BUSINESS

IBM released its sixth annual "5 in 5" which lists the five technologies the company thinks will come true in the next five years. The predictions aren't really predictions about the tech world in general but a way for IBM to showcase programs that IBM is actually working on. Some of the predictions seem to be out of this world but it's still worth looking at if only to wish that some of the predictions would come true.

Philip Morris has ramped up on Tuesday its legal battle against Australia's planned cigarette plain packaging laws that the giant tobacco company said will rob its of its intellectual property rights.

Elders chief executive Malcolm Jackman said the Federal Government's month-long ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia in June had a ''significant impact'' on the agribusiness. Thus, new markets like Russia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Qatar are now being explored.

Samsung phones topped the list of bestsellers in Australia in the September quarter on the back of demand for the Galaxy SII and its stripped-down versions.

Samsung intends to line up its Galaxy product lines for the much-awaited update to the new version of the Android mobile operating system, the Android 4.0, by the first few months of 2012.

Overseas investors hold one third of the new Australian apartment market. That's about 13,000 apartments in 37 projects spread across Australia, said property group CBRE.

The long-awaited Christmas rally finally came true for investors today, who were willing to buy equities following a strong showing on offshore markets in the wake of positive economic data out of both the US and Germany. All sectors on the local share market recorded growth, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) firmer by 83pts or 2pct to 4190.

Softer export markets and shifts to use of natural gas will offset the benefits of lower stocks and consolidation for many coal producers in 2012, according to a report by Fitch Ratings.

Australian mining giant BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP) announced on Wednesday that it has agreed to sell its 51 per cent stake in the Chidliak diamond exploration project in Canada to Peregrine Diamonds (TSX: PGD).

In a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers for its annual Gold Price Report, 80 per cent of mining companies said gold will increase in 2012 and will reach a pinnacle of $2,000 per ounce.

The local share market is seeing a broad based recovery today, thanks to strong leads from US and European markets overnight on positive economic data. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up 81.4pts or 2pct to 4188.5 mid-session.

Fusion Garage has been playing a game of hide-and-seek with its customers. It hasn't fulfilled orders for its Grid10 tablet, the company's Twitter page and website hasn't been updated in weeks and its executives have maintained a radio silence about what's going on with the company. Is Fusion Garage shutting down?

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has reportedly snatched up Twitter shares on Monday amounting to $300 million.

AT&T announced on Monday that it has officially withdrawn plans to acquire T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom, effectively ending the $39 billion merger deal that the two telcos sealed earlier this year.

Australian banks reminded customers on Wednesday that Dec 24 until Dec 27 are bank holidays. That means that payments between the banks and other financial institutions would not be processed during the four-day period.

By James Stanley, Trading InstructorThe Trader's Plan"Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets desire.

If rumors are to be believed Apple Inc. will be releasing a mini iPad in addition to the next generation iPad 3 next year. According to Digitimes, a 7.85 inch iPad will be released before the fourth quarter of 2012 and the new iPad at the end of the first quarter.

From Morrison Securities Pty. Ltd. U.S. stocks rallied as domestic home building jumped to the highest level in nearly two years and another successful Spanish debt auction buoyed investor sentiment.

- Oz consumers signal they are more likely to stay at home this Christmas- Those that want to travel are more likely to go overseas- It probably has never been this cheap to travel overseas for AustraliansBy Andrew NelsonA new survey from Westpac isn't likely to be celebrated by the Australian ...

FNArena has added another video to its Investors Education section on the website. In this video, ATW's Jerry Simmons' analysis zooms in on NR7s and doji formations.

By Rudi Filapek-VandyckUS equities rallied by up to 4% (Russell2000) on positive news from Europe and from the US housing market.

More kids aged 6 to 13 are receiving money as Christmas gifts instead of boxed presents. Market research firm Roy Morgan, in a report released on Tuesday, said 66 per cent of young Aussies get cash as Christmas present, up from 62 per cent in 2007.

Orica (ASX: ORI) seeks to end Wesfarmers' (ASX: WES) monopoly in the manufacture of explosives in Western Australia by planning to build a $700-million ammonium nitrate plant in Pilbara through a joint venture with U.S. energy firm Apache.

Woodside Petroleum (ASX: WPL) sought permission for the West Australian (WA) government to postpone its decision on the proposed and controversial $30 billion Browse liquefied natural gas (LNG) project to 2013 from mid-2012.

Australian supermarket giant Woolsworths (ASX: WOW) bought 31 pubs worth $500 million across New South Wales.

Stocks of Billabong International Limited (ASX: BBG) fell 34 per cent after the Gold Coast firm forecast lower earnings for the first half of the financial year and issued a profit downgrade due to the chilly summer weather.

Yanzhou Coal Mining of China is in an $8-billion merger talks with Gloucester Coal of Australia. In anticipation of the takeover, Gloucester (ASX: GCL) will halt trading on its stocks on Tuesday.

European shares were mixed on Monday. Despite no further downgrade of sovereign credit ratings, investors remained cautious.

U.S. stocks fell Monday after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi made cautious comments on the state of Europe's economy and as bank stocks sagged in expectation of tighter capital standards.