BUSINESS

Rio Tinto Lets Go of $8B Aluminum Group

Following a strategic review, Rio Tinto said 13 assets will be divested at an appropriate point in the future, and some of these will be managed separately in the meantime.

Bus Drivers Agree to Lift Ban, State Transit Says Buses are ‘Safe’

The bus drivers union agreed on Tuesday night to an Industrial Relations Commission order to lift a ban on gas-powered buses in Sydney. The explosion of a gas-powered bus prompted public bus drivers to raise their protest by refusing to get on the road, resulting in huge inconvenience among Sydney passengers at peak hour Tuesday.
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iPhone 4s: Top Five Customer Complaints

Apple's new iPhone 4s has reportedly sold over 4 million units three days after its launch but that record-breaking figure doesn't mean that everyone is enjoying Apple's latest smartphone. Although early reviews have been positive there have been several notable problems with the iPhone 4s. Here's a brief rundown on the top five iPhone 4s issues.

Carbon Dioxide Capture System Receives Funding Boost

Ground breaking new technology for the capture of carbon dioxide from power stations will be tested by Process Group at Hazelwood Power Station following a grant from Brown Coal Innovation Australia (BCIA).

Data Centre Development to Deliver 250 Jobs to Western Sydney

Global provider of data centre solutions Digital Realty Trust announced today that the two data center developments it is building in Western Sydney are expected to have a positive economic impact on the region, estimated at almost a quarter billion dollars.

Australian Wheat Reserves May Surpass Record

Australia's wheat inventories may surge to between 8 million and 10 million metric tonnes by Sept. 30 from as much as 7.3 million tonnes a year ago as coal-mining companies' fight for rail capacity led to transport bottlenecks in the eastern states.

Telstra Shareholders Pass $11B NBN Deal

Shareholders of Telstra have agreed and voted in favor of the $11 billion deal with the Australian government, allowing Telstra's fixed-line dominance be used by the NBN Company.

Australian Stock Market Report - MIDDAY - 10/18/2011

MIDDAY REPORT (12pm AEDT)The Australian sharemarket is down 1.6 pct or 71.5 pts to 4266.4, effectively wiping out all of yesterday's impressive gains. Markets tumbled overnight due to concerns that the European debt solution might fall short of expectations.

Fortescue Awaiting The Re-Rating

- Fortescue quarterly production report well received- Management confident in maintaining annual production rate of 55Mtpa- Brokers continue to see value at current levels- Buy ratings retainedBy Chris ShawThe September quarter production report from Fortescue Metals ((FMG)) has been well received ...

Minutes Turn Into Days

By Greg Peel"Conditions in global financial markets had continued to be very unsettled, with uncertainty increasing about both the prospects for resolution of the sovereign debt and banking problems in Europe and the outlook for global economic growth.

Google Buzz Goes Bust

Google Inc. has announced it will close down social networking site Google Buzz in the next few weeks to concentrate on building up its successor Google+.

Iron Ore Prices Could Go $140 Per Tonne

Analysts and mines experts had predicted prices of iron ore, Australia's most lucrative export commodity, could fall as low as $140 per tonne in the coming months.

Material Matters: Commodities Oversold, But Headwinds Remain

- ANZ suggests commodities are oversold- Barclays revises its sector order of preference- Issues in oil and steel markets- Price stability needed for palladium's fundamentals to dominateBy Chris ShawHaving reviewed September quarter performance and market conditions ANZ Banking Group's Oct...

All Quiet On The Uranium Front

By Greg PeelThis weekly report noted last week the US Energy Commission had for sale an inventory of UF6 which it is offering below current spot pricing.

More Australians Prone to Poverty: Report

The high cost of living is putting more low-income Aussies at risk of falling into poverty, a report says. Poorer households are compelled to spend more of their income on essential goods and services due to price hikes on these non-discretionary items, such as food and electricity, a report by St Vincent de Paul Society says. As a result, households' health and education expenses are delayed, if attended at all.

Russia's Housing Market still Depressed

The Russian housing market hasn't recovered - despite appearances. Resale apartment prices rose 3.79% during the year to end-Q2 2011, according to the Federal State Statistics Service, but the kicker was inflation - resale apartment prices actually fell 5.25% when the price figures are adjusted for inflation.

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