BUSINESS

Transparency in ECB to Improve: Mario Draghi

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi has pledged to increase the transparency of the bank, suggesting yesterday that he was open to the idea of publishing minutes from its monetary policy meetings sooner rather than later.

Sri Lanka’s Housing Market Remains Healthy

Sri Lanka's house price rises continue, as security issues get sorted out. There's no official house price data in Sri Lanka, but developers and homebuyers confirm there have been double-digit property price rises.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 9/21/2012

The Australian sharemarket ended the day a little higher for the third time this week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rising by 0.2 pct or 11 pts to 4430.8. The defensive healthcare sector lost a little ground but all other regions of the market ended in the black. Overall however; this has been a very uneventful week for broad market movement, with the XAO gaining just 0.5 pct over the past five sessions.
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Australians Line up to Buy iPhone 5, First to Own Device

Like their counterparts in other global cities, Australians lined up on Friday morning to buy Apple's iPhone 5 officially launched last week but made available only beginning Sept 21 in retail outlets in selected countries.

RBA Turns Around Financially, Posts $1.076 B Profit

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced on Thursday that it registered a $1.076 billion profit in the last financial year. It is a turnaround from the $4.889 billion loss the central bank logged the previous financial year.

The Overnight Report: Balancing The Data

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 18 points, or 0.1%, while the S&P was flat at 1460 and the Nasdaq lost 0.2%.My editor informs me there is much confusion in the market about how a purchasing managers' index (PMI) actually works.

U.S. Richest now 13 Percent Richer

America's super high net worth individuals saw their net worth grow by 13 percent in the past year to $1.7 trillion, according to Forbes annual wealth survey.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 9/20/2012

The Australian sharemarket lost a little ground for the second time this week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) slipping by 0.5 pct or 20.6 pts to 4419.8. The defensive healthcare and telco sectors ended higher, however all other regions of the market lost ground. Volume and value of shares traded was significantly higher than usual due to equity index expiry today.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 9/20/2012

Local stocks have come off the four month highs reached yesterday, as investors await Chinese manufacturing data coming through later this afternoon. The Australian share market rallied in afternoon trade yesterday after the Bank of Japan announced it would extend its asset buying program to 80 Trillion Yen. US and European markets also surged on the efforts to stimulate Japan's economy and tackle its deflation concerns. At lunchtime in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down.

Sony Unwraps ‘Super Slim’ PS3, Gamers Cry Too Pricey

Sony shrunk the PS3 and called it ‘Super Slim’. Following the superhot route taken by smartphone and tablet makers, the Japanese firm upgraded the ‘look factor’ of its half-a-decade old game console by shaving off unnecessary heft and weight.

NAB Launches Online Share Trading Platform

National Australia Bank (NAB) launched on Wednesday nabtrade, its own online share trading platform which will mainly target investors in self-managed superannuation funds.

Harvey Norman Owner’s Family Shops Online

While Australian retail giant Harvey Norman is one of the leading voices calling for lowering of the general sales tax on items purchased overseas, the company's own chief executive, who is also the owner's wife, ironically buys from online shops abroad to save money.

Australia Halts Sheep Exports

Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry placed on hold all sheep exports following the order by Pakistan authorities to cull 21,000 Aussie sheep tested positive for salmonella bacteria and actinomyces.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 9/19/2012

Local stocks rallied in afternoon trade, after the Bank of Japan followed the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank in providing more monetary easing to stimulate the global economy. Stocks had been trading only marginally higher before the announcement from the BOJ, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rising by 22.6pts or 0.5pct by close to finish at 4440.4, a four month high.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 9/19/2012

The Australian market opened slightly higher today but fell in and out of the red in the first few hours of trade. The by lunchtime the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) was only 7 points higher at 4,425 points.

Kraft Foods Australia Extends BelVita Breakfast Biscuit Flavour Range

Kraft Foods Australia has been pleased with the market take up of its belVita Breakfast biscuits. Launched in March 2012, research conducted in June 2012 by AC Nielsen Homescan showed market penetration of 10.9% (or more than one in ten) Australian households having tried the product.

Smash and Grab

Maybe we're making this whole investment caper too complicated. You can analyse interest rates and currencies. You can talk about sound money and fair value. And you can look at technical trends and fundamental factors. But in the end, maybe we should just all buy Apple stock and quit while we're ahead.

The US Dollar: A Titanic Disaster

One hundred years ago, the Titanic slipped below the frigid waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. That's roughly the same moment when the US dollar also hit an iceberg. In 1913, one year after the Titanic disaster, the US government passed the Federal Reserve Act...and the dollar's value has been sinking ever since.

Fortescue Buys Time, Rather Well

- FMG announces very positive re-fi- Plenty of breathing space the result- Brokers upgrade ratings- Stock now even more highly leveragedBy Greg PeelAs at yesterday the spot iron ore price was trading around US$109/t which would have allowed Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest the chance to sleep a little better...

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