BUSINESS

The ANZ Banking Group will have less believable reason not to pass in full any future overnight cash rate cuts to be made by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) since it reported on Thursday another record-breaking profit.

Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest woman, had her sweet revenge on Wednesday against the Fairfax Media board which slammed the door on her face a few weeks ago when she sought a director's seat.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down 25 points, or 0.2%, while the S&P lost 0.3% to 1408 and the Nasdaq fell 0.

While Apple and Samsung were generating so much hoopla in the mobile devices industry, a silent but key player was gradually creeping in and by Q3 2012, South Korea’s LG Electronics is back in black.

A weak offshore lead impacted local stocks today, sending the Australian share market down 0.8pct. Worries about Spain's spiking borrowing costs saw European markets hit 6 week lows while US investors were spooked by disappointing earnings results. Adding to the downbeat mood, ratings agency Moody´s downgraded five Spanish regions. The All Ordinaries Index closed down 37.4pts to 4530.6.

With the official release of Windows 8 on Friday, Microsoft has created a tablet PC to compete with other similar devices from iOS and Android and even from other manufacturers that will use the same operating system.

The Optimus G, since it was designed to a flagship standard and powered by the latest in handheld computing, cannot hope for a warm welcome from its competitors. However, it is due every bit of their respect. Although LG is not asking for it, the technology giant is apparently ready to earn it.

Apple recently added three attractive colours to the latest iPod Touch edition, giving consumers more funky options to best represent their unique taste and apparently making it easier for them to buy the upgraded gadget.

Apple has officially unleashed the iPad Mini with company executives insisting that global consumers will not be getting a watered-down version of its bigger sibling – what will be rolled out come Nov 2 is an entirely new gadget, said the tech titan.

We also have a way to vastly increase US household income - the feds have only to spend more money! Just add zeros. How about that? The poor family has not a dime more in real, spendable income...but we've managed - by clever use of mathematics and economics - to double its income.

The Australian share market managed only a small win yesterday but all or the gains have been wiped out today. Overnight we saw wide spread selling on European and US Stock and commodity markets.

'Asia has a big advantage,' said our old friend Marc Faber, at the Halkin conference in London. 'It doesn't have the same entitlement culture of the developed countries.'

The National Australia Bank (NAB) reported pre-tax profits of $1.4 billion on Friday. That's a lot of money. But it was $250 million that got the market's attention. The stock was down as much as 3.5% during the day before closing down 2.71%.

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.