BUSINESS

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 10/9/2012

The Australian sharemarket improved for the eighth time in nine sessions, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rising by 0.5 per cent or 24.6 pts to 4526.6. Last night, European markets slumped by as much as 2 per cent, with shares in Milan amongst the biggest losers. France's CAC40 and Germany's DAX Index both slid by close to 1.5 per cent. The CAC40 and DAX are France and Germany's equivalents to Australia's All Ordinaries Index (XAO).

This Time, China Helps Boost Australia’s Tourism

China's appetite for mining-related investments in Australia may be dwindling, but its appetite for Australian scenic spots has helped the resource-rich nation post a record number of tourist arrivals in August.

Japan Carmakers to Halve China Production amid Territorial Dispute

Japan's top three carmakers, Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co., decided to cut production in China by roughly half as a territorial dispute between Chinese and Japanese governments continues. Due to the territorial dispute Japan's carmakers have noted a decrease in sales in the world's largest auto market.
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Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 10/9/2012

The International Monetary Fund has today cut its growth forecasts for China for this year and next, saying stimulus efforts have so far failed to deliver the expected boost. The downgrade appears to have been factored into local sentiment, with Australian stocks hitting a fresh 14 month high in early trade. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up 17.1pts or 0.4pct to 4519.1pts at lunchtime in the East.

LG Teams Up With Google to Come Up With Next Nexus Phone

The next Nexus phone will appear this month, produced by LG, CNET reports. This will be the first time Google has teamed up with LG and it should help the latter break into the U.S. market. The phone is expected to be heavily influenced by the LG Optimus G.

Is HTC the Latest Casualty in the Smartphone Bloodbath?

Much like the battle in the mobile phone space that resulted in three companies - Nokia (NOK), Motorola (GOOG) and one time mobile phone vendor Ericsson (ERIC) - controlling the industry, the smartphone market is now consolidating around its top players. That means market share loss and margin pressure for others.

Business Groups Unhappy with Failure of Big 4 to Pass Full RBA Rate Cut

Several business groups have spoken against the failure of the big 4 to pass in full to borrowers the 25 basis points cut in overnight cash rate the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) made last week. The groups also did not spare the central bank for failing to persuade the lenders to follow its monetary policy.

Australian Fund Managers Turn Bullish

By Eva BrocklehurstAccording to the latest Russell Investments quarterly survey of Australian investment managers, we should expect a sustainable turnaround in the Australian share market within 12 months.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 10/8/2012

The Australian sharemarket ended in the red for the first time in eight sessions, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) easing by just 0.3 per cent or 11.8 pts to 4502. Keep in mind that last week, shares improved by 2.5 per cent, which was the local market's third best performance this year.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 10/8/2012

On Friday the US market closed mixed as the early excitement over the better than expected US jobs report started to dwindle away. The NASDAQ closed in the red as Apple and Zynga shares pulled the index lower. Metal prices lost ground and concern over European growth added to the pain.

LG Class Cinema vs Sony Bravia HD TV vs Samsung Smart TV

LG announced the addition of 3D video game platform to its Smart TV app offerings. To be released in the later part of 2012, it features primarily family-friendly games in both 2D and 3D in genres including action/adventure, RPGs, puzzle games, sports, and more. User can browse or search for games as well as purchase and play them through the TV's interface which looks like any app store. Owners can use either the LG Magic Remote or any third party game controller.

Derivatives as a Sponge

We think it's pretty safe to say that share prices will never go down again. The Bernank, the Drag and the Steve have you covered. They have a simple solution for all the world's ills.

Don’t Teach Your Man to Fish

Those monks from St Dogmael's Abbey understood wealth better than your financial advisor. They lived near the river Teifi in England 1000 years ago. And were faced with two problems. They had to feed a bunch of monks with fish, because that was the only meat they were allowed to eat.

China's Banks Are Snubbing IMF, World Bank in Tokyo -WSJ

Several major Chinese banks have pulled from annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank to be held in Tokyo next week, claimed a report by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, with the territorial dispute between China and Japan now threatening to spill onto the global arena.

ECB Puts a Hold on the Rates of Interest

The European Central Bank is being speculated to put a hold on the ECB interest rates as it meets on the 5th of October to provide time for newer details in order to better the conditions of the eurozone economy as Spain asks for aid from them.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 10/5/2012

The Australian sharemarket improved for the seventh straight day today, rising by 2.5 per cent over the past five sessions alone. This is the longest winning streak in over 18 months and the best weekly performance for local equities since late July. Despite the gains, this has been one of the quieter weeks of the year due to a number of public holidays across Asia Pacific. The Chinese markets have been closed for five days straight but should resume trade next week. The market has also been qui...

CBA, NAB Cut Interest Rate by 20 Basis Points

Four days after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) reduced by 25 basis points the overnight cash rate to 3.25 per cent, two members of the big four announced rate cuts on Friday.

Return of the Banana Republic

Three years ago, the best treasurer in the world, Wayne Swan, described the then 3% level of official interest rates as '50-year emergency lows'. Now we're approaching these levels again. Is the long emergency back?

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 10/5/2012

The Australian share market started off slightly stronger again today and by lunchtime the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) had rallied 30points higher to 4,450 points, as the reversal in the US$ oil price overnight and strength in the retail sector boosted stocks. The XAO set to close higher for the seventh straight day.

Daily Forex Forecast 10/05/2012

The Australian Dollar opens marginally higher today at 1.0230. The case for Tuesday’s 25 basis point cut to the official cash rate was underpinned after yesterday’s sluggish retail sales data which showed only a modest increase of 0.2 per cent for the month of August.

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