BUSINESS

If its niche crowd, the managers and professionals, ate a BlackBerry Bold or Torch for lunch and have the BlackBerry PlayBook for dinner, Research In Motion Ltd. would have given free beers to everyone. But the problem is that there are fewer business users are ordering BlackBerries, and the existing users are picking an iPad or an Android tablet.

Ditching the Android and have its own platform in webOS could make sense for Amazon. The retailer has an unmatched portfolio of goods and services -- including songs, movies, books, apps, etc. -- that it could integrate to its own platform for mobile devices.

Confidence in Australia’s accommodation industry has risen after ABS statistics for the June quarter of 2011 showed "pleasantly surprising" results.

Fast-developing and emerging market leaders China and India will push the global demand for raw steel-making ingredients by as much as 68 percent between 2010 and 2025, according to mining giant BHP Billiton on Friday.

Google has responded to Microsoft and Samsung's agreed to a cross-licensing deal by accusing Microsoft of extortion.

Chinese grain harvest posted its eighth consecutive increase this year but it will still failed to stabilize domestic prices as supplies continue to struggle to meet growing demand.

AFTERNOON REPORT (4.30pm AEST)The Australian share market ended what has been another volatile week on a flat note, despite attempting a rally in early trade. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) added 2.2pts or 0.1pct to 4070.1 while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (XJO) firmed by 0.3pts to 4008.6.

Commonwealth Bank will not be increasing fees for its existing merchant customers amid industry changes to interchange fees beginning Saturday.

China's manufacturing sector continued to contract for the third straight month in September due to weaker global consumer demand, showing proof that even the world's second-largest economy is not immune to the financial crisis.

Japanese alcohol and soft drinks manufacturer, Asahi, has completed the acquisition of the Independent Liquor Group, which includes Independent Liquor in New Zealand and Independent Distillers in Australia for NZ$1,534million (approximately 98 billion Yen).

Australia's biggest grocery wholesaler Metcash today completed the transaction to acquire the Franklins chain of supermarkets from Pick n Pay Retailers.

MIDDAY REPORT (12pm AEST)It has been a volatile session of trade so far today, with the Australian sharemarket losing ground after posting gains for the first two hours of trade. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is down 0.4 pct or 17.4 pts to 4050.5. Almost all sectors are lower with weakness from the financials and miners holding the market back.

Representing one of the most agriculturally bio-diverse nations in the world, India has become a primary target for biotechnology companies like Monsanto and Cargill to spread their genetically-modified (GM) crops into new markets.

Germany voted to support the European Stability Fund overnight, a welcome decision.

The 2011 Telstra Business Women's Awards have kicked off around the country, and three HR leaders are in the running to receive the prestigious title in front of business heavyweights.

Buried in last Friday's Stability Review from the Reserve Bank was yet another warning to banks and their investors not to be too optimistic about the outlook.

The volatile share market has seen self-managed superfunds dumping shares for quality commercial and industrial space in Melbourne’s city fringe following an outpour of deals in the past week.

Former Apple Chief Patent Counsel Richard Lutton told the Sydney Federal Court on Thursday that ex-Apple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs personally contacted Samsung in 2010 to fix their patent row.

- Supply side issues persist in copper- Oil prices expected to range trade- Updates on Australian developers and contractorsBy Chris ShawThe current focus in the copper market is on downside demand risks in China, the US and Europe but Macquarie suggests it is important to remember ongoing poor supp...

Minmetals Resources Ltd. of China is poised to buy Anvil Mining of Congo for $1.31 billion to secure copper mine production output in Africa amid the recent fall of the commodity's prices in the world market.

The U.S. Federal regulators announced on Wednesday International sports shoe line Reebok International limited will pay a total of $25 million refunds to its customers for false health claims over its EasyTone line sneakers.

Australian newspapers named on Friday the man caught on film having sex on Wednesday with his female partner on the balcony of a Darwin hotel. He is Wade John, former owner of the bankrupt Top End Escapes, a tour operator.

A superannuation umbrella group demanded on Thursday the sweeping ouster of the incumbent News Corp board led by Rupert Murdoch and his sons, charging that all six directors, were guilty of gross oversight in relation to the UK phone hacking scandal that made headlines in July.

American investment analyst James Dines criticised Australia's natural resources policy, particularly selling large land areas to China.

South Australian mortgage manager Loan Avenue is offering brokers the chance to win a drive of four Ferraris, promising that they will be able to 'return home and gloat'.

There has been no significant change to the ability of brokers to write genuine low-docs under NCCP, which has only stamped out more dubious forms of lending, according to Select Finance director Bruce Gibbons.

Homeloans has launched a new product it says will help brokers cater to a variety of credit profiles.

The taxes on a median new home in Sydney are more than $260,000, the HIA has claimed.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 143 points or 1.3% while the S&P finished up 0.8% to 1160 and the Nasdaq closed down 0.