BUSINESS

Investors are sitting on the sidelines ahead of tomorrow morning's US central bank update on its stimulus strategy. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 0.3 per cent, however still is hovering around five-year highs. Local stocks have improved over seven of the past eight sessions. Global markets moved negligibly overnight and interrupted trade in the region is also keeping a lid on trade.

Apple iPad Mini is used to try a mobile app which will allow police to issue tickets

Here is a list of countries which the U.S. government has limited or no trade with.

It was a relatively quiet day on the stock market. The S&P500 backed off a little, but it's had a pretty good run lately. We've been telling our subscribers that the market is set up for either a meltdown or a melt-up. We're sitting in the meltdown camp.

Big moves happened overnight. In fact, if you go by betting website Paddy Power's numbers, the moves were so big they had to shut down the entire market.

Microsoft announced on Wednesday a $119.99 price for the Windows 8.1 OS for people who are still running older versions of Windows. It applies to computers using Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

By Peter Switzer, Switzer Super ReportCall me old fashioned but I love the 7% plus play and I always think of this when, like now, a lot of experts are talking about "rotation".

FNArena is surveying investor sentiment in Australia in an effort to generate, over time, a guage similar to the AAII Investor Sentiment Survey in the US.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 34 points or 0.2% while the S&P gained 0.4% to 1704 and the Nasdaq added 0.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) forecasts that the country's beef and veal exports will go up 6 per cent while dairy exports will increase 15 per cent.

There would be one less porn magazine on newsstands as FriendFinder Networks, publisher of Penthouse magazine, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Tuesday.

Local shares edged higher today, to make it seven wins in eight trading sessions. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) improved by a modest 0.1 per cent, hitting a fresh five-year high. The ASX200 index has now closed above 5200pts for six trading sessions (June 2008 was the last time this happened).

Apple is already testing iOS 7.0.1, iOS 7.0.2, and iOS 7.1 ahead of the iOS 7 release date

Monsignor Nunzio Scarano, a suspended Vatican official who was arrested in June on money-laundering charges, told prosecutors that his office, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), has handled and provided financial services for outside clients.

Buying Samsung (SSNLF.PK) stock appears more attractive than buying Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) stock

The Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar climbed to their respective month highs as investors became cautious ahead of the scheduled 2-day policy meeting of the US Federal Reserve which is expected to begin the slowdown of its massive stimulus program.

Australia’s communication authority has issued a formal warning to leading mobile service operator Telstra for incorrect billing of a large number of international data roaming customers.

Xiaomi Inc, inarguably Apple Inc's toughest competitor yet in China, has introduced the Mi3 smartphone handset along with an accompanying video.

Despite a negative start influenced by generally weaker commodity prices, Australian stocks are holding near five year highs at lunchtime in the East.

Daocheng Yading Airport, the world's highest-altitude civilian airport, at 4,411 metres above sea level, has been inaugurated in Tibet, China.

By Greg PeelUranium market participants gathered in London last week for the World Nuclear Association Annual Symposium and it appears, as is often the case when industry colleagues get together to gee each other up, that some buying interest emerged as a result.

Tourism Australia will focus on the country's food and wine for its new international marketing campaign with the theme Restaurant Australia. The target of the new campaign are the foodies and wine connoisseurs.

Google's announcement on Sept 3, 2013 that it will name its Android 4.4 OS as Kitkat and not Key Lime Pie has triggered fresh speculations on the name, release date, phones, tablets and upgrades for the upcoming Android 5.0.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 118 points or 0.8% while the S&P gained 0.6% to 1697 with the Nasdaq easing 0.

Mobile phone services provider Vodafone Australia just launched a new TV commercial titled Kidult that features the latest craze of twerking made popular by former Hannah Montana star, Miley Cyrus.

Local stocks edged higher on light volume on Monday as investors steeled themselves for a likely tapering of the US Federal Reserve's Q.E program.

JetBlue (JBLU) is a stock worth considering after all

Australian shares are improving for the sixth time in seven sessions, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) edging higher by 0.6 per cent at lunch. Former treasury secretary, Larry Summers has withdrawn from the race to head the US central bank this morning.

Apple iOS 7 final release version has annoying features that Apple is elusive about