BUSINESS

At least 75 people have died after a car parts plant in China exploded over the weekend. The plant located in eastern Jiangsu Province manufactured for a number of global car companies, including US giant General Motors (GM).

Dubai's Emirates Airline has become the first major international airline outside Africa to suspend flights to Guinea, one of three west African nations now reeling over the Ebola virus outbreak.

U.S. health officials on Sunday said the condition of Ebola-stricken American doctor Kent Brantly is improving. Brantly flew in from Africa on Saturday and went straight to Atlanta to a hospital with a special isolation ward. A second American missionary stricken with the deadly virus will arrive on Tuesday.

Another report says that Apple is on the go to manufacture around 70 million to 80 million units of the two upcoming iPhones which may lead to higher costs of goods and services. The mass production will start this coming August together with the Apple's manufacturing suppliers - Foxconn, Pegatron and Winstronn.

The last week of July was a big week for the U.S. stock market as 22 companies went public. The share launches was led by Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF), which is expected to raise $3.1 billion, making it the largest initial public offering (IPO) in 2014.

Retail investors were among those who were attracted to the Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) of Chinese pork producer WH Group on Tuesday, July 29. WH raised $2.05 billion in its second attempt at IPO, reported The Wall Street Journal.

Apparently, the Ebola virus now enveloping three West African nations wouldn't have developed into an outbreak if not for the people's ignorance and belief in witchcraft.

The Fed's view being proven correct. Over the weekend, the non-farm payrolls showed over 200,000 jobs were created, however part-time employment is leading the way and wage inflation is stagnant at best. Average hourly earnings month-on-month fell to 0%, and unemployment rose with participation still sitting near 1977 levels.

In US economic data, non-farm payrolls (employment) rose by 209,000 in July, just short of forecasts tipping a 233,000 lift in jobs. The unemployment rate rose from 6.1% to 6.2%. Personal income rose 0.4% as expected in June. The ISM purchasing managers index rose from 55.3 to a 3-year high of 57.1 in July, above the forecast of 56.0.

The timely intervention of Air Services Australia saved a Malaysia Airlines jet last week from a possible hit by a Tiger Airways.

Fruits are ordinarily sold in boxes when offered in bulk. A Chinese shopowner thought of a brilliant marketing idea to move the fruit in his warehouse faster.

In a move to boost the company's finances, Australian air carrier Qantas is adding six economy class seats for 71 of its Boeing 737s. However, to give way to the added seats, the air carrier would have smaller lavatories and galleys. The current lavatories measure 3 x 3 foot.

Australia's technology sector has outperformed the United States and the UK.

A channel war is brewing in the TV sector of New Zealand, with new challenger Telecom announcing its intent to take on the entrenched contender Sky TV with streaming videos.

Under the leadership of Tim Cook, Apple will make sure it has a device in every aspect of a person's life.

West African nation Sierra Leone, which has been reeling from an Ebola virus outbreak since May, has declared a state of emergency. Police and military units have been instructed to quarantine the epicentres of the disease as the death toll reached 729 on Thursday.

With the many import scandals involving China in other countries, should Australia be concerned?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an advisory warning against non-essential travel to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia in light of the deepening Ebola virus outbreak in the three countries.

The Glazer family, majority owners of Manchester United, are set to sell about 5% of their shares to the public via the New York Stock Exchange.

The trial of those responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17 over eastern Ukraine on July 17 will be convened in either a Malaysian or Dutch court, but not at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

Four incidents that rocked the global aviation industry in just a span of four months have created the inevitable phobia among air travellers. While Superman did say that air travel is still the safest mode of transportation, the fate of the four airlines doesn't seem to jive to this testament.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has ordered the closure of all schools in Liberia amid the deepening Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa, which has been categorised as "out of control" by Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Nigeria's major ASKY airline had announced it is stopping all flights bound for Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Tests looking for possible Fukushima radiation contamination on the waters along the U.S. coast continued to yield negative results, a group of scientists said on Tuesday. However, they warned low levels of radiation from the March 2011 nuclear disaster in Japan are still expected to reach the US shore.

Authorities in Britain have called for a crisis meeting to tackle possible measures to fight off as well as cope with the spreading deadly Ebola virus. UK pressed the panic button after an infected man managed to fly out from disease-affected Liberia to the major international travel hub of Lagos, Nigeria. Although no British national has been infected yet, the British government views the incurable disease as a "very serious threat."

New Zealand is one of the first countries in the world to experience photo and video messaging app, Bolt, created by Instagram. The company has rolled out its latest app in New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa.

Trading at the Shanghai Stock Exchange will remain from 9:30 to 11:30 am and 1 to 3 pm. The Chinese bourse has little chance of extending its trading hours to match Hong Kong's, which ends at 4 pm and has just a one-hour lunch break from 12 noon to 1 pm.

A rise in Qatar's real estate prices is no reason for investors to panic as it is unlikely to shake the country's economy, a Gulf Times report said.

Despite pulling back a touch from the highs reached at midday, the Australian market still managed to close at a fresh six-year high. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rose by 0.6 per cent and improved for the 12th time in 16 trading sessions. With only one day remaining this month, local shares have surged by 4.3 per cent in July; making it the best month in a year for the Australian market.

Toyota rules the car sales market in the world in the first six months of 2014. The companies which it beat to be the No. 1 in the business are Volkswagen and General Motors in the United States.