Gold has fallen 4 per cent since the beginning of the week, as investors fret less about Ukraine and shift their focus to the timing of US interest rate rises.

Anybody who has been listening to AGL or the media coverage it has received this week will have heard the message loud and clear: we are heading for a cliff.

Hedge fund VGI Partners has branded gambling company Echo Entertainment Group the "cheapest casino stock in the developed world", but analysts have warned its not that simple.

Jetstar has ditched flights between Singapore and Auckland after struggling to make money on the route, reinforcing concerns that a tie up between Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand will threaten competition.

Myer's profit result for the half year to the end of January sheds some light on why Myer is pursuing a merger with its department store rival,

• Myer first-half profit drops 8.1 per cent as costs hit

VGI Partners, a $600 million hedge fund, has acquired a stake of up to 3 per cent in Echo Entertainment, the owner of The Star casino in Sydney, and is pushing for the casino operator's new management for an overhaul.

Brambles has admitted that it did engage in talks with Singapore-listed Goodpack about a potential takeover but negotiations did not progress and the two parties have broken off from "active discussions".