BUSINESS

James Murdoch declined a bonus amounting to almost $US6 million ($5.63 million) because of the phone hacking scandal at the defunct UK newspaper News of the World. He was supposed to get a payout of $US17.9 million, inclusive of the $US6 million bonus and $US8.3 million in stock awards. James' bonus was set to increase his compensation package by 74 per cent. Without the bonus, his remuneration will rise 16 per cent to $US11.9 million.

- Paladin result falls short of expectations- Net debt increasing, cash on hand also fell- Corporate appeal a positive- Opinions on Paladin remain dividedBy Chris ShawUranium producer Paladin has disappointed the market with full year earnings, reporting a larger than expected loss for FY11 of US$82...

QR National has signed an agreement with eight coal companies for the construction of the $900 million Wiggins Island Rail Project to a new export terminal at Gladstone, South Australia

Australia's employers have opted to advertise online rather than on newspapers, according to the latest survey conducted by ANZ Bank, which showed a a monthly and annual decline indicative of a persistent sluggish economic growth.

Analysts forecast on Monday that the Reserve Bank of Australia will not increase interest rates for the rest of 2011. They based their prediction on reports that inflation rate dropped 0.1 per cent in August.

The roller-coaster movement of share market values over the past 10 years were generally unpredictable for investors but such is not the case for most of Australia’s chief executives, who according to a new report were largely shielded by solid pays and bonuses notwithstanding the overall economic condition.

Mortgage sales experienced a surge to their highest volume in over eighteen months according to AFG's latest figures.

Independent brokers may bristle at the idea of coming under the umbrella of a brand, an MPA Top 100 Broker has claimed.

Passengers of Jetstar who flew with a dead Kiwi male on board the trip from Singapore to Auckland were offered by the air carrier $100 as compensation. The offer was in the form of travel vouchers.

Economist Steve Keen has predicted that a housing market price 'swan dive' is about six months away.

Police officers confirmed on Friday that they had helped Apple search for a "lost item" in a San Francisco residence but did not find anything.

While August was a rough month for stockmarkets, investors and governments in Europe, Japan and the US, the coming week is shaping up as a nasty replay and reminder of that instability with Australia, Europe and the US are each facing a major test of sentiment.

A flood of important data, meetings, decisions and announcements this week, mostly political and economic in Australia, China, the US and Europe.

Brokers should focus on what they are really good at when it comes to creating an ideal diversification mix for their business, according to Macquarie Bank.

By Michael PettisMarkets have been crazy this month, but rather than try to wade through all the news, much of which doesn't seem to have much informational content, I thought I would duck out altogether and instead make a list of things I expect will happen over the next several years.

By Kathleen Brooks, Research Director UK EMEA, FOREX.comI think the markets have made up their mind: QE3 isn't going to be as fun as QE2.

A welcome lift in new orders and sales took the services sector into positive territory in August according to the latest Australian Industry Group/Commonwealth Bank Australian Performance of Services Index (Australian PSI®). The seasonally adjusted index rose 3.3 points to 52.1 in the month (readings above 50 indicate an expansion in activity).

US non-farm payrolls (employment) were unchanged in August, well below forecasts for a 70,000 lift in jobs. Private payrolls rose by 17,000 and hourly earnings fell by 0.1pct. But the household survey showed a 331,000 lift in jobs and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.1pct.

Investors dumped stocks and sent Treasury yields to record lows Friday as a dismal jobs report renewed fears of a recession.

According to various sources, online retailer Amazon.com is selling its own tablet brand -- a 7-inch tablet at first -- that would have an entry-level price of $250. Sure it's more expensive than the $99 HP TouchPad, but the TouchPad sale is only temporary as it HP is only getting rid of remaining inventory.

By Rudi Filapek-Vandyck, Editor FNArenaI joined Twitter. Not because I am curious what this celebrity has to say about her kids, or to read that another one is waiting for a connecting flight, impatiently.

Still H-P CEO Leo Apotheker's decisions, which some say border on the impulsive and the decisive, are raising more questions than answers.

Three of the most innovative apps for mobile phones are now available in the market.

At this year's IFA, the world's largest consumer electronics and home appliances show, Samsung CEO Choi Gee Sung said Samsung would never acquire webOS. Korea-based Samsung already has the Bada mobile OS, which is popular in China and other parts of Asia, and it's relying on Google's assurances that it remains committed to Android partners. Motorola also has a deep portfolio of patents that can be used for Google's counterstrike against Apple and others.

Half of the wealthiest people in Asia will be from China by 2015, shows the latest Julius Baer Group and CLSA Asia Pacific Markets study published on Aug. 31.

Metcash expects to conclude its acquisition of Franklins by end of September 2011.

Hitachi, Sony, Toshiba merge their LCD businesses and with200 billion yem funding from Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) aims to develop next generation technologies

IFA, the world's largest consumer electronics and home appliances show, could be host to a device that would topple Apple's iPad.

Glencore announces plans to acquire Optimum Coal as the company is bullish of coal demand in the international market