BUSINESS

Researchers from North Carolina State University have discovered a number of vulnerabilities in smartphones running Google's Android operating system that allows hackers to record phone conversations and even wipe data without the user's permission.

From Morrison Securities: U.S. stocks were little changed in afternoon trading Thursday, a day after a blowout rally, as headlines from Europe kept traders on the defensive but strength in the technology sector limited losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 6 points, or 0.1%, to 12049 recently, shaving off a sliver of the previous session's 490-point surge.

Google Map is one of the applications used in Android mobile phones. It allows the owner to view directions and places and even provides traffic advisories, removing the need to bring a compass or a paper map.

Industrial disputes filed by employees and workers in Australia rose to 66 during the September period resulting in more working days lost and industries paralyzed, according to the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The Senate Committee of Rural Affairs and Transport recommended on Wednesday the suspension of all new coal seam gas (CSG) projects in areas where it would tap into the Great Artesian Basin. The 12 recommendations are based on the potential of CSG ventures to contaminate underground water.

NextGen.Net has announced the appointment of Tony Carn as its new sales director, with Greg Mitchell stepping in to fill a combined general manager of sales role at Homeloans.

Borrowers are expecting more interest rate cuts in the months ahead, a survey has found.

The two West Australia power firms signed supply contracts on Wednesday with gas suppliers. The deal would boost gas security for residents.

The mining sector is going digital to avoid or minimise the incidence and scale of the impact of dust mines on the environment.

A big day for Metcash yesterday, with a reasonable and a convincing win over the ACCC on its $200 million takeover of the Franklins supermarket chain in NSW.

The resources boom powers on, according to the September quarter private investment data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics yesterday.

A dramatic end to November overnight with markets in Europe and the US soaring on the news that six major central banks had moved to ease funding pressures and China made its first monetary policy easing in three years.

Samsung Electronics won the favor of the Australian Federal Court on Wednesday, giving its go signal to the South Korean firm to proceed with the sale of it Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia minus any worries of any wrangling from Apple.

A federal court has lifted the sales ban on Samsung's Galaxy tablet but the legal battle is not yet over as Apple is taking the case to the High Court.

The Federal Court ruled on Wednesday in favour of Metcash in its $215-billion purchase of Franklins supermarkets. The decision was a humiliating defeat for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) which opposed the takeover.

BCD Resources announced on Wednesday the closure of its 134-year-old Beaconsfield gold mine in Tasmania by June 2012. BCD Chief Executive Peter Thompson explained the planned shuttering to exhaustion of gold resources.

Research in Motion announced on Tuesday that it will launch a new security software that will bring the same security and management features found in the company's BlackBerry smartphones to Android and iOS phones and tablets.

Fair Work Australia (FWA) may likely have another tough labor dispute to handle soon following the collapse of talks between Fremantle Port workers and management. The port workers have announced a 48-hour strike beginning at dawn of Friday.

Manufacturing activity remained flat in November according to the latest Australian Industry Group - PwC Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®). The Australian PMI® was broadly unchanged, up just 0.4 points to 47.8, to remain below the 50 points level separating expansion from contraction.

Three substantial economic developments announced in quick succession Wednesday morning, including efforts from several central banks to shore up the global financial system, prompted global stock markets to soar and sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average up by more than 400 points.

Australian Internet service company Melbourne IT (ASX: MLB) has clinched its first Philippine client to mark the start of its foray in the Southeast Asian country.

- NAB sees limited short-term upside for iron ore- Coal prices also forecast to ease through 2012- Commodity prices in general tipped to decline through 2012By Chris ShawFollowing falls to what National Australia Bank saw as oversold levels in October, bulk commodity prices have partially recovered ...

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 490 points or 4.2% (regaining 12,000) while the S&P added 4.3% to 1246 (regaining 1200) and the Nasdaq jumped 4.

By Chris ShawHeading into December, the technical analysts at Barclays Capital note the month is another very positive one for equities, following on from the bullish bias of November.

Minmetals Resources Limited (HKSE:1208) ("MMR") has appointed mining industry stalwart Anthony Larkin as an independent non-executive director of the company to further strengthen the board's project risk assessment capabilities.

Korea's Samsung had won the first legal battle against Apple Inc. as an Australian court overturns the decision disallowing the sale of the Galaxy tablet in the country on Wednesday.

In line with global trends for more environment-friendly vehicles, the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) picked on Wednesday the Ford Falcon EcoLPi as one of the best cars in the country.

Information disorder affects 40 per cent of Australian and New Zealand organizations, a report by Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) released on Wednesday said.

A deal secured by Optus with NBN Co has assured the telco of just compensation in the event the National Broadband Network project of Prime Minister Julia Gillard becomes a casualty of political wrangling in Canberra.