BUSINESS

The Australian sharemarket ended a touch lower by close of trade, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) easing by just 0.2 pct or 7.5 pts to 4403.3. On two occasions, the market briefly snuck into positive territory only to fall back into the red a few minutes later.

Former mobile phones leader Nokia remains a king on its own right, but its current fiefdom appears not large enough for the struggling firm to reverse flagging fortunes, reports said.

Chinese assemblers of iPhones and iPads now work a reduced average of 60 hours each week, according to the update report released Tuesday by Washington-based Fair Labor Association (FLA).

After a strong session here at home yesterday that pushed the All Ordinaries to a 3 and a half month high, markets in Europe moved higher overnight. As the trading day moved on money moved into mining stocks and commodity prices on comments from Chinese officials that more economic stimulus could eventuate in the next month or two. US markets fell away from the open of trade as investors took profits, especially in the tech sector, and the index closed below 4 year highs.

By Anders Aslund, senior fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics and Adjunct Professor, Georgetown UniversityIt has become increasingly fashionable to talk about Europe without the euro.

Despite the apparent slowdown of Australia's resource sector, mining giant CITIC Pacific expects full production of its $8-billion iron ore mine in Western Australia even if the project has been hit by delays.

The anticipated released of BHP Billiton's (ASX: BHP) full year financial results on Wednesday was not over an expected profit decline, but the mining giants intentions on expansion plans.

Among Australian states, Queensland has the most number of mortgage defaults, a report by Fitch Ratings released on Wednesday said.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down 68 points or 0.5% while the S&P lost 0.4% to 1413 and the Nasdaq fell 0.

The big infusion of cash that sent Mark Zuckerberg and his fledgling college enterprise on their way came from Accel Partners, in 2004.

Legal experts on both sides of the Atlantic argue that the SFO is too weak to live up to its promises; and say that the more aggressive U.S. system could be a far likelier source of prosecutions.

As drought conditions persist well into late summer across the majority of U.S. states, agricultural production continues to be well below normal, meaning consumers will literally be paying the price for so much crop destruction.

According to a recent study, obesity may indirectly cost the U.S. economy over $450 billion a year. Furthemore, a recent poll by Gallup also estimated that U.S. businesses lose nearly $113 billion each year due to obese American workers.

Oil giant spent $383m to protect oil installations and staff in Nigeria, reveals London-based oil watchdog Platform.

In today's Daily Reckoning we'll look at what the slowdown in Chinese steel production could mean for the Aussie gold price. We'll also show you why at least one Chinese policy maker thinks gold is more valuable than oil.

Hopes the European Central Bank will provide more economic stimulus saw local stocks rise today, with the ASX200 breaking through the 4400 point mark briefly, for the first time since May. By close, the ASX 200 (XJO) was up 19.1pts or 0.4pct to 4383.4 while the All Ordinaries Index index (XJO) firmed by 18.9pts or 0.4pct to 4410.8.

Telstra Corporation has listed 651 jobs on its axing sight, which the giant telco said on Tuesday was part of underway efforts to streamline its customer service operations across the nation.

Eight months into year 2012, Apple continues to flex its shares market muscle as the tech giant gained 64 per cent in the year so far and closed its Monday exchanges at $US665.15, en route to an overall market value of $US623.5 billion.

The once-booming resource sector in Australia is slowing down due to lower commodity prices.

After another low trading and low news day the European and US, markets closed slightly weaker. Investors were still concerned about key economic news and announcements later in the week. As European investors wait on the outcome of the Euro leaders meetings in Greece and the US investors await on key housing data and Chinese economic news. Yesterday Chinese market hit a new 52 week low and the Aussie market lost nearly 2points to 4,391 points.

The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) warned on Tuesday of the loss of 30,000 jobs in the car parts industry and an $800 million export market unless the government extends it assistance.

Zac Efron has recently been reported shopping for a luxury home address. Is this a sign of growing up, or is he getting ready to settle down?

Never a company to rest on its laurels, IKEA plans to open 100 'budget design' hotels across Europe. The bad news? Guests probably won't be able to order a platter of Swedish meatballs from room service at 2 a.m.

Amid global uproar on excessive executive pay, two chief executive officers from Australia would have made a good case study on the matter.

Australian flag carrier Qantas grounded two pilots who argued inside the cockpit of a Boeing 747 at the Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport. Their debate was over take-off calculations which they should enter into the plane's computer.

By Andrew NelsonLast week was slightly busier than what passes for normal these days on the uranium spot market.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down 3 points to 13,271 while the S&P was flat at 1418 and the Nasdaq was flat.

Investors took somewhat of a breather today, as China's Shanghai Composite fell to its lowest level since 2009 on worries there may not be any forthcoming stimulus from the Central Bank of China. The mood was in stark contrast to global markets on Friday, where US and European markets gained albeit in thin trading volumes. European markets rose to 13-week highs as Germany gave its backing to the European Central Bank's efforts to support the Eurozone while the S&P 500 Index on Wall Street ...

Still in doubt that iPad Mini will be launched shortly after the anticipated issue of iPhone 5 later this year? Well investors do not have the same mindset and their firm conviction that Apple will unleash killer gadgets before 2012 ends further pushed up the tech giant’s share price.