BUSINESS

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 127 points, or 1.0%, while the S&P gained 1.0% to 1454 and the Nasdaq added 1.

Germany's push towards renewable energy sources will cause a sharp increase in electricity prices for consumers next year, reported AFP on Monday, with green power surcharges expected to rise by 47 percent while overall electricity costs will also go up by 7 percent.

Sales in the luxury market is expected to slow to around 5 percent this year as affluent Chinese shoppers cut back on their spending and concerns over the global financial crisis take its toll on shoppers elsewhere.

Local stocks gained ground today, on the back of positive moves on Wall Street overnight and a strong production report from iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group (FMG). After hitting an intra-day high of 4537.9pts, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) finished the day's session up 8.4pts or 0.2pct to 4513.9.

Security experts have always warned that risks constantly hound an online lifestyle and mobile computing is not spared from the ever-present threats that come with the expanding ecosystems.

A bit of data from Google Picasa Album revealed the latest LG Nexus 4 device coded as E960 by the company. This is the remodelled version of the LG Optimus G device.

After HTC announced on Monday a new dual-SIM smartphone called HTC Desire SV (aka Magni) which is a low budget gadget, Samsung leaked the next day a new affordable smartphone which also has dual-SIM functionality. The device is dubbed as Star Deluxe Duos S5292 and reportedly scheduled for launching in December 2011 in emerging markets.

Next week is a busy week for the tech world. Windows 8 is coming out and shortly after, devices on the new Microsoft platform will roll out while Apple is reportedly pulling down the cloak on its new gizmo – the iPad Mini.

After struggling with deep losses and a debt load for half of a decade Sprint Nextel Corp. has found its lifeline. The company has announced that it is in negotiations with SoftBank Corp., the Japanese cellphone company.

CNH Global N.V., the farm and construction maker, voted down the terms of a proposed merger with Fiat Industrial SpA. A special committee at CNH Global N.V. rejected the Fiat Industrial SpA's buyout offer, including listening it to New York from Milan.

The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) followed the lead from the overseas markets and opened higher this morning up 20 points. By lunch time the market had reduced its early run and had only added 9 points, to 4,515, with small gains in most sectors.

Japanese mobile operator Softbank Corp. is most likely to announce sometime around the later part of October 15, a deal which nears around $20 billion, in order to gain control over the U.S. carrier Sprint Nextel Corp.

Windows 8 launches in a few days but doubts remain if the multi-platform operating system, touted by Microsoft as the biggest revamp ever of its core product, will indeed carve a noticeable spot in the computing world increasingly dominated by Apple and Android gadgets.

By Andrew NelsonThere has been increasing talk in the market and in our service about the US economy heading towards a "fiscal cliff", with the current presidential election seen by many as the lynch pin.

By Greg PeelIt had appeared for some time, after the first anniversary of Fukushima had passed (being the tsunami, not the ongoing "fallout") that US$50/lb was pretty much a floor in the spot uranium price.

With her three-day visit to India beginning Monday, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has signaled the start of negotiations to sell uranium to the Asian nation. The Howard government had favoured the idea, but former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd cancelled talks on selling uranium.

In spite of an online sales campaign patterned after the successful Click Monday in the U.S., a survey released on Monday said that it will still be a bleak Christmas season for Australia's retail sector.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 95 points, or 0.7%, while the S&P gained 0.8% to 1440 and the Nasdaq added 0.

The Australian share market closed flat today, with a battle between the banks - which were higher, and the miners, which were lower, playing out. Volume was very low, in fact it was the slowest trading day since the 3rd January when many people were still on Summer holidays. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) closed down 4.6pts or 0.1pct to 4505.5.

Skiing aficionados who often go to Australia to experience the resource-rich nation's ski resorts and alpine regions may be forced to scout other locations in the coming years as the worsening global climate change could kill the Australian ski industry by year 2020.

Zune is dead, Microsoft declared on Monday, and in its stead, the software giant will offer the Xbox Music, which owners of the hardcore gaming console will start enjoying Tuesday this week.

HTC will be coming up with the latest smartphone called as HTC Desire SV aka Magni, which supports dual-SIM function. This device is a mid-range device and has the model detail as T326e.

The HTC Sensation XL is a larger version of the HTC Sensation XE, which by itself is an upgrade to the original HTC Sensation. HTC Sensation XL is branded as one of the costliest Android smartphones in the world. On the other hand, the LG Optimus EX is one of the powerful devices from LG which packs a dual core processor in it as well.

Goldman Sachs reckons the Australian dollar is in deep trouble. 'One of the best long term trades out there at the moment is long euro versus short Aussie,' said Thomas Stolper, chief currency strategist at the investment bank. In other words, he expects the Australian dollar to fall in Euro terms.

Oracle Corp.'s Larry Ellison, who is well known for his rich taste in some of the finest things in life, is now set to take over the empire of a fellow billionaire in the Anschutz Entertainment Group auction.

The Australian sharemarket has kicked off the day in the red, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) easing by 0.1 per cent or 4.1 pts to 4506. Most sectors are improving modestly; however not sufficiently to tip markets into positive territory. The mining companies are down by 1 per cent, being weighed down most by gold producer, Newcrest Mining (NCM) and iron ore company, Fortescue Metals (FMG).

Ahead of their scheduled financial reports this week, giant miners are expected to flag serious concerns over softening demands for commodities, which analysts said will be compounded by tumbling global market prices for Australia’s chief export products.

Some of Australian retailers will reduce their online prices for 24 hours on Nov 20 in a sales promotion called Click Frenzy. The promo is patterned after the U.S.'s Cyber Monday shopping holiday.

The Indonesian government is set to omit the English language as a subject from primary school education as part of a curriculum overhaul to come into effect next year, reported the Jakarta Post on Thursday.