BUSINESS

Workers in BHP Billiton's (ASX: BHP) Queensland coal mines will hold a week-long strike likely to begin Friday to protest the latest enterprise agreement offer by the mining giant. The workers, members of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), are against some of the pay and work condition provisions of BHP's offer.

A quick preview of the key economic events for the upcoming week!

After a flat start, the Australian share market is posting modest gains at lunch, thanks to positive moves from telecommunication, industrial and energy stocks. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up 11.3pts or 0.3pct to 4375.9.

By Greg PeelIt started late last year and it has continued into January. The bulk of "real" global spot uranium demand (utilities as opposed to traders) is currently centred in Europe where U3O8 is being sought.

FNArena has added another video to its Investors Education section on the website. In this week's video, ATW's Jerry Simmons seems to take a more cautious approach as price action in crude oil and US equities last week moved towards the upper levels of recent trading ranges.

The prospects for top executives "cleaned out" of the industry through the GFC and mortgage market consolidation do not look bright, according to a top industry recruiter.

Further drops in activity and new orders saw the national construction industry spend another month in the red according to the latest Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®), in conjunction with the Housing Industry Association. The seasonally adjusted index fell by 1.2 points to 39.8 in January, marking the 20th consecutive month that the sector has contracted (readings below 50 indicate a contraction in activity).

Does the type of smartphone you have determine your dating style? A new survey from Match.com shows a correlation between the type of smartphone you own and your relationship style.

NAB has today announced new efforts to bring Homeside closer to the major bank brand, by creating a "stronger visual link" through a new re-branding campaign.

Perth-based infrastructure services group Cardno Limited certainly picked the right day to reveal a $100 million deal in the US and a fund raising of the same size.

Listed investment company Argo Investments has joined most of its competitors in revealing the impact of the weak stockmarket on its interim result.

The Australian stock market is seen to hold firm, but gains are narrowed down by the grim prospects in Greece, that has yet to settle prevailing debt concerns.

The Reserve Bank makes its first decision for 2012 on the level of interest rates today.

German factory orders rebounded by 1.7pct in December following a 4.9pct fall in November. Factory orders were flat over the year to December. Meanwhile the US employment trends index rose from 105.0 to 105.8 in January.

U.S. stocks drifted lower as the recent rally paused, with investors shifting focus to wrangling in Greece over fiscal austerity. The Dow Jones Industrial Average eased 38 points, or 0.3%, to 12824 as the last hour of trading approached. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index lost 2.7 points, or 0.2%, to 1342, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 7.8 points, or 0.3%, to 2898.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down 17 points or 0.1% while the S&P was little changed at 1344 and the Nasdaq fell 0.

By Greg PeelThe last time the RBA made rate cuts at each of three consecutive meetings was in the wake of the GFC.

With China's economy expected to weaken to 8.5 per cent this year, global luxury goods and branded items will most likely take also a beating as Chinese shoppers most definitely will trim on big-ticket item purchases in a bid to maintain and preserve wealth inside their hands and pockets.

Job security in bank posts continue to be placed on the line as Westpac announced the axing of up to 400 positions. Most of those who would be laid off are engaged in back office and IT roles, of which 150 would be outsourced to India.

The blockbuster 'merger of equals' between Xstrata and Glencore is nearing completion, media reports said, which indicated too that barring further glitches, the deal will be finalised by Tuesday this week.

Asian banks made its way to the top 20 international bank brands of the year 2011, highlighting how they have so far bested the global financial turmoil and their future potential, the latest Banking 500 Report said.

Although Australian consumers enjoyed the past few months lower prices on selected goods because of the price war between Coles and Woolsworth, they are actually paying higher prices for other commodities.

The specter of the mythical Apple TV rears its head again as a Piper Jaffrey analyst claims that Apple Inc. will release the Apple TV later this year

Latest inflation levels appear to be within the mark set by central bank authorities for the current year, according to the January edition of the TD Securities-Melbourne Institute measure of consumer prices.

Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce has opposed proposed changes in the Qantas Sale Act and cabin crew laws. He warned that planned changes being discussed in the Australian parliament could lead to job losses and reduced aviation access.

World-first technology in the mining industry is contributing to better health and safety for miners, production efficiencies and improved energy consumption and environmental benefits, according to a new research.

1300 Home Loan has ramped up its rhetoric, jumping into discourse on upcoming RBA rate moves following its consumer marketing launch.

Lenders have promised to continue to help dispel broker fear about non-conforming mortgage products.

Five days out from the RBA's next cash rate decision, Australian banks are again flagging that they may stay put on rates.