Wealth Leaps For Most Australians

IT'S been a good four years for most Australians, despite the recent pain inflicted by sharemarket falls and rising interest rates, with net household wealth surging more than 50% between 2002 and 2006.

A Wealth Of Understanding For Families That Never Set

The Good Parents By Joan London Vintage, $32.95

From Little Sins, Big Sins Grow

A VATICAN official, Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti, has suggested seven new sins to add to the old list. Some seem more like subsections of old offences (dealing drugs, abortion, pedophilia) and others (pollution, genetic engineering) just too hard for most of us. As for social injustice - define that. And extreme wealth? If only. The old list of pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed and sloth are quite enough for most of us. Look at the case of the New York writer A.J. Jacobs, who tried to ...

Murdoch Disposes Of $11m Shares In Wealth Reshuffle

RUPERT MURDOCH continued to reshuffle his family's shareholdings in News Corp, revealing yesterday he offloaded close to $US10 million ($11 million) worth of shares last week.