BUSINESS

Falling Demand for Cars Causes Ford to Axe 300 Jobs at Victoria Facility

Three hundred Ford workers in Victoria will become jobless beginning in May and run through the end of the year when the automaker axes their posts through redundancies due to declining demand for vehicles. The soon-to-be affected workers are deployed at the Geelong and Breadmeadow manufacturing facilities.
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Global Markets Overview - 2/6/14

Indifferent data overnight has done little to quell the divided talk from the Fed about the way it is likely to deal with monetary stimulus over the coming year.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 2/6/14

In US economic news, the ISM non-manufacturing index rose by 1 point to 54.0 in January, slightly ahead of expectations. The employment sub-index lifted to 56.4 - a new high since November 2010, and suggested healthy jobs growth in the services sector.

Apple Inc iOS Edges Closer to Android's Platform Market Share in the U.S.

Apple Inc's iOS platform share continues to grow in the United States while Android is showing a slight decline. Based on comScore data, Apple gained 1.2 per cent in three months with a total platform market share of 41.8 per cent. Google's Android OS lost 0.3 per cent in the same period with a total market share of 51.5 per cent.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 2/5/14

Despite a firmer start this morning, the Australian sharemarket has finished 0.5 per cent lower; adding to yesterday's 1.7 per cent slump (worst day in seven months). Since the start of this week, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) has lost 2.3 per cent, the worst week for local stocks since the start of December.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 2/5/14

Conditions for global markets have improved in the last day following steep declines in the preceding session. Markets were initially spooked by weaker economic news from the US. This outcome antagonised sensitivities around Q.E, driven by concerns that the Fed is acting too quickly in relation to its tapering policy.

Global Markets Overview – 2/5/14

The slide we've been seeing in equities finally came to a halt with a recovery in emerging market currencies helping sentiment along. Good gains for the TRY and ZAR helped sentiment with Merkel saying Turkey's talks to join the EU can proceed. There was also some Fed commentary with Lacker saying he expects tapering to continue at upcoming meetings, and Evans suggesting the Fed will not deviate from its tapering course.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 2/5/14

In US economic news, factory orders fell by 1.5% in December after rising by 1.5% November. The weakness was largely driven by a 9.7% decline in new orders for transportation. In fact factory orders excluding transportation lifted by 0.2%.

Apple Inc's New Mac Commercial Uses iPhone 5S Footage; Adweek Compares Apple and Microsoft Super Bowl Ad

As Apple Inc commemorated 30 years of Macintosh in January, rumours had begun to spread that the company will release a Super Bowl ad which is reminiscent of the desktop computer's 1984 commercial. Apple might use the Super Bowl again to pay homage to its famous desktop computer. While Apple Inc did not show the ad in honor of Macintosh at the Super Bowl, the company chose to post a new commercial on its YouTube channel and called it "1.24.14."

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 2/4/14

The Australian sharemarket slumped by 1.7 per cent, having its worst day in seven months and closing at a 1.5 month low. All sectors finished in the red following a 2 per cent slump in U.S. equities fuelled by disappointing manufacturing data.

Barbie Body Proportions Not Designed To Be Realistic, Mattel Says

Barbie dolls often receive bad rap when it comes to positive body image influences for little girls. With its impossibly thin build, the buxom doll simply has unrealistic body proportions. According to Barbie makers, the iconic toy’s design isn’t meant to be a realistic one. Her controversial disproportionate measurements are apparently a practical choice.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 2/4/14

In US economic news, the ISM manufacturing index fell from 56.5 to an 8-month low of 51.3 in January, short of forecasts for a result near 56.0. Construction spending rose by 0.1% in December, close to forecasts.

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