BUSINESS

In US economic data, housing starts rose by 2.8% to an annual rate of 946,000 in March, below expectations for a result near 973,000. Industrial production rose by 0.7% in March, above expectations for a gain of 0.5%.

Beijing-based Sina Weibo is due to debut this week in New York through an initial public offering (IPO) that seeks to raise at least $340 million.

Apple Inc. is expected to reveal its Q2 FY 2014 quarterly earnings on April 23 after the final trading call. What do analysts' expectations reveal?

Nike has shown good performance in overall sales and continues to gain growth worldwide. But the popular sports brand still faces a tough challenge with its projected sales in China.

While Twitter users feasted over the US Airways inadvertent post of a not safe for work photo on Twitter, many businessmen could deeply reflect over this accident to keep their company's reputation in good standing.

The Australian sharemarket closed above 5400pts, partly boosted by a slightly better than expected Chinese economic growth. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) jumped 0.6 per cent to 5412.6. On Monday the local market sank to three-week lows. Volume has been subdued due to public holidays.

The Australian share market is continuing to add to Tuesday's gains in the early session on Wednesday, after US markets rode out a volatile session on a high note.

Australia has launched its first Bitcoin ATM in Sydney despite troubles and a threat from the National Australia Bank (NAB) that it will close the accounts of businesses trading in crypto-currencies, including Bitcoin.

Global equities were mixed with US markets continuing their recovery, while European and emerging markets struggled. US markets struggled early as China growth fears and Ukraine concerns weighed on equities, but they managed to reverse on earnings optimism. Earnings from Johnson & Johnson and Coca Cola impressed, while Intel came in mildly better than expected.

In US economic data, the headline and core measures of consumer prices (the latter excludes food and energy) both rose 0.2% in March, above forecasts for a 0.1% gain. The New York Federal Reserve manufacturing index eased from +5.61 to +1.29 in April. And overall capital flows into the US lifted from US$83 billion in January to US$167.7 billion in February.

Is it a case of lost in translation or a deliberate marketing gimmick to be talked about? Such questions would likely pop in the mind of fast food lovers when they read a particular item on the menu of a Burger King branch in China - the PooPoo Smoothie.

Thousands of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) customers were angry at the lender on Tuesday because a network hardware failure caused an outage that made it impossible to withdraw money. The clients vented their ire on social media.

The Australian sharemarket partly made up for the substantial losses recorded on Monday. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rose by 0.5 per cent after recording its worst performance in four weeks yesterday. The index failed to finish above the key 5400pt level. It was a quiet session on the volume front, with only $3.9 billion worth of shares changing hands leading up to a number of public holidays.

Facebook is planning to diversify its horizon beyond social networking.

Australia is the 13th cheapest place for purchasing the latest iPad

A Piper Jaffray survey has found the number of American teens using iPhones is rising based on the previous year's 48 percent to 61 percent this 2014.

China is still definitely on the lookout for commodities. Chinese consortium MMG has just bought from Glencore Xstrata the latter's Las Bambas copper mine in Peru for AU$6.22 billion in cash.

The local share market is trading higher in the early session, rebounding from Friday and Monday's hefty losses thanks to strong gains on Wall Street overnight.

Bus drivers of privately owned SouthLink have agreed to hold a 24-hour work stoppage over unsettled pay and conditions claims either Tuesday or Wednesday after the Holy Week.

Among the agenda lined up for Tuesday's federal government cabinet meeting is the long-standing proposed second airport for Sydney at Badgerys Creek. Already endorsed by Australian PM Tony Abbott, the cabinet is expected to approve it on the same day.

Surprise earnings from Citigroup have certainly managed to snap the S&P out of its downward trend. The S&P registered its worst week since January last week, but snapped back on Citi earnings and better-than-expected retails sale.

In US economic data, retail sales rose by 1.1% in March, ahead of forecasts for an increase in sales of 0.7%. It was the biggest gain in sales since September 2012. Excluding autos, sales rose by 0.7%, ahead of forecasts for a gain of 0.5%. Business inventories rose by 0.4% in February, largely in line with forecasts.

Hollywood actors such as Eva Longoria, Gwyneth Paltrow and Amy Adams have been caught on camera show their bush or tush or allow other private body parts to peek intentionally or unintentionally at the front and back bumpers or crotch areas. Rather than imitate these celebrities, Kerry O'Brien decided instead to make her own underwear line for women using materials and design that shows no visible panty lines when wearing figure-hugging bottoms or cuts through the skin because of the tight ga...

While spin doctors of the Abbott government would probably use last week's data from the Australian Bureau Statistics' unemployment rate to boast of the government's economic management style, a look at youth unemployment figures is cause for alarm.

Apple Inc. is sitting on twice as much cash at its disposal compared to the U.S. government.

Samsung Galaxy S5, the latest flagship from Samsung bundle offering, has many interesting features. It is definitely one of the most anticipated handsets ever.

The losses worsened throughout the day, with local shares finishing around intra-day lows (and 3-week low). The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) slumped 1.29 per cent; finishing below 5400 points for the first time in two weeks and recording its biggest daily tumble in a month. Investors are likely to remain a little quiet this week due to the shortened Easter trading week.

Even large US credit rating agency rejects God into its system.

Many people consider taking a tour around the world when their pockets and time permits. But how about cruising around from North Pole to South pole with the ultimate camper with a just Daddy and four-year old kid together?