BUSINESS

According to the Australian government, Australia's economic future lies overseas. An economic boom in Asia is going to define Australian prosperity. Government publications, slide shows and statistics all show how important foreign growth is.

And it doesn't make any difference who wins the White House... either. What the economy needs is real stimulus, not the phoney stimulus offered by Obama and Romney. Not the measly spending cuts. Not the timid tax increases.

Stocks managed small gains on Wall Street another lackluster Wall Street trading session on the 25th of October, with doubts surrounding weak business ventures keeping most investors cautious.

How is Windows 8 faring so far? If Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer is to be believed, products running the cross-platform operating system are getting their shares of ‘wow’ compliments from admirers.

Google unwrapped on Monday three fresh devices that were meant to make shopping a tad more exciting for the holidays and they came emblazoned with the now popular Nexus brand, which means Google engineering prowess has been poured bit time for these gadgets.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Gazprom, the country's pipeline gas export monopoly, to build a 3,200km pipeline from East Siberia to the Pacific port of Vladivostok, reported Reuters on Monday, in an attempt to reduce the nation's reliance on exports to Europe and develop closer ties with Asian customers.

Local stocks are trading modestly higher at lunchtime in the East, despite falls on the Canadian and European markets overnight. All US markets were closed due to Hurricane Sandy, which is currently bearing down on New York City. It's expected US markets will also close tonight (Tuesday) - which will be the first time bad weather has forced the closure of the NYSE for two consecutive sessions since 1888. The last time a Hurricane closed the NYSE for one day was in 1985. Nearing lunchtime in t...

In what could be an unprecedented strategy to propel its business, Virgin Australia divested a 10 per cent stake to Singapore Airlines Ltd., effectively collecting enough funds that will enable it to get a 60 per cent hold of Tiger Airways Australia and full control of Perth-based regional carrier Skywest Airlines Ltd.

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) ordered on Monday a five-year ban on trading on Apple Investment Company and a three-year ban on providing financial advice on Alec Khoo & Associates.

By Greg PeelThe NYSE, Nasdaq and other smaller US exchanges were closed last night for all forms of trading by agreement of those exchanges.

A few years ago, Nokia was the top mobile phone with users comparing one Nokia model with another handset from the same Finnish company. Nokia attempts to recapture its glory, lost to Apple and Samsung mainly, by launching its Lumia series.

While Australia's Parliament is studying the imposition of a travel levy on residents who fly overseas, foreign students in New South Wales (NSW) would enjoy up to 35 per cent discount on public transportation.

Australia's organic market is growing, a report from the Biological Farmers of Australia said. The 2012 Australian Organic Market estimated the industry's value at $300 million a year.

Australia's housing market is improving based on the results of Super Saturday the country's biggest auction day of the year. Held between the football grand finals and the Melbourne Cup, the auction on Oct 27 resulted in sale of more than 2,400 properties in a single day.

See the latest images from the heart of Hurricane Sandy and the damage it has been giving the East Coast so far.

A new survey has found that more than half of Australians these days have become overweight or obese.

Microsoft’s Windows 8 has so far generated mixed reviews though tech experts were somewhat in agreement that the cross-platform OS was not as intuitive as that of Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android.

The Australian share market started the week's trade in the black, although earlier gains were pared back following news all US markets will be closed tonight as Hurricane Sandy bears down on New York.

Nokia is waging war and making a beachhead first is foremost to the Finnish firm's near-term goal of at least surviving in the smartphone territory, which at the moment is presently dominated by Apple and Android handsets.

There are several changes and improvements from Windows 7 to Windows 8 on computers, tablets and smartphones. Windows 8 has allowed these three classifications of devices to sync with each other and even allows one another to use features that are normally exclusive to just one type.

LG recently released a new addition to its Optimus line of smartphones, offering a high speed, latest technology and durable device.

The Australian sharemarket is kicking off the week in positive fashion, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) edging higher by 0.4 per cent or 16 pts to 4512.3 at lunch. Most sectors are improving, with the exception of the defensive healthcare and telco sectors.

- Iron ore price rebound complete- Restocking phase may now slow- Prices expected to drift back until next yearBy Greg PeelFor most of the year analysts had decided US$120/t was a reliable floor for Chinese spot iron ore prices.

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has ordered its members of stop working on electric meters in homes constructed before 1983. The order is in response to a hazard warning that Sydney-based company, Endeavor Energy, issued to its workers due to risks from asbestos exposure.

Investors were faced with a variety of news over the last 5 trading days. A large number of companies have hosted investors at AGM's. The Mid week release of higher than expected QIII CPI numbers startled interest rate and equity markets, whilst the local currency ran higher. WA and NSW were put on negative credit watch by Standard and Poors. Historically such an outcome would have seen a substantial down draught for the currency. Regional stock indices seemed unimpressed by an improved read ...

American PC maker Dell is gearing up for a price war with the newly released Microsoft Surface by placing on its Web site the XPS 10, its 10.1-inch Windows RT table, as available for pre-order.

Due to Australia's geographical location, Aussies were among the first in the world to purchase the rolled out Windows 8 operation system by Microsoft, as well as new devices that run on the OS.

For two quarters in a row, Apple failed to even equal market expectations, departing from its famed reputation of measuring up or even exceeding the figures churned out by market analysts.

Samsung Electronics has again romped its way to record sales numbers in Q3 2012, pocketing $US7.4 billion in operating profits mostly on the back of close to 60 million Android smartphones the tech giant has shipped out in the period.