BUSINESS

Fortescue Metals Insists Mining Tax is Unconstitutional

Fortescue Metals's lawyer told the Australian High Court on Wednesday that the minerals resources rent tax is unconstitutional. He cited the tax causing disadvantage to different resource projects in different states as his main argument.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 3-7-13

Thursday was a day of consolidation for regional indices. Whilst political issues remain fluid in Europe the focus is tending towards the other side of the Atlantic. Better economic news is empowering investors who continue to push the Dow Jones Industrial Average further into record territory. The gains on Wall St failed to translate to local trade today although a case could be made for investors holding their fire until the release of key economic figures in the US at the end of the week. Not...

New Pope 2013: Vatican Tells Cardinals to Zip Mouths

True to its tradition, it actually is just a matter of time before the Vatican steps in to tell the College of Cardinals to zip their mouths in sharing bits and pieces of information from the pre-conclave talks on account of their oath to secrecy.
More news

China’s Housing Trouble Heats Up

They stretch across the outskirts of dozens of major urban areas, criss-crossed by empty highways. The rows of modern skyscraper apartments are all sold to absent investors. There's little doubt these scenes create compelling television.

Global Markets Overview – 3-7-13

Wednesday night it is was US non-manufacturing PMI that pushed the Dow to all-time highs and the S&P near its all-time high; last night, however it is was non-farm payrolls shooting the lights out.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 3-7-13

The US ADP reported another 198,000 private sector jobs were created in February, with January numbers revised up to 215,000. The underlying trend remains one of improvement in terms of job creation. US factory orders fell back by 2pct in January, largely due to a fall in demand for military hardware and commercial aircrafts.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 3/6/2013

The last 24 hours for global markets have been defined by positive news. One of the headline grabbing outcomes has been the Dow Jones closing at a new record high over night. Supporting news included European manufacturing reports which didn't disappoint investors, the Chinese administration announcing that the 2nd biggest economy in the world will grow at 7.5% this year and a better than expected read on activity in the US services sector. As a result the volatility which gripped the markets...

Teens Unfriend Facebook

A few years ago, pre-teens had to lie about their real age just to open an account at the very popular social networking site Facebook. After a couple of years, these same young people have reached 13 and are legally allowed to open an FB account, however, some of them find the portal now uncool.

New Pope 2013: Criteria of a Spiritual Leader

It is now Day 3 of the pre-conclave talks by the cardinals who are being holed up at Vatican City. And from today, there are only 18 days left for the cardinals to be able to come up with a new 266th pope in time for the Roman Catholic church’s Palm Sunday rites, which heralds the start of its Lenten season. Yet despite the decreasing number of days, the College of Cardinals seem not wont to succumb to outside pressure to immediately start the ball rolling on this year’s anticipated papal concl...

Australian Stock Market Report –Midday 3/6/2013

After a great run here at home yesterday where the ASX 200 index closed 1.3% or 64points higher, European and UK markets rallied. Regained confidence in the US markets pushed the UK FSTE index to a 5 year high at the close of trade.

After Horsemeat Scandal, Faecal Bacteria Found in Ikea Cake Products in China, 2 Tonnes Destroyed

After a debilitating horsemeat scandal, Ikea is again on the hot seat, this time after Chinese authorities discovered excessive levels of faecal or coliform bacteria in its chocolate almond cake products that were imported by the furniture and accessories store to China from Sweden. An equivalent two tonnes (1,872 kilos or 4,100 pounds) of the chocolate almond cake were immediately destroyed.

The Short Report

By Andrew NelsonThe Week from the 20th and 27th of February was another subdued one for shorting and short covering activity on the Australian share market.

Australian Dollar Outlook – 3/6/2013

The Australian Dollar has mostly held its ground against the US Dollar, getting support from decent economic indicators here and abroad and also from yesterday's RBA interest rate announcement.

China is World's Top Oil Importer, Beating U.S.

China has provisionally overtaken the U.S. as the world's largest net importer of oil, said the Financial Times on Tuesday, after the U.S. posted its lowest import figures since 1992 on the back of booming domestic oil production.

The Worrying Signs in China’s Economy for Aussie Miners

It was not an impressive start to the week for the Australian share market. But life is full of second chances. And today, the Reserve Bank of Australia meets to fix the price of money. Perhaps the RBA will say something about lowering interest rates that will lift investor's spirits.

What the Shale Gas Revolution Could do to LNG Prices

China has just surpassed the US as the world's largest oil importer. This is the story of rising Chinese demand. But it's also the story of rising US oil production. And THAT's the story of shale gas, which we'll return to later this week. Here's how the Financial Times reports it.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 3/6/2013

The US ISM services index rose from 55.2 to 56.0 in February, the highest level in a year and above forecasts centred on result near 55.0. The exports sub-component of the index hit the highest level in almost six years. The Redbook chain store sales index was up 2.2pct in the latest week on a year ago.

Pages