BUSINESS

Beyonce handed out $50 gift cards to 750 Walmart customers on Friday, Dec 20, 2013, after Amazon and Target refused to stock her new CD because she released it in secret on iTunes just minutes before midnight EST on Friday morning, Dec 13, 2013.

For people who prefer tablets that are smaller than the standard 10-inch tablets, these three new tablets in the market are now under this category: Nexus 7 2013, Amazon Kindle Fire HDX and the Apple iPad Mini 2 with Retina display.

Apple Inc has officially announced a deal with China Mobile on Dec. 22 which signaled the end of a 6-year negotiation. Apple's bestselling iPhones will be available on the world's largest mobile carrier on Jan. 17, 2014.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., an American Southern country themed chain of restaurants and gift stores founded in 1969 in Lebanon, Tennessee (TN), announced on Dec. 22, 2013 that they will bring back selected "Duck Dynasty" products that were deemed "offensive" in its stores' shelves just a day after announcing that it was pulling it out.

Cyanogen, a company known for its free, open source operating system and community built distribution of Android for smartphones and tablets, finally received Google's approval to produce the Oppo N1 phone after previously warning them in Nov. 2013 that its installer encourages phone owners to void their warranty.

Users of Samsung Galaxy Note 3 may encounter low WiFI problems and similar connectivity issues. Some users reported not getting more than 54MB while surfing. Fortunately, there are several ways for them to boost their connection speed.

Apple Inc's deal with China Mobile was the most anticipated agreement by investors as the world's biggest mobile carrier was expected to make a big announcement on December 18. However, the day had passed without a single word from both parties, leaving investors disappointed.

New Zealand's economic growth is faster than most countries including Australia. According to Finance Minister Bill English, the latest statistics revealed that gross domestic product (GDP) growth of New Zealand was 3.5 per cent in Sept compared to 2.3 per cent of Australia's GDP.

Hershey Co, famous for the Kisses, Reese and its namesake chocolate bars, has expanded in China and purchased 80 per cent of the local iconic Shanghai Golden Monkey Food Joint Stock Co Ltd for $584 million.

The state legislature of California in the U.S. is set to push in January 2014 a bill that would require smartphone manufacturers to input a mandatory "kill switch" technology that would render stolen phones inoperable.

For a more comprehensive preview of next week's events, please refer to "The Monday Report", published each Monday morning.

By Sean Brodrick, Resource Strategist, The Oxford ClubThey say that a bell never rings at the top and the bottom of the market.

It doesn’t matter if Michael Jordan’s 56,000 square foot 7-acre mansion didn’t sell at the auction that took place on Dec. 16, he is really determined to get rid of it.

By Rudi Filapek-Vandyck, Editor FNArenaThis is it Folks! The fact that you are reading this story means FNArena has written and published its final story for 2013.

U.S. retail giant Target Corporation has confirmed reports that it is investigating a security breach on credit and debit card information of its customers. Around 40 million shoppers who purchased from the company’s stores across the country from November 27 and December 15 are feared to be affected by the theft.

Reebok Australia is under fire for promising consumers toned thighs and calves if they use its EasyTone shoes. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has launched legal action against the sports company for making false, misleading, or deceptive representations about the workout shoes.

Bitcoins plunged to $625 in value as China bans the virtual money on real world use. Its price dropped by $200 when Zhou Jinhuang, People’s Bank of China’s deputy director of payment clearance, told third party payment providers that “they can no longer work with Bitcoin exchanges,” Forbes reported.

Sony and Microsoft released the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. As the rivalry continues, gamers can look forward for more next generation consoles. Recent reports hint what people can expect from the next PlayStation 5 and Xbox. There were also reports showing the concept for the next-generation Wii. It will definitely be a packed season.

Melbourne man Steve Sammartino co-created the world’s first life-sized and drivable Lego car

Due to the popular and strong sales of iPhone 5S, Susquehanna Financial Group predicted that Apple’s stocks may go up to $650.

This particular Holiday 2013 Gift Guide features wonderful gifts that give back to those in need. It's a great feeling to receive gifts, but when you are giving gifts, it's even better. Whether you will be the giver or the receiver of gifts this season, it's a nice touch that someone else will benefit from this traditional exchange of gifts this Christmas. Some of the products mentioned in this gift guide include nail polish, makeup, accessories and even a bike!

China is no longer the stronghold of the world's supply of rare earths, according to a latest assessment released by the Pentagon of the U.S.' industrial base.

Cameras are great for taking pictures and more importantly preserving precious memories. With the advent of camera phones, it's not as popular as much as before. But, it is still highly coveted by photography enthusiasts and hobbyists who know that these babies are the best gadgets to take winning photos with. Check out this Holiday 2013 Gift Guide featuring the best cameras to give this Christmas.

And so it can be told. Dec 18, 2013 was indeed just another day in the calendar. Apple Inc and China Mobile Ltd have yet to arrive an agreement. Or perhaps announce it.

Canada is set to introduce changes in its Telecommunications Act in 2014 that will lift restrictions and pave the way for increased foreign ownership in the sector.

By Mitchell Clark, B.CommIt's less than two weeks prior to the Christmas break, and with the New Year on the horizon, that means it's time to sit down and really re-evaluate your portfolio.

By Evan Lucas, Market Strategist IG MarketsGood MorningDovish taper hawkish surprise from the FedThe market finally got its wish from September for a dovish token taper of $10 billion split evenly over mortgage-backed securities and treasuries.

Australian stocks finished slightly weaker today, as investors elected to remain on the sidelines until the US Federal Reserve delivers the outcome of its two day policy meeting.

Twitter Alerts was launched in Australia on Dec 17, 2013