Xero's fighting chance, lawyers dodge trust sham allegations, why spill 1080 formula threat?

In the NBR Print Edition this week: Hold on to your hats. The man who was previously one of Xero’s [NZX:XRO] harshest critics on its North American strategy now sees a steady path to growth. Woodward Partners Securities’ Nick Lewis shares his newfound love for Xero and upgraded revenue projections with Chris Keall.

This week’s announcement of a four-month-old threat to poison infant formula prompted widespread cognitive dissonance and not just from Fonterra [NZX:FCG]. Nick Grant opines on this week’s bizzare news dump.

Large power companies are resisting change in the sector but an electricity smallfry considering a stock exchange listing says consumers are being duped. Calida Smylie discusses that with Flick Energy CEO Steve O’Connor.

French economist Thomas Piketty, author of Capital in the 21st Century, has recanted on the book’s key findings – that the return on capital outpaces the growth of the economy. This had been used to propose higher taxes on the wealthy, so what now? asks Nevil Gibson.

The Beijing Capital Group is picking up more rubbish in New Zealand, with the acquisition of another waste management company for an undisclosed sum. Living Earth co-founder Rob Fenwick tells business reporter Hamish McNicol why he’s sold up.

Two Kiwi lawyers connected to a Russian oligarch once dubbed “Putin’s banker” have faced scrutiny following the collapse of a bank he founded.  Court reporter Victoria Young details this unusual and interesting case.

In Order Paper, Rob Hosking says alarm bells should be ringing over changes to the Judicature Act: Are our politicians chipping away at constitutional safeguards?

Shoeshine recalls Diligent Board Member Services [NZX:DIL] putting out a decent result last week with a new product on the go as well. So why are some analysts down on the stock? Also, what impact will the government’s so-called “Google Tax” have on some listed firms like Fletcher Building [NZX:FBU], F&P Healthcare [NZX:FPH], Xero [NZX:XRO] and Fonterra’s Shareholders Fund [NZX:FSF]?

Labour’s renewed interest in government ACC charges on business could turn out to be short-lived. Rob Hosking explains.

Prosperity cannot be guaranteed without removing impediments to development and restrictive policies toward foreign investment, writes guest columnist Eric Crampton.

Should local banks be embracing “natural capital” in their lending policies? Jamie Ball reflects on the lack of support downunder for the UN-driven Natural Capital Declaration, which aims to include natural resources in bank lending criteria.

Ad-Media writer Campbell Gibson reports on why local TV reality shows are failing to keep viewers.

In property, Chris Hutching talks to Trustees Executors’ business manager Sean Roberts, who says he finds it difficult to reconcile media reports about the “hot” property market.

Meanwhile, don’t miss our special feature this week on Investing in Commercial Property.

All this and more in today’s National Business Review. Out now.