BUSINESS

BlackBerry is apparently pretty miffed by T-Mobile's Apple iPhone 5S campaign as the Canadian smartphone company now decided to end its U.S. collaboration with the carrier.

Amazon is expected to showcase its band new TV - streaming device at a press conference in New York City this week.

Macro data is back on the table as we look to round out the first week of trading in April. Overnight the ADP non-farm payrolls data was released and showed payrolls in the US were boosted by 191,000 in the month of March, compared with 178,000 in February. This was below the market consensus of 195,000, but on the whole it does show that the US winter issues are melting.

In US economic data, the ADP Private Employment report showed job gains of 191,000 for the private sector in March mostly in line with forecasts. The February result was revised up from 139,000 to 178,000. US factory orders jumped 1.6% in February. Shipments of new orders lifted by 0.9% in February - the biggest gain in seven months. However the prior January result was revised to show a larger fall of 1%.

With the pending shutdown and downsizing of two large multinational employers with facilities in Australia, more Aussie workers would soon lose their jobs, worsening the country's high unemployment rate.

With the recent rumors of a new TV - streaming device from Amazon doing the rounds; we now have one other news, Amazon will be the new streaming home for the popular thriller series "24."

Despite ending a little short of intra-day highs, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) managed to spike late in trade to end 0.26 per cent or 13.6 pts firmer to 5408.8. Property trusts, the utilities and IT businesses were the biggest losers, while all remaining sectors edged a little higher. Global markets were firmer overnight, with the tech specific NASDAQ and the S&P500 the standouts. The S&P500 broke through yet another record high thanks partly to healthy economic news. The index has surged by 8...

By end of this decade or year 2020, Australia would have become the world's top gas exporter, according to the International Gas Union (IGU). Moreover, the body assured the country that the U.S. shale gas exports will likely affect liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Asia.

Philip Morris announced it will stop its production in Melbourne by the end of 2014

The Australian sharemarket is modestly higher at lunch, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rising by 13 pts or 0.3 per cent. A late surge from the miners yesterday; particularly BHP Billiton (BHP) helped minimise the influence of sluggish Chinese economic data. The S&P500 Index cracked through yet another record higher overnight.

Apple Inc. leads the list of US companies with 1.64 trillion in stockpile; will the company reach its Q2 forecast?

Head of Samsung Electronics Co.’s discloses 2013 paycheck of $5.8 million

There is a feeling from the data over the last 24 hours that bad news is being taken as good news once again.

n US economic data, the ISM manufacturing index rose from 53.2 to 53.7 in March. Construction spending rose by 0.1% in February. Chain store sales rose 2.3% in the latest week compared with a year ago, down from a 3.1% gain in the prior week. And the Dallas Federal Reserve services index rose from +9.8 points to +16.5 points in March.

Following the report that mysterious disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 has made a billionaire the sole owner of a major semiconductor patent has resulted in all eyes being focused on Illuminati member Jacob Rothschild.

Mining giant BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP) is reportedly planning to set up a separate company for its aluminium, bauxite and nickel assets for the firm to focus on its core businesses.

Apple Inc. announces on Monday adjustment for App Store prices following fluctuating currencies

Buyers made a push in the second half of the trading day which saw the ASX 200 pull up short of closing in positive territory. The index however was able to finish at the best levels of afternoon trade. The main buying initiative pushing the index higher in the afternoon was found in the resource sector. The bulk miners, which were painting an unconvincing picture in early trade, moved ahead with more conviction in the afternoon.

Noting changes in currency exchange rates, Apple on Monday disclosed App Store prices in Australia and four other countries stand to rise.

Google is out and about with its April Fool’s Day pranks

Be armed for today’s ‘national public holiday’ by knowing these ‘sheepish’ April Fool’s Day pranks

The number of measles virus infections in Canada has risen and had infected not only children but also a number of adults, prompting health officials to call for a national vaccine registry.

Japan has reopened the Miyakoji area of Tamura and has called on its former 357 residents to come back to the place which three years ago underwent evacuation because of the Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdown.

Solid gains on Wall Street overnight have been ignored by local investors on the first day of a new month and quarter. The gains in the US were driven by dovish comments made by Fed Chair Janet Yellen. Ms Yellen gave a speech on Monday defending the Fed´s policy of low interest rates and bond-buying, saying that the ´´extraordinary´´ commitment to stimulus will be needed for some time in the face of the ´´considerable´´ slack in the economy and labour market. Ms Yellen suggested that this ´´vie...

The latest report from the International Monetary Fund hinted a call for increased subsidy for Au’s Big Four banks

There are over 20 different countries releasing manufacturing PMI data today. The most notable will be: (in timeline order) Japan, China, France, Germany and the US.

In US economic data, the Chicago Purchasing Management Index fell from 59.8 to 55.9 in March - a seven month low. Federal Reserve Chair Yellen gave a speech on Monday strongly defending the Fed´s policy of low interest rates and bond-buying. Yellen said the ´´extraordinary´´ commitment to stimulus will be needed for some time, saying there is ´´considerable´´ slack in the economy and labour market. Yellen suggested that the ´´view is widely shared by my fellow policy-makers at the Fed´´.

Embattled national flag carrier Qantas is courting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to help the company recover financially by launching on Monday the Acquire corporate loyalty programme.

The news that famous billionaire Jacob Rothschild is now the sole owner of a major semiconductor patent after four of the Chinese co-owners are presumed dead since they were aboard the ill-fated Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 is still hot, but another Rothschild is getting his share of the spotlight.