BUSINESS

Global Markets Overview – 4-12-13

Once again, confidence seedlings are taking root and sprouting. Overnight, weekly jobless claims reversed last week's awful print to beat estimates, falling by 18,000 claims to 342,000. This better-than-expected news was coupled with reports US retailers are experiencing stronger sales (ahead of the official numbers tonight), and allowed US retail shares to step onto the escalator.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 4-12-13

In US economic news, new claims for unemployment insurance plunged by 42,000 to 346,000 in the latest week, well below forecasts centred on a result near 365,000. The March budget deficit was $107 billion, near forecasts of $112.5 billion. And export prices fell 0.4pct in March with import prices down 0.5pct.
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Global Markets Overview –4-11-13

Risk assets extended their gains with US markets closing at fresh closing highs. There were several factors at play yesterday, but the move in risk was certainly triggered by some positive developments in Europe. The major European bourses traded sharply higher on hopes that Italy is closer to forming a government, and a successful Italian bond auction. The Fed minutes didn't have too much of an impact on sentiment, as investors feel the recent signs of strain in the US labour market will be ...

Cyprus Bailout 2013: Cyprus Sells Excess Gold to Raise €400M

Besides seizing deposits from account holders of the Popular Bank of Cyprus, Nicosia will also sell the bulk of its gold holdings as its contribution to the international bailout. The sale, which comes at a time that gold prices are down, aims to raise €400 million.

Top 4 App Stores Log 13.4 Billion Downloads in Q1 2013

The global app market continued to expand at an impressive rate of 11 per cent for the first three months of 2013. Market analyst firm Canalys, in a new study released this week, said the top 4 app stores logged 13.4 billion downloads for the period.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 4-11-13

In US economic news, the FOMC minutes from the March 19/20th meeting were released. Some FOMC members still believed that asset purchases should be tapered later in the year and stopped by year end. But of course the FOMC meeting took place in March before evidence of softening momentum in the US economy started to emerge. We continue to believe that the bond buying program will run into early 2014 at the very least.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 4-10-13

The Australian sharemarket is slipping for the first time in three sessions, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) down 0.2 per cent to 4969.2. Both the ASX200 index and the All Ords are very close to cracking through the psychologically important 5000.0pt level. The indices haven't closed above that level in almost a month.

Cancer Deaths in China to Rise 3M Per Year By 2020

Cancer has become the leading cause of deaths in China's Beijing, and by 2020, from 2.5 million annually, the cancer-related deaths in the world's second-largest economy will balloon to 3 million per year.

ADB: Asia’s Countries to See Weak Recovery but Face Several Risks

According to the newest survey, the Asian Development Bank expects Asia's emerging economies to witness a weak recovery in 2013. However, the Manila-based bank underlined that the expected rebound might be challenged by several risks, including the ongoing crisis in the European Union, the so-called US fiscal shock and the reemergence of the nationalism in Asia itself.

Ford Focus Beats Rivals and Becomes Best-Selling Car in 2012

Newest data showed that the Ford Motor Co.'s Focus model had beaten its rivals in 2012 global car sales. The Focus model became the world's best-selling car due to sharply increasing demand in China. The findings of the survey by R.L. Polk & Co. indicated that three models of Ford Motor Co. were in the world's top six.

Asia Poised

- China housing to gain traction- Japan to advance (for now) on new policies- India going nowhere fast- More, minor, US improvementBy Andrew NelsonIt's been a busy few months in Europe, in Asia and in many of the lands between, but newsflow, not dataflow has been holding most of the attention.

Australian Dollar Outlook – 4-10-13

The Australian dollar has opened higher, as a fresh bout of US dollar weakness and firmer commodities prices pushed the local currency towards USD 105.00.

Will Japan Provoke the Chinese Dragon?

They don't make them like they used to. Margaret Thatcher died yesterday aged 87. As Prime Minister of Britain from 1979 to 1990 she transformed the British economy and reasserted her country as a major global power. She did this by loosening the State's grip on the British economy, which by the time she took power had degenerated into the 'Winter of Discontent'.

6 Scented Skins for that Gee, Your iPhone Smells Terrific Remark

Remember that 1980s commercial of a famous shampoo brand? Owners of iPhone units could similarly have their Gee, your phone smells terrific moment by selecting from six scented skins available in the market. With price ranging from $7 to $60, these phone covers may even new doors of friendship, or even a possible romance, if strangers around you would smell the mouth-watering waft coming from your Apple smartphone

North Sea Gets a Lift as Xcite’s Bentley Field is Rich in Oil

The UK North Sea gets another lift as Xcite Energy Ltd has informed that its Bentley field is rich in oil, according to the newest estimates. To top it all, the Bentley bed is estimated to be one of the largest heavy oil fields in the United Kingdom. The news awoke investors' hopes, while shares of the company climbed as much as 12 percent on the report.

Global Markets Overview – 4-10-13

It was another quiet night for macro data; French and German trade balances are the only talking points, with French balances disappointing, and German data was just in-line, which was expected. These figures led to mixed trading results in Europe.

Nexus 7 Rumours: Retail Price of $150, July Sale

Google is working on the next-generation Nexus 7 tablet as a follow-up to the successful launch of the device. ZDNET, a reliable source of news about devices, reported on Tuesday that the successor to the Nexus 7 will be available in July in the U.S. and could have a retail price of $150.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 4-10-13

In US economic news, US wholesale inventories fell by 0.3pct in February - the biggest decline in nearly 1½-years. Economists had expected wholesale inventories to rise 0.5pct. The weaker build in inventories may result in lower estimates for March quarter growth.

Battle Over Martha Stewart’s Products Continues

It seems that some battles are hard to end. Apparently, one of them is a bloodshed over Martha Stewart's products. These days at war are Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., Macy's Inc. and J.C. Penneey Co. as everything indicates that three parties of the argument have not reached consensus.

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