BUSINESS

There are news reports saying that Google is planning to launch the company's newest tablet offering named Google Nexus Tablet. The Google Nexus tablet is said to be the next competitor for Apple's iPad.

A new McKinsey report released on Tuesday showed that there is widespread pessimism among business leaders over the prospects of the global economy.

The interest rate cutbacks imposed by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) in the past two months seemed unable to convince Aussies to shop for new homes, bank executives said on Tuesday.

The competition between Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia further heats up as the latter unveiled today plans to secure more service routes to Europe via the code sharing arrangement the airline had earlier inked with Singapore Airlines.

Apple has just released its latest line of MacBook Pros and one of the highlights for this is the inclusion of Retina display as its main feature. The inclusion of Retina display means that the image for the MacBook Pro would be sharper and clearer. Despite that assurance, Apple's MacBook Pro with Retina display is now being plagued with issues and problems.

The local share market is picking up a little following four sessions of losses, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) up 21.8pts or 0.5pct to 4078.1 at lunchtime in the East. There was a little bit of investor apathy in Europe overnight ahead of yet another European Union summit to discuss the region's debt crisis while US markets rose on upbeat housing data.

A quick recap of the weekend: Syria has shot down a Turkish military jet, the Muslim Brotherhood has won power in Egypt, England lost on penalties (again), North smashed Adelaide, and the blithering idiots who pretend to run Europe's economy have decided that spending more money is the answer!

Small businesses play a central role in employment generation but are often ignored because they are after all, small! The value and role played by the New generation of small business in propping the global economy cannot be underestimated.

With less than a week before the Gillard government starts the collection of the $23-per tonne carbon tax, the Opposition is using all means to discredit the tax. The Coalition strategies include tapping small Australian businesses to post fliers that apologises to customers for hiking their prices on account of the carbon tax.

Brokers have flocked to the Austaralian Broker Online forum to detail numerous experiences of older borrowers being knocked back by the banks.

The power of Australia's richest woman, Gina Rinehart, was immediately felt by Fairfax Media even before she steps into the company's boardroom. A day after Ms Rinehart threatened to sell her shares of the company, Fairfax shares declined 3.5 per cent and closed at 55 cents.

By Kathleen Brooks, Research Director UK EMEA at FOREX.comThe markets aren't holding out too much hope for a neat resolution to the sovereign debt crisis at this week's EU summit.

The Google IO 2012 is set to take place on June 27-29, 2012 at Moscone Center, San Francisco. Developers and spectators alike are all anticipating the upcoming news and updates for the Google IO 2012.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 32 points or 0.3% while the S&P gained 0.6% to 1319 and the Nasdaq added 0.

Local stocks closed in negative territory for a fourth consecutive session today, although managed to fare better than expected given the weak offshore lead. US and European markets slumped overnight after ratings agency Moody's downgraded the Spanish banking sector, and after Cyprus and Spain formally requested European aid. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) closed down 15.7pts or 0.4pct to 4056.3 while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (XJO) fell 14.5pts or 0.4pct to 4013.3.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) sees no reason for alarm amidst observations by some economists that the country's housing sector could witness the same meltdown that humbled the U.S. economy in 2008.

Samsung Electronics, the world's largest smartphone manufacturer has unveiled its latest phone, the Samsung Galaxy S III in Korea.

Apple has just released the latest update for its iOS 6 beta version. This is the first update to the OS and it was released through beta form to developers.

Sony had just announced that the company would be providing Google TV for Australian customers starting this Thursday. The release of Google TV in the Australian market would mean a direct competition between Google TV and Apple TV thus eventually leading to this question: Is Google TV better than Apple TV?

Gordon Merchant, founder and biggest shareholder of troubled surfwear retailer Billabong International, announced on Tuesday it is open yet again to accepting takeover bids for the company. Billabon shares dived 47.5 per cent into a massive whirlpool after coming out of a trading halt since Thursday.

Australia's four largest banks now have less reason not to pass in full to borrowers any future overnight cash rate cuts that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) would make. It is because the latest yearly survey of the Bank for International Settlements have released Tuesday stated that ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank and Westpac topped the list of profitable banks in the world.

By Richard (Rick) MillsAhead of the HerdAs a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best informationAt the start of golden ages golden stories should be toldFollowing many years of net annual sales in the 400 to 500 tonne range, central banks, underweighted in gold and ...

By Andrew NelsonIf things weren't travelling along slowly enough in the uranium spot market, last week saw even less activity according to market consultants TradeTech.

FNArena has added another video to its Investors Education section on the website. This week, ATW's Jerry Simmons sees possible support emerging for US stock future indices (implying strength for equities) and oil, while sounding a cautionary note for gold.

Google has just dropped a hint regarding Google's next Android version which is reportedly named as Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The hint was revealed when it was spotted at Google Play Store.

ZTE Corporation recently announced its partnership with Rightware Kanzi UI Solution in order to release a Android 4.0 or Android ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich) smartphones sthat would utilized 3D user interface (UI) technologies.

To indicate that she is really serious in her desire to become a director of Fairfax Media, Australia's richest woman threatened to sell her 19 per cent stake in the company unless its board makes her a director.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down 138 points or 1.1% while the S&P lost 1.6% to 1313 and the Nasdaq plunged 2.

BioWare, the game developer behind Mass Effect 3 will be releasing an extended cut for the game which would be available on June 27, 2012.