BUSINESS

The latest quarterly online search data from leading independent digital marketing agency, Greenlight, reveals the search term 'last minute holidays' accounted for almost 3% of a total of 4.4 million searches made on Google UK for holidays, in May.

Yesterday we discussed the hugely stimulating topic of 'economic structure'. That is, what are the determinants of an economy's output...which industries grow and create employment, tax revenue and profit? It might sound like an arcane, boring and useless discussion point but it's hugely important in modern day analysis.

Investors are wilting. In these hot, hazy, humid days of summer, they are growing languid, squishy...and soft. They go to the beach. They think of other things. They read novels...or the mainstream press. Their brains turn to mush.

Not much happened in the financial markets overnight. Europe was in the red on renewed concerns over the health of the peripheral nations of Portugal, Spain and Greece. The US backed off a little as everyone awaits 'the man' tomorrow, the US dollar was weak and gold was up a little bit...but still below the important US$1,300 threshold.

The Mini Paceman, the seventh full-production model to come from the British brand, is the latest to get the treatment from associated performance stable John Cooper Works. The JCW badge is also a natural fit for the sportiest version of the biggest Mini and Australia's first model to combine four-wheel drive with two doors.

Local stocks were unable to stage any form of eaningful recovery on Friday afternoon. The ASX finished within sight of the session lows. Over the course of the week the index is essentially flat. At face value this result appears unflattering. Although when seen through the lens of the major development this week, namely the communications from Mr Bernanke, a flat result is better than a pass mark.

Paypal says the use of physical credit cards will soon die out by 2018, thanks to rising number of Australians using their smartphones for purchasing almost virtually anything, according to a senior executive of the digital payment service company.

It would be reasonable to feel let down by the performance of the local share market on Friday. Most boxes were ticked for a positive session given the developments in the US and Europe overnight. As result the ASX started in positive territory, although the gains were short lived. At its best levels the index was up 7 points. At lunch time the market was plumbing its lows of the day with losses in the range of a half a per cent.

Agricultural trade relationship between Australia and Indonesia is improving based on the Friday announcement of Australian Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon that Jakarta will increase the number of its cattle imports to 25,000 heads in the next three months.

Google’s event this week got everyone anticipating what the tech giant has in store for everyone. Scheduled on the 24th of the July, speculations going around indicate that Google may be finally unveiling their Nexus 7.2 and the new Android 4.3.

Peace and order law enforcement officers in Brazil on Thursday announced that masks of any form and design will be banned for the entire duration of the World Youth Day 2013, most especially during the scheduled mass of Pope Francis on July 23 in Rio de Janeiro.

The latest iOS on Apple devices like iPod touch, iPad or iPhone will refuse certain words according to reports. When users input words like “virginity”, “abortion”, “ammo”, “bullet” and “rape”, the operating system will refuse to provide the correct word.

Acer will replace their first generation Iconia W3 sooner than expected according to reports. The piling concerns over the 8.1 Windows 8 tablet will force the company to release the refreshed version as soon as this coming September.

Americans are not buying the explanation of Rolling Stone why the iconic magazine featured as its cover story a glamourised photo of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The fallout would be felt in the sales of the August 2013 issue as at least five retailers from the New England area would not sell Rolling Stone magazine. These are CVS, Walgreens, Rite Air, Stop & Shop, Roche Bros and Tedeschi Food.

Rival cellular smartphone makers Apple and Samsung have responded to clamors to create anti-theft features on their products. Top prosecutors from the U.S.' San Francisco and New York City states said law and security enforcement officers will now road test the efficiency of the new safety elements of the smartphones.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 78 points, or 0.5%, while the S&P gained 0.5% to 1689 and the Nasdaq was relatively flat.

The Bernanke speech may be in the rear view mirror now, but having navigated the main risk hurdle of the week markets have remained subdued. For much of the day the local index traded in a narrow range and volumes were equally constrained. The question to pose now: What's the next catalyst?

While its competitor Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) was short of its iron ore production for the first half of 2013, largest miner BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP) had a strong year of production as it reported the miner's full 2013 financial year results.

The staff of Lonely Planet in the travel guide company's Melbourne headquarters is bracing for the upcoming job cuts expected to be announced on Thursday. At least 100 employees will lose their jobs after Lonely Planet will issue the order.

HP recently revealed new touch-based products. These include a range of all-in-one PCs and notebooks. As the company offers devices like the Envy Rove, the Pavilion 11, SlateBook x2, the Split x2 and the Envy TouchSmart 14 Ultrabook, including the Slate 21 All-in-One, one thing is clear – HP is ready to join the competition.

Local stocks were enjoying some modest gains at lunchtime on Thursday reflecting the response to the Bernanke testimony overnight. The fact that price moves in the aftermath have been modest, in the main, indicates that investors are getting comfortable with the US central bank and its perspectives on quantitative easing. The real test will come when the Fed finally reduces the size of its monthly asset purchases from the current levels of $85bln.

In North Carolina, customers still eating dinner at the Hops Grill and Brewery were suddenly asked to immediately leave the premises when the authorities came to shut down the restaurant. The Hops management then informed their patrons that the restaurant was closing permanently.

Despite a steadily rising number of deaths now at 45 worldwide, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is still not considered a global health menace, a panel of experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday.

Pope Francis, who had earned a reputation for keeping his security detail on their toes whenever he goes out of the expected cordon sanitaire during events in Vatican, will be doing the same for his first international trip. On Wednesday, the Vatican announced this year's newly-installed spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic church had just dumped the idea of riding the ever famous bulletproof popemobile for his Rio de Janeiro, Brazil trip in observance of the World Youth Day 2013 festivitie...

The University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) entered a deal agreeing to commercialise their intelligent robots to clean around Sydney

Public nurses and midwives across the state of New South Wales in Australia have decided to take their employment-rant related concerns to a higher level. Patients confined at NSW state hospitals and community health service centres may expect work disruption as the nurses have voted to a state-wide strike action on July 24.

By Jonathan BarrattCopper has managed a bounce from what many thought would have seen the commencement of another major leg lower.

By Jonathan BarrattCopper has managed a bounce from what many thought would have seen the commencement of another major leg lower.

Windows-based PC sales continue to decline but Chromebooks are experiencing otherwise. For the last couple of months, shipments for Chromebooks have been increasing. Analysts expect the shipments to increase by as much as 200% to 300%. This trend now shifts the focus of companies. As Lenovo, HP, Acer and Samsung capitalize on launching Chromebooks, can Windows 8 devices survive?