BUSINESS

The Westpac Group (ASX: WBC) today announced a solid result for the half year to 31 March 2011, with cash earnings per share of 105.6 cents increasing 6 per cent compared to the six months to 31 March 2010.

- ERA proposes increased capex to deal with water issues- Valuations and earnings estimates adjusted lower- Broker opinions and targets remain dividedBy Chris ShawWith production being impacted by abnormally heavy rain in recent years, uranium producer Energy Resources of Australia ((ERA)) is lookin...

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed unchanged but the S&P fell 0.3% and the Nasdaq dropped 0.7%.India surprised markets yesterday by raising its cash rate.

Australia''s currency declined very slightly yesterday for the first time in five days as there was a general move back into the US based currency.

The Australian share market closed in negative territory on broad-based losses as the impact of the strong local currency on forthcoming corporate earnings results weighed on investors.

The Reserve Bank of India has lifted rates by more than expected, hiking policy rates by 50 basis points. The repo rate rises to 7.25pct with the reverse repo up to 6.25pct.

Keeping a firm hand on the tiller by keeping the cash rate stable is the only way retail will realise a recovery in 2011, the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) said today.

Australia''s currency declined very slightly yesterday for the first time in five days as there was a general move back into the US based currency.

U.S. stocks kicked off May with slim losses, as the energy sector followed the price of oil lower and investors couldn't sustain a morning rally that followed the death of Osama bin Laden.

The US ISM manufacturing index eased from 61.2 to 60.4 in April but ahead of economist forecasts centred on a result near 60.

Malaysian property development firm Paramount Corp. Bhd. has reported its acquisition of nine parcels of land in Klang, Selangor state, for RM110 million (US$37 million).

Australia’s Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) and the Asian Development Bank enter into a finance risk-sharing agreement.

Two people were killed while 20 others were injured after a tornado smashed Auckland, New Zealand. According to police reports, the twister destroyed the roof of Albany Megacentre shopping mall in North Shore City around three o’clock in the afternoon.

Australian publishing giant Fairfax Media on Tuesday reduced its earnings outlook as it announced it would outsource the sub-editing for its largest mastheads. The announcement was met negatively by investors which saw Fairfax's shares plunge in mid trade.

Sony has admitted and confirmed that some of the credit and debit card data on its PlayStation Network for videogame players were stolen. Therefore, customers must take action in checking their accounts with their banks.

Retail prices of building materials in the Philippines’ Metro Manila area surged by a two-year high of 4.9 percent in March compared to year-before levels, newly released government statistics show.

FNArena has added another video to its Investors Education section on the website. In this broadcast, ATW founder/market trader shows why it is possible the price of gold is peaking in the first week of May.

By Greg PeelThe RBA today left its cash rate on hold at 4.75% following its monthly monetary policy meeting.

Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry reported on Tuesday a decline in average monthly wage rates in March while the Nikkei Business Index took its steepest decline ever in the same month.

- Asciano delivers expected weak March quarter results- Revised full year earnings guidance means minor changes to earnings estimates- Value on offer but some earnings headwinds remainBy Chris ShawPorts and rail group Asciano ((AIO)) yesterday reported March quarter results the market viewed as soft...

Confidence levels have returned to small to medium-sized enterprises after the destabilising floods in December and January, according to National Australia Bank’s (ASX: NAB) SME Quarterly Survey for the March quarter.

Dow Jones Indexes, a leading global index provider, has announced The Global Dow, which measures the stock performance of 150 of the world's leading companies, will become the underlying index for State Street Global Advisors' SPDR Global Dow ETF, effective May 2, 2011.

Large hedge funds with over $10 billion in assets under management (AUM) typically purchase $40 million or more in professional liability insurance coverage, nearly 200% more than medium funds between $1 billion and $3 billion in AUM according to a benchmark study by SKCG Group, the risk management and insurance advisor to some of the world's largest hedge funds.

Todd Leih has joined 400 Capital Management as a partner and senior member of the portfolio management team. Todd joined the Firm from Jane Street where he was a senior portfolio manager for distressed fixed income structured finance strategies. Prior to Jane Street, Todd was a senior trading and risk manager at Banc of America Securities focusing on non‐agency mortgage credit and derivative strategies.

Brisbane and Perth have both seen price falls of more than 3% over the last year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

NAB has extended its offer to pay the $700 mortgage early exit fee charged by CBA and Westpac for customers who choose to switch to NAB.

Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan said next week's federal budget is forecasting an additional 500,000 jobs, with the aim of reducing the nation's unemployment rate to 4.5%.

CEO of Employer Brand International Brett Minchington said that social media, like job boards, newspapers and employee referrals, need to be part of an integrated recruitment strategy and measured for business impact.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down 3 points while the S&P lost 0.2% to 1361 and the Nasdaq fell 0.3%.Ding dong, the witch is dead.