BUSINESS

The growing hype and frenzy towards Apple's iPad 3 have speculated countless number of arguments regarding Apple's dominance in the market against the declining popularity of traditional PCs and laptops.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) will be hosting a media event in San Francisco, California, on Wednesday, March 7, starting 10 a.m. Pacific time, to unveil the iPad 3 or iPad HD.

Australia's construction activity further weakened in February, notwithstanding the rate cuts introduced late last year by the country's central bank, which failed to boost housing and commercial building projects in the past few months.

Australia and Asia's richest woman, Gina Rinehart, reportedly asked for a seat on the board of Fairfax Media when she met with the company's chairman, Roger Corbett, and chief executive, Greg Hywood, on Tuesday.

The 2011 natural disasters, such as the twin earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan, was by far the costliest, with the United Nations disaster risk reduction agency UNISDR estimating the economic cost to be at least $380 billion.

While opening some business opportunities in India, mining giant Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) is also closing some doors. The company announced on Wednesday that it would shutter its Lynemouth aluminium smelter in Northumberland in England by the end of March.

Investor sentiment remains subdued again today, following falls in offshore markets and weaker than expected local economic growth figures. At lunchtime in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 36.6pts or 0.9pct to 1258.9.

Coca-Cola Amatil Limited (CCA) has announced a decision not to acquire the Foster’s Australian spirit and spirit ready-to-drink (RTD) business.

A confident outlook forecast for the Australian rural sector yesterday has already been overtaken by the surprise ban by India on all exports of cotton, a move that has already started sending prices higher.

No worries about the 'dangers' from a 'slowing' Chinese economy yesterday in one high profile deal yesterday involving a major Chinese investment in Australia: the Gloucester Coal merger with China's state-owned Yancoal Australia.

The looming news about the “big event” about Apple’s iPad 3 on March 7 got everyone excited about this new device. On other hand, other people were also busy comparing Apple's iPad 3 to other worthy tablets such as the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity 700.

A replay of February in the Reserve Bank interest rate decision yesterday with no change as the cash rate was left at 4.25% and the reasoning much the same.

By Greg PeelThe Dow fell 203 points or 1.6% while the S&P lost 1.5% to 1343 and the Nasdaq dropped 1.4%.

Yahoo's woes continue to pile up and the latest difficulty is poised to hit the company's employees as reports emerged that newly-appointed chief executive Scott Thompson plans to axe thousands of workers soon.

The China Banking Regulatory Commission gave a Retail Renminbi licence to the ANZ Bank, which is the first Australian bank to receive the licence.

Australia's business environment has so far sustained its growth pace, expectedly on the back of the ongoing mining boom, but national data also indicated that regions and business sectors were hardly benefitting from the resources boost.

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will make the largest investment by an Australian company in India through a $2 billion investment at the Orissa iron ore project in India. The project will supply iron ore to India and overseas with the steel making material.

The Australian share market has started the trading day in the red, following weak offshore leads and after China downgraded its 2012 growth forecasts. China has cut its target for economic growth in 2012 from 8pct to 7.5pct, a move which wasn't overly surprising but has given investors a reason to sell. At lunchtime in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 29.9pts or 0.7pct to 4324.3.

South Africa's property market has slowed, with house prices declining modestly in 2011. South Africa's house prices rose 2.3% in nominal terms, which translates into a decline of 2.6% in real terms, a disappointment following 2.7% house price rises in real terms in 2010.

Makower, one of the most respected voices in green business, talks about greener corporations, what the government could be doing to foster more environmentally friendly businesses, and why he's optimistic about the future.

The Financial Services Union (FSU) claimed on Tuesday that Westpac Bank will axe 119 technology jobs and send them overseas as the lender cuts cost. The union said the bulk of the jobs to be lost would come from the Sydney Central Business District and Kogarah units and smaller numbers from Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.

Forget the political bluster on gas pump pain. Prices go up for complicated factors that don't fit neatly on a bumper sticker. And presidents can't wave their magic wands and bring back $2.50 a gallon.

Daily update on share prices and consensus price targets.By Rudi Filapek-VandyckCochlear ((COH)) has remained on many an investors' radar since the company had to announce a recall of its top product, with the main question being asked whether the subsequent drop in share price has created a bu...

Siri, Apple’s popular virtual assistant feature is set to meet its match as Android-developer Google is reportedly developing a new feature which would rival Siri.

China-based company ZTE recently released two new Windows Phones. These are ZTE Orbit and ZTE Tania. These Windows Phones were set to target people who are looking for inexpensive Windows Phones in the market.

China aims to grow its economy by 7.5% in the coming year, the last where the current leadership of the country will be in control before being replaced by a new team later in the year.

The pick up in the Australian jobs market seems to be accelerating, judging by the latest ANZ job ads survey for February.

While retailing shrinks, car sales remain very buoyant, even after taking into account the extra day in February.

China has cut its target for economic growth in 2012 from 8.0pct to 7.5pct.