BUSINESS

Research has found potential borrowers are saving rather than taking on debt this year, and Australian banks have responded by loosening their lending criteria.

Virgin Australia added another strategic partner on its ongoing quest to put up a global alliance that would allow the company active participation on key aviation markets around the world.

BHP Billiton remains upbeat on its outlook despite recent indications of retreating demands for its commodity offerings, specifically the global miner’s iron ore shipments to its number one customer – China.

A Qantas plane carrying all of the Northern Territory's Central Australian politicians Friday morning had to turn back as part of safety precautions. After experiencing a technical problem, Qantas flight number 1935 with 115 passengers on board, turned around for an emergency landing in Darwin.

The Western Australian government has approved on Thursday the 570-km railway corridor infrastructure project that would enable Mid-West iron-ore projects gain access to the $5.9 billion proposed deepwater port at Oakajee.

Amid global calls for review of excessive executive compensation while the rest of the company employees continue to tighten their belts due to wage hike freezes, an Australian retailer reduced the pay of its top boss.

One option that businesses, particularly small enterprises that could not afford to experiment by moving everything to a cloud computing service provider and then shift to another solution is to give the service first a trial.

AMP Capital Investors' Chief Economist, Dr Shane Oliver gives us his assessment of China's health after the release of economic data for September and the September quarter over the past week.

Something is stirring in US-China relations, and it's not nice, and it could damage the global economy.

The death of Libyan strongman Muammar Qaddafi on Thursday gave little bearing to oil markets.Oil prices dipped at around noon London time on news of Qaddafi's capture and injuries, before advancing later.

Unless the eurozone gets its act together and contain at the soonest time possible its growing fiscal crisis, prices of commodities such as copper and iron ore will see little stability in the coming weeks or even months.

Qantas tickets have become more expensive because of the ongoing labor problem with unions. Travelers from Melbourne to Sydney now have to pay $150 more for a one-way ticket, News.com.au reports.

By Peter SwitzerThree of my favourite market experts are tentatively positive on shares, but they all admit that there is a capacity for officialdom to really stuff up our investments.

Bayfield Ventures Corp. on Thursday announced drilling additional significant gold and silver intercepts on its 100% owned Burns Block property in the Rainy River District of north-western Ontario.

The "safe haven" commodity gold dropped two percent Thursday as apprehensions continue to hound investors wary over the Eurozone's ability to contain its debt crisis.

Leighton Asia in joint venture with Gammon has secured a A$1.2 billion contract from the MTR Corporation to construct the West Kowloon Terminus Station North, part of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL).

Fixed interest rates have continued their downward slide in October, with 36 lenders moving rates downward this month, according to new research from Australia's financial comparison site RateCity.

As mortgage lenders continue slashing fixed home loan rates, Australia's financial comparison site RateCity warns availing even discounted rates can actually cost more for households in the long run.

A Virgin Australia pilot inspecting a parked plane at the Brisbane airport was blown over a staircase by the engine blast from another plane positioning for takeoff on Thursday.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The AUD has opened around USD1.0230 this morning, despite weaker base metals which were heavily sold overnight.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 37 points or 0.3% while the S&P gained 0.4% to 1215 and the Nasdaq fell 0.

Google released its updated Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS this week and what an update it is. Android 4.0 is bigger and better than its previous version and could rival the iPhone's iOS 5 in terms of new innovative functions. With such futuristic features like unlocking your phone just by looking at it, the Android 4.0 OS is a giant leap forward for Android phones.

Wesfarmers Ltd on Thursday announced its retail sales growth rose 6.5 percent for the first quarter of the 2012 financial year.

The Australian Bankers’ Association (ABA) on Thursday reiterated it is important that Australian banks are profitable, because they provide economic security at a time when global conditions are unstable.

Australia is in a fortunate economic position and this has enabled Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, NAB and ANZ to deliver dividends, but bankers on Thursday explained that not all dividends go to shareholders.

With Apple and Android going full steam ahead with their new flagship smartphones, Microsoft is hoping its new Nokia Windows Phones would turn the smartphone market to Microsoft and Nokia's favor.

Local stocks ended in the red for a second session this week, after rising on Monday and Wednesday. The rollercoaster ride continues as investors await the weekend European Union summit with hopes leaders will come up with a viable solution to the region's debt crisis.

Shares of Australia's largest gold miner Newcrest Mining fell after the company reported its September quarter gold production slid from the previous quarter.

Samsung may supply the A6 chip for Apple’s iPhone 5 despite multiple court battles.