BUSINESS

FedEx Cuts its Outlooks as Economy Weakens

FedEx Corp.'s shares dropped roughly 3 percent in after-market trading as the company, which is the world's largest express parcel service by revenue, informed about cutting outlooks on earnings for its just-completed first quarter.

The Power of Pork

Bacon. That's been the secret to everything all along. If only we'd known! We would have told you sooner. More on the power of bacon shortly.
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Report Estimates $126B Gain from Non-Resource Export to Asia

With mining commodity prices on a downward trend, Australian exporters were advised to look into non-resource export to Asia as another profitable undertaking. A study by global business adviser Boston Consulting Group estimated that businesses outside the mining sector could earn up to $126 billion by 2021 if they shift their attention to this market.

Understanding Bubbly Episodes

By Jaume Ventura, Vasco M Carvalho and Alberto MartinOver the last two decades, US aggregate wealth has fluctuated substantially.

Daily Forex Forecast 09/12/2012

The Australian dollar steamed ahead of its US Counterpart overnight with investors speculating that the US Federal Reserve will announce further stimulus measures when they begin a two day meeting this evening.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 9/11/2012

Investors seemed uninterested with markets across the region today, ahead of two busy and vital sessions offshore this week. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) eased by 0.2 pct or 9.7 pts to 4348.3, losing ground for the first time this week and for the first time in four trading sessions.

Australia Economy Remains Solid In Spite Mounting Future Threats

The economy of Australia has once again enjoyed a solid growth thereby outpacing its peers in the last quarter. But the tumbling prices of export and marked slowdown in China left them with very little time to celebrate. These factors actually resulted in a cut in the Australian rates of interest so as to safeguard their growth in future.

Shell Starts Oil Drilling in Alaska

Royal Dutch Shell started oil drilling in the Chukchi Sea, just 70 miles off the coast of northwest Alaska. The company, however, has begun just preparatory oil drilling for the well in the Arctic after waiting 4 long years since it paid roughly $2.8 billion to the federal government for petroleum leases in the Chukchi Sea.

From Starbucks Croissants to Succinic Acid: Baked Goods Could Become Bioplastics

That day-old Starbucks croissant may not need to go into the garbage after all. A new technique developed by Carol S. K. Lin, a biochemical engineer at the City University of Hong Kong, could turn uneaten pastries and coffee grounds into useful chemicals which could be used to formulate bioplastics and other substances.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 9/11/2012

Local stocks are giving back yesterday's gains in the early session, with investors choosing to stay out of the market ahead of several key international events this week. Profit takers moved in on US and European markets overnight, as uncertainty surrounds the outcome of the Dutch election being held tomorrow and the German constitutional ruling on the Eurozone bailout plan. At lunchtime in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 11.5pts or 0.3pct to 4346.5.

Perth Transforms into Magnet for Fresh Quality Talents

Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett said on Tuesday that the city of Perth is shedding its blue collar reputation and is even attracting fresh professional talents. Among those who moved to the WA capital city are scientists, engineers and academics.

Qantas to Quit Europe Routes If Regulators Reject Emirates Deal

To convince regulators to approve its newly signed agreement with Emirates, Qantas in a submission filed on Monday with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), said it would quits its European trips if the regulators reject the deal.

Uranium Buyers And Sellers Move A Little Closer

By Andrew NelsonNo matter where you look, or what you read, or whom you talk to; analysts, commentators and investors alike remain guardedly optimistic about the prospects for a rise in uranium prices in the not too distant future.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 9/10/2012

Local stocks closed slightly higher today, rebounding from a mid-session slump in response to disappointing Chinese import figures. US and European markets posted modest gains on Friday in response to the bond buying program announced by the European Central Bank late last week and hopes the US Federal Reserve would provide more economic stimulus in the wake of a disappointing jobs report released on Friday. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) closed up 9.2pts or 0.2pct to 4358 after hitting an intra...

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 9/10/2012

The Australian market closed stronger on Friday helped by the news out just before the close that China has approved 60 new infrastructure projects valued at $157 billion. In response to this new project news iron ore price jumped 2.2% back to US$89/a dry tonne, gold surged over US$34 an ounce and metal prices rallied on the London metals exchange (LME). European market moved higher still excited by the new European Central Bank (ECB) bond buying program, designed to restrain borrowing costs for...

Australia’s Annual Gold Production Up 4% to 65 Tonnes in Q2

The gold production of Australia improved by 4 per cent in the second quarter of 2012 to 65 metric tonnes from 62.5 tonnes in the first quarter. However, total first half production went down 4 per cent to 261 tonnes partly due to wet weather.

Pfizer Faces $1 Billion Charge in Bogus Patent Dispute Over Blood Pressure Medication Norvasc

Several years ago, drug giant Pfizer Inc. tried to pull a fast one in Jamaica where several local companies were legally distributing generic versions of Pfizer's formerly-patented blood pressure drug Norvasc (Amlodipine). Though the drug was already off-patent elsewhere, Pfizer still tried to sue the distributors in Jamaica for patent infringement, and is now being summoned to fork over about $1 billion.

Australia’s Unbalanced Boom

It's a bit shocking that until the last year or so, Australia managed to run a trade deficit during a resource boom. The tables below from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade show that from May 2004 to June 2008 - a period during which the All Ordinaries went up 98%, from 3,401 to a high of 6,760 - Australia recorded a trade deficit in 51 consecutive months. We even wrote about a longer streak of 75 consecutive months of trade deficits at the time.

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