BUSINESS

Global Markets Overview – 1/24/14

Risk continued to trade with a negative tone after price action broke down in yesterday's Asian trade. The selling was really triggered by the disappointing HSBC China PMI reading which came in contractionary territory, and disappointing earnings in the US didn't help the situation.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 1/24/14

n US economic news the flash Markit PMI eased from 55 to 53.7 in January. Slower rates of output and new order growth were behind the modest fall. The leading economic indicators index rose by 0.1% in December. US existing home sales rose by 1% in December. Existing home sales totalled 5.09 million units over 2013 - a seven year high. The national median price for existing homes was up 9.9% on a year ago. US jobless claims rose by 1,000 to 326,000 last week.
More news

Beijing Bans Construction of New Industrial Plants

Effective March 1, 2014, Beijing will no longer be approving proposals for new constructions of industrial plants, including oil refining, steel, cement and thermal power plants. Proposals for improvements of existing ones will likewise be barred.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 1/23/14

The Australian sharemarket is slipping for the third time this week and for the 11th time in 15 sessions. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 0.1 per cent. China's HSBC Flash Manufacturing PMI will be issued at 12.45pm (AEDT) and measures the state of manufacturing activity in China. The market is expecting a slight rise from 50.5 to 50.6. A reading above 50.0 indicates manufacturing industry expansion. A surprise could move currencies.

Global Markets Overview – 1/23/14

US markets have provided no platform for Asia to move higher, so it seems we will need to see China come out firing again for the ASX 200 to make any upside traction.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 1/23/14

European shares edged higher on Wednesday, led by solid results from Dutch technology firm ASML. But concerns about earnings across the broader market kept a lid on the advance. ASML the world´s leading provider of tools for making computer chips, rose by 7%, after it beat forecasts for fourth quarter results and reinterred an upbeat outlook for first-half sales. Portuguese shares (down 3.3%) underperformed the broader market, pressured by a slump in the country´s banks after local media reporte...

The '123456' Number Sequence Tops SplashData's Worst Passwords List [WATCH VIDEO]

SplashData, a company that specializes in password management applications (SplashID Safe line) for more than 10 years just announced the Worst Passwords of 2013 list featuring the 25 most common passwords found in the Internet. The "123456" number sequence topped the list as the worst password of 2013. It has been a runner-up for two times already and now, it has finally landed the number one spot. It beat the worst password of 2012, which is the word "password."

Global Markets Overview – 1/22/14

Fundamental questions around strength of the US earnings remain; after having seen a 30% gain on the S&P in 2013, the current earning season is masking what really is a disappointing start.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 1/22/14

European shares rallied to a fresh 5½-year high on Tuesday. Better than expected earnings from consumer goods maker Unilever (up 1.8%) supported investor sentiment. Sales rose 8.4% in emerging economies and accounts for more than half of earnings. In addition solid German sentiment data remained near 8 year highs. The monthly ZEW survey of economic sentiment slipped from 62.0 to 61.7 in December. Economists now expect Germany´s growth expansion of around 1.7% in 2014 after 0.4% in 2013. The FTSE...

Apple Inc Market Share Grows Faster Than Samsung in U.S.; Apple Stock to Reach $1000 in 2 Years

Apple Inc's market share in the U.S. has been the key driver of the company's success despite the growing competition led by Samsung Electronics. Although Samsung is gaining market share in the U.S., its gains are not the same with Apple Inc. While Apple Inc and its CEO Tim Cook are looking forward to "big plans" in 2014, analysts have speculated that the company's stock could reach $1000 after hitting the $705 mark in September 2012.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 1/21/14

Over the period of recent weeks the local market has cultivated the appearance of resilience. Appearance, because these kind statements have to be seen through the lens of summer volumes, which can make for some rather flighty price action. In the support of the claim, last week saw the market recover from a 2% deficit to end the week flat. Today the market was down almost 20 points before a mid-session recovery saw the market end the day ahead by 30 points.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 1/21/14

The Australian sharemarket has crept into positive territory after a slightly weaker start. The All Ordinaries Index is up by less than 0.1 per cent; however is being held back by an underperforming mining sector. U.S. sharemarkets were closed last night due to the Martin Luther King Jr Day holiday; keeping trading volume lighter than usual. There is no major economic news scheduled for release in Australia or the region today; however yesterday's slightly better than expected Chinese GDP rea...
A boy (2nd L) who was wounded in a bomb attack receives treatment at a hospital in Baquba, about 50 km (31 miles) northeast of Baghdad, January 15, 2014.  Bombs hit Iraq's capital Baghdad and a village near the northern town of Baquba on Wednesday, killin

Canadians’ Access to Doctor Appointments Ranks Last Among OECD Countries

Best not to get sick at anytime in Canada. A new survey that looked into the waiting times of Canadian patients in setting urgent appointments just to be checked and treated by their family doctors within a day has been found to be the worst among the 11 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED).

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 1/21/14

European shares edged lower in thin trade on Monday. A surprising quarterly loss by Deutsche Bank prompted investors to cash in recent gains on banking stocks. Deutsche Bank fell by 5.4% after a drop in fixed income trading revenues restructuring costs, and also warning about a challenging 2014. Credit Suisse fell 2.5% and Commerzbank lost 4.5%. The STOXX 600 Banking index lost 1% but was still up 5.5% so far this year. The FTSEurofirst 300 index fell by 0.1% with the UK FTSE up by 0.1% and the ...

Should Store Mannequins Have Pubic Hair?

A New York display along East Houston is generating buzz in the fashion industry because of three mannequins. It is not so much the white undergarments donned by the models that are the cause of the talk, but the fact that the mannequins have unshaved pubic hair sticking out of the undies.

Pages