BUSINESS

The Australian sharemarket continues its formidable run, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) up by 0.4 per cent or 19.2 pts to 4665.8. This makes it the Aussie market's fourth consecutive session of gains. Volume has been heavy over the past few days due to equity and index options expiry yesterday. Today marks the end of the final full week of trade for 2012. The market will be closing early on Monday and will not trade next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 21, 2012

Risk assets reversed losses once again driven by headlines regarding the fiscal cliff negotiations. House Speaker John Boehner's pledge to work with President Obama was enough to help improve sentiment. There were also plenty of positive economic releases in the US including a better-than-expected GDP print and existing home sales data.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 21, 2012

The overnight market focus was all on the US, and its unresolved talks to avert the so-called fiscal cliff which is doing a good job influencing the market at the moment. This has kept risk appetite low and seen to a slight weakening in the AUD.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 21, 2012

The Conference Board leading index eased by 0.2pct as expected. Hurricane Sandy had an influence on the result. US September quarter GDP expanded by 3.1pct, up from the 2.7pct reported last month. US jobless claims rose by 17,000 to 361,000 last week.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 21, 2012

Apple’s iOS 6 experienced significant surge in adoption in the past weeks not only on fresh sales numbers chalked up by the iPhone 5 but also on OS upgrades downloaded by iPhone 4S owners.

Erik Pineda Dec 21, 2012

By Greg Peel"We think this could be the beginning of a fresh reflation cycle for the global system," BNY Mellon's Simon Derrick told the London Daily Telegraph, "combining with the US recovery to mark a turning point in the crisis".

Admin System Dec 21, 2012

By Andrew NelsonDespite the twists and turns and a few kicks in the pants, 2012 was a pretty good year for equities.

Admin System Dec 21, 2012

By Peter Switzer, Switzer Super ReportThere are two investment rules you cannot break if you are to run your own investments inside a self-managed super fund.

Admin System Dec 21, 2012

Australia's mining sector would likely be in a gloomy mood on Friday, Dec 21, 2012. However, the cause of the downcast outlook is not because the miners believe in the Mayan forecast that the world would end that day, but over the pull out of a major Chinese investor in a resource project in Western Australia.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 21, 2012

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 59 points, or 0.5%, while the S&P gained 0.6% to 1443 and the Nasdaq added 0.

Admin System Dec 21, 2012

Despite a flat start on the back of falls on Wall Street, local stocks rose to fresh 17 month highs today as the Federal Government scrapped its commitment for a budget surplus in FY 2013.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 20, 2012

How lucky for those new students entering the University of Western Sydney in 2013 as the school had committed to issue iPads to support the school's IT-related teaching curriculum.

Esther Tanquintic-Misa Dec 20, 2012

Local stocks are trading flat at lunchtime in the East, slightly down from fresh 2012 and 17 month highs reached yesterday.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 20, 2012

The Australian Dollar has dipped back below 1.0500 against the Greenback as a lack of development in US budget negotiations drives markets. The US Dollar firmed as risk sentiment turned negative on what appears to be a stalemate between US President Obama and the House of Representatives.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 20, 2012

After having had a strong run in recent sessions, risk assets finally retreated in US trade as cracks appeared in the fiscal cliff negotiations. Equities were firmer in European trade as markets continued to ride on fiscal cliff optimism and on the back of a better-than-expected German Ifo business climate reading.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 20, 2012

US homebuilding permits increased by 3.6pct in November to a seasonally adjusted rate of 899,000 units - the highest level in nearly 4½-years. In contrast housing starts fell 3pct in November but followed three straight months of solid gains.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 20, 2012

The gender asymmetry in British boardrooms has scaled down substantially since 2007, according to the findings of a survey conducted by Experian.

Jamelle Agbuis Dec 20, 2012

There's some considerable carnage in DR headquarters this week. A Christmas flu has not only taken out your regular editor Dan Denning but a good chunk of the staff as well.

Jamelle Agbuis Dec 20, 2012

As the chart below displays, the Federal Reserve has, since 1913, destroyed roughly 97% of the [US] dollar's value. And that, despite (or perhaps because of) a mandate to maintain the same currency's integrity and stability.

Jamelle Agbuis Dec 20, 2012

- Chinese economy on the turn- Exports finally improving- Property market risks contained- Intra-Asia trade a big growth driverBy Greg PeelSigns have emerged that the Chinese economy has finally bottomed out begun a recovery after a long slow-down.

Admin System Dec 20, 2012

The battle for supremacy in Australian skies continues as Singapore Airlines joins the frenzy to get a larger slice of the aviation market by announcing on Wednesday a fourth daily service to Melbourne and the scaling up of services to Adelaide.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 20, 2012

Cash registers will be ringing ka-ching, ka-ching from Friday as different parties will be held all over the world to celebrate - not the Mayan New Year - but the failure of the Mayan Long Count Calendar prediction that the world would end on Dec 21, 2012.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 20, 2012

By Greg PeelThe Dow fell 98 points or 0.7% while the S&P lost 0.8% to 1435 and the Nasdaq dropped 0.3%.

Admin System Dec 20, 2012

The local share market rallied again today, with both the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) and S&P/ASX 200 Index (XJO) reaching 2012 and 17 month highs.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 19, 2012

If you are a Nexus 10 owner or considering a purchase of this Samsung-manufactured big-sized tablet for Google, take pleasure in knowing that charging this Android device would be more convenient over the next few weeks or even days.

Erik Pineda Dec 19, 2012

Rumours are spreading about the upcoming Mobile World Congress in February 2013. Speculations are that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will not make it to the Consumer Electronic Show or Mobile World Congress in January and February, respectively.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 19, 2012

Before, Samsung Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note users had to wait for a long time to obtain updates of Android Ice Cream Sandwich because both devices were released with Android Gingerbread, which dates back as the first very stable firmware version.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 19, 2012

IGB Electronica, a Brazilian company, announced a new smartphone called Gradient Smartphone Line G iPhone, Neo One model. The device is identical to Apple iPhone and its running an Android OS.

Vittorio Hernandez Dec 19, 2012

CM10, according to Android Authority, will work smoothly on these following Tab 8.9 variants: Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Wi-Fi + 3G variant (GT-P7300) and Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Wi-Fi-only variant (GT-P7310).

Erik Pineda Dec 19, 2012