The momentum is palpable as the equity market heads to 6000 points, but in the economy the state of retail has set off real concerns.

James Vertzayias may be hanging up his tiny competition briefs.

Fairfax Media and John Singleton's Macquarie Radio network are very close to finalising a $200 million talkback radio merger, less than a year after talks collapsed in bitter circumstances.

Next year is shaping as another pivotal one for financial markets. We have asked a number of top investors and analysts which indicator they will be watching particularly closely.

The fall-out from the savaging of the oil price saw Australian LNG majors, Santos and Origin, reassuring investors that financing and expenditure would be reconfigured and that the economics of their massive projects still worked.