BUSINESS

Wayne Swan, Australia's current Treasurer, is proving to be an even better juggler than our own Nick Hubble, who actually knows how to juggle.

While Australian consumers are reeling from spiraling electricity bills by up to 60 per cent, power utilities are raking it in by overcharging households and businesses by up to $3 billion.

By Greg PeelThe Dow fell 243 points, or 1.8% while the S&P lost 1.4% to 1413 and the Nasdaq dropped 0.

The Australian share market managed only a small win today. No local economic data was released but a raft of companies held their Annual General Meetings (AGM) while the Australian dollar was well supported ahead of tomorrow's key inflation numbers. After reaching an intra-day high of 4588.7pts, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) closed higher by 3.4pts or 0.1pct to 4568.

When Windows 7 was rolled out by Microsoft three years ago this very day, it was considered a time for celebration. Microsoft was emerging from a very dark time with its troubled Windows Vista operating system, which was long delayed and generally disliked by many users. Windows 7 fixed Vista, and in the process, it also fixed Microsoft.

Within three days, Windows 8 will make its official debut to the tech world- an event which is awaited by the global IT community. On the same day, several computer manufacturers are also releasing their new gadgets capable of running on the new OS.

Nokia’s floundering fortune is the handiwork of company chief executive Stephen Elop, his predecessor said in a recent blog, which also pinned the blame on the embattled CEO for betting too much on Microsoft’s mobile platform.

Windows 8 will set the stage for greater things to unfold at Microsoft, company co-founder Bill Gates said on Monday, stressing too that the new multi-platform operating system represents “the big time for us.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday that a single banking supervisory body will be set up in the course of next year, opening the way for the eurozone's rescue fund to inject capital directly into the region's ailing banks.

The US markets turned higher into the close of trade. With Apple share and related tech stocks rallying higher. Today on the Australian share market we saw investors buying back into fiancé stocks and key banks. The materials and energy stocks rose in morning trade even with a fall in metal and oil prices overnight. By lunchtime in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) was up 13 points after starting 23 points higher.

Japanese exports have tumbled at their sharpest pace since the aftermath of last year's earthquake and tsunami. More worryingly, exports to China have fallen to fresh lows amid a worsening territorial spat.

All of Australia's big four bank registered increases in their satisfaction level for September. However, the biggest gain was logged by the National Australia Bank (NAB) which enjoyed an 80.3 per cent satisfaction rating.

By Victoria GalsbandThe value anomaly ? higher average returns on value as opposed to growth stocks ? is a robust phenomenon on equity markets around the world.

By Andrew NelsonUranium trading two weeks back saw the spot price plummet 5%, with increasingly cash poor and panicky sellers doing what they could to generate some volume.

BP has started the construction of its $20 million facility at Largs North in Adelaide. It is the first phase of the oil and gas giant's $41 million investment over the next five years.

Australian supermarket giant Coles announced on Monday that it is phasing out its factory farming practices a year ahead of its promise. Keeping the pledge means Coles will free 34,000 mother pigs from cramped stalls and 350,000 hens from cages.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 2 points, the S&P closed flat at 1433 and the Nasdaq rose 0.4%.The world received a bit of a shock yesterday on the release of September trade data from that oft forgotten economy ? Japan.

By Richard (Rick) MillsAhead of the HerdAs a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best informationThe number of people living in areas affected by severe water stress is expected to increase to almost four billion people.

Rio Tinto's rare pink and blue diamonds has attracted an unprecedented number of investor interest, particularly from Asian and European buyers, despite the world being in a massive fiscal crisis.

The Australian share market eased from 14 month highs today, following a weak lead from offshore markets and lower commodity prices. US stocks fell on Friday night on disappointing earnings results and with investors spooked on the 25th anniversary of the 1987 stock market crash. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) closed down 28.9pts or 0.6pct to 4565.6pts.

Hewlett-Packard has come up with slick design that could give the iPad a jolt.

LG will produce a smartphone, while Samsung will make a high-end tablet. Also to debut will be an upgraded version of the Nexus 7, indicating the rash of tech firms to roll out new devices.

The Australian share market is modestly lower at lunchtime in the East, following Wall Street's lead. The US Dow Jones Index closed down 0.1pct while technology shares saw the NASDAQ fall by 1pct. At lunchtime in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 7.8pts or 0.2pct to 4573.1.

Surprise, surprise. China's GDP growth for the third quarter came in bang on the consensus estimate of 7.4%, the slowest rate of growth in years. But the market liked it because on a quarter-on-quarter basis growth was 2.2%, up from 2% in the prior quarter. So on an annualised basis, the Chinese economy grew at a fast 8.8%.

The verdict is out. After weeks of laboratory tests and court injunctions, Pakistani authorities finally decided to cull the remaining 11,500 Australian sheep beginning Friday in Karachi.

The first thing to know about them is that they always use a net. In fact, trapeze artists will practice a trick by repeatedly landing in the net, until they get it right. Only then will the catcher bother to make a trip up the rope ladder to hang in the catch trapeze and pluck the swinging flyer out of the air.

Sony Corp. informed on the 19th of October it would cut approximately 2,000 jobs in Japan in the year to March 2013 as a part of the restructuring plan. The company also announced the closure of a camera lens factory in Japan as well. The job cuts in Japan are a part of Sony Corp.'s global plan to downsize the global headcount by about 10,000 by March 2013.

Canada has blocked Petroliam Nasional Berhad's takeover of Progress Energy Resources Corp. The $5.23 billion bid was rejected as it would not advance national interests of Canada, according to the government.

Newsweek, considered one of America’s publishing icon, is closing down its print edition as current owners of the newsweekly magazine disclosed on Thursday that final issue will come out end of December 2012.