BUSINESS

Three years before it has yet to really produce coal, the northern Galilee basin is already fully booked to Indian and Chinese coal mining companies.

In a bid to get a larger cut of the shrinking Australian consumer market, online department store CatchoftheDay rolled out on Wednesday it third e-commerce portal named Grocery Run. By its foray into grocery, the online seller challenges traditional supermarkets.

- Premier Investments result met expectations- Guidance maintained for FY12- Weakening retail environment sees cuts to earnings forecasts- Two broker ratings downgraded post resultBy Chris ShawRetail group Premier Investments ((PMV)) reported an adjusted net profit after tax of $51.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts a not-so-rosy prospect for the global economy by the end of the current year, a trend that the lending institution said would only be sustained until the closing months of 2012.

The RBA has indicated that a 'clouded' international outlook had contributed strongly to a decision to keep the cash rate on hold.

Standard & Poor's surprise downgrading of Italy's credit rating yesterday has confirmed why the Reserve Bank is watching foreign events more closely than at any time since the GFC.

Brokers should be careful before branding themselves as advisers, and ensure the term accurately reflects their business model, ASIC has stated.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 7 points while the S&P lost 0.2% to 1202 and the Nasdaq fell 0.9%.I'm not going to labour the point.

The two giant technology giants, Google and Facebook, upped their ante this week as they battle for supremacy in the cyberworld.

The International Monetary Fund has cut its forecast for global economic growth. The IMF expects growth of 4.0 percent this year, down from its previous forecast of 4.3pct. The Australian economy is tipped to grow 1.8pct this year and 3.3pct in 2012.

Fears about Greece's debt crisis battered U.S. stocks again Tuesday, with a market rally all but evaporating in the session's final hour following reports that the heavily indebted country's negotiations with international inspectors may drag on and could still fall apart

Global financial overseer IMF warned Tuesday that the European Union and the United States face recession if the sovereign debt crisis is not resolved even as it predicted lower economic growth for the two countries.

Often referred to as China's Caterpillar, Sany Heavy, the largest construction machinery manufacturing company of China, is all set to launch its expansion phase despite volatile market trends, by planning an IPO in the Hong Kong stock market later this month. Sany Heavy reportedly aims to raise around $3.3 billion from this offering.

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. This idiomatic expression seems to be the labor policy of Amazon.com at its warehouse in Lehigh, Penn., if what workers there say is to be believed.

Google Inc. opened its Google+ social network to the world on Tuesday, removing the required invitation to join the search giant's rival to Facebook. Click google.com/+ to join in.

It seems like smartphones running on Google's Android platform are slowly, but surely winning the race, while crowd favorite Apple Inc.'s iPhone 5 is still sleeping in some overseas production plants. Android phones now have bigger screens, an improved interface, more powerful processors, and now, virtual wallets?

Leighton subsidiary Thiess has secured a major $100 million contract with Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG) for Phase One development works on the Solomon Hub iron ore mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

First home buyers are poised to make a strong return to the property market as they move quickly to beat the loss of stamp duty concessions at the end of the year.

Lime Door Brands, the Australian company that manages Shane Warne's underwear brand has entered into voluntary liquidation.The company which is also behind the lingerie and dress line by burlesque star Dita Von Teese held a creditors' meeting yesterday but hasn't released a statement about the future of the company.

Aussie PlayStation gamers have escaped Sony's controversial 'agree or boot out' strategy that U.S. and Canadian gamers have to follow.The new clause will allow Sony to ban gamers from the PlayStation Network unless they agree to forfeit the right to pursue legal action should the PSN have future security breaches. Users will need to agree to the new clause after they log in or they won't be able to use their online accounts.

Amid uncertainty about the economic outlook for some major OECD countries, Australia forecasts agricultural export earnings to rise in 2011-12.

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and Austrade have launched two new publications designed to promote Australian green building capability to overseas governments, private sector developers, architects, engineers, specifiers and distributors of green building products.

UK-based Rio Tinto announced it recently increased its copper mineral resources to 106 million tonnes at its wholly-owned Kennecott Utah Copper Bingham Canyon Mine.

China is becoming concerned that Europe's continuing financial meltdown will harm its exports, as the U.S. plans to launch a trade enforcement action against the world's No. 2 economy.

After a series of recalls due to faulty parts on existing models and reduced production output following the devastating March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, hopes are high for Toyota Motor Corp. it will be able to swing back to profits from its U.S. sales beginning in October.

Apple’s new app helped find lost iPhone.

The quality that consumers perceive is being provided by mortgage brokers, in comparison with banks and credit unions, will improve following the introduction of the NCCP, according to the MFAA.

iPhone 5 release may be behind the schedule as the tear-shaped design cause manufacturing issues.

Windows 8 development tablets are selling like hotcakes on eBay, going for as much as $2,700 apiece, even though they were designed for testing purposes only. The tablets are not supposed to go on the market until 2012.