BUSINESS

As the 2012 NRL and AFL seasons get ready to kick-off, business information analysts at IBISWorld reveal how much Australians are spending on sports betting - the fastest growing gambling segment.

LUNCHTIME REPORT (12.40pm AEDT)The Australian share market is trading in the red at lunchtime in the East, following weakness in offshore markets. The US Dow Jones Index eased from four year highs overnight on news China has raised fuel prices for the second time in less than six weeks, raising concerns about overall economic growth. The Australian share market eased half a percent in early trade but has clawed back a little, and at 12.40pm AEDT is down 10.7pts or 0.2pct to 4354.9.

Global miners have agreed that economic slowdown set to be seen in China this year could temper demands for iron ore but insisted that their expansion goals will not be re-calibrated.

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Australian businesses are devoting more of their marketing budget to online video than ever before, as viewing trends skyrocket with latest statistics from YouTube revealing a staggering three billion views every day.

Even though the RBA says there is "ample scope" to cut interest rates if there is a threat to the health of the Australian economy, the prospects of that threat appearing is on the retreat, according to the minutes of the central bank's March board meeting.

Queensland coal miner New Hope has become an early warner among Australian coal exporters after telling shareholders yesterday that current talks in Japan on thermal coal contracts could impact earnings in the coming years.

Now, people are fretting about iron ore exports after BHP Billiton said demand for the steelmaking raw material had "flattened".

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down 68 points or 0.5% while the S&P lost 0.3% to 1405 and the Nasdaq dropped 0.

Dell recently announced that the company has plans of entering the tablet market once again by the end of the year 2012. No exact details have been revealed but there are reports speculating that the company will enter the tablet market through the help of Windows 8 or through Google’s Android.

A $1.6 billion project has been given ‘a likely green light,’ and it is seen to line the northern Wairarapa hillsides to become New Zealand’s largest wind farm, providing power for up to 370,000 homes, Dominion Post reports.

The Qantas Engineers Alliance has urged Qantas Airways on Monday to ensure that aircraft maintenance works will stay in Australia amidst plans by the company to consolidate its three engineering sites located in Avalon, Brisbane and Victoria.

If you listen to the some of the commentary in Australia and overseas, China is now something of a threat to Australia's well being, especially with the lower target growth rate of 7.5%.

New York gold finished with a tiny gain in after hours trading after losing ground in the normal trading session on Friday night, our time.

Another solid week for markets, even if the finish on Friday night in the US was uneven.

The Reserve Bank is back on centre stage in Australia this week with a series of public commentaries or speeches planned.

Shares in department store group David Jones are in a trading halt while the company hammers out the final make up of a new strategy to try and reinvigorate the group after the trading slump seen in 2011.

Brisbane-based mining and environmental testing group Campbell Brothers is back on the takeover trial in a new area of business.

The newly-released tablet from Apple dubbed as the "new iPad" has 4G LTE connectivity which makes it convenient to have Internet access everywhere. Aside from this feature, one of the highlights of the new iPad includes the Retina Display which Apple claims to be "game changer" in the tablet industry.

LUNCHTIME REPORT (12.20pm AEDT)It has been a subdued start to the trading day, following a lacklustre offshore lead. European shares slipped from eight month highs overnight while US shares only recorded modest gains. At lunchtime in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 6.4pts or 0.1pct to 4374.8.

Apple reported on Monday that it has so far sold three million units of the new iPad, barely a week after the device was released.

The Australian economy is in generally healthy state, said Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) governor Glenn Stevens downplaying some indicators that worry some investors.

FNArena is surveying investor sentiment in Australia in an effort to generate, over time, a similarly leading gauge as the AAII Investor Sentiment Survey in the US.

By Greg PeelFor weeks the global spot uranium market has been dogged by the geographical spread of UF6 on offer in the US and U3O8 sought in Europe leading to very little trading activity.

Another session of positive leads from overnight trades in the U.S. and partly from European markets will bode well for Tuesday's trading in Australia.The markets in the U.S. moved forward with Apple Inc. leading the way with shares selling $600 a piece in reaction to company announcements that cash dividends and a buy-back scheme will be the way to go forward spending its billions in cash coffers.

The Australian dollar managed to find some upside yesterday after Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens expressed confidence in China’s economic growth.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde has said that the global economy is showing signs of stabilisation, but warned that there is no room for policy mistakes at this critical point in recovery.

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

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 6 points while the S&P added 0.4% to 1409 and the Nasdaq starred with a 0.