The person behind the viral spread in Facebook for an overblown birthday party invite for a young girl residing in New South Wales has been identified by the state police.
The rising smartphone sales in Australia is expected to further accelerate this year and among the competing brands, Apple, according to experts, currently holds the edge due to its iPhone’s wide range of apps offerings.
Finally, Internet Explorer 9 shed its beta-status as Microsoft Corporation announced on Tuesday the formal launch of the web browser during the South by Southwest Interactive technology festival held in Texas, USA.
The Al Habtoor Leighton Group (HLG), in joint venture with Murray and Roberts, has been awarded an AED2.2 billion (US$600 million) contract for the construction of Al Mafraq Hospital for SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company.
Murchison Metals Ltd (ASX: MMX) has secured the approval of the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia (EPA) for the proposed Oakajee Port & Rail (OPR) terrestrial iron ore port development and associated rail infrastructure in the State’s mid-west region.
Woodchipper Gunns (ASX: GNS) says it is continuing to assess the effects of the Japanese earthquake on the business outlook.
By Greg PeelIs the world about to end? Fans of the Book of Revelation may be somewhat inclined to believe so, but seismologists recently interviewed by the media have played down the implications of the seemingly endless stream of seismological events the world has suffered over the past couple of years, noting that such activity usually occurs in clusters. Eventually the earth will settle down ag...
Australia had A$1.79 trillion (US$1.82 trillion) in funds under management (FUM) in the December quarter 2010, according to Austrade.
The financial services capability of Australia, particularly the rapidly growing funds management sector, was showcased in Toronto and Montreal during an Austrade-led mission from 28 February – 2 March.
Australian uranium exporters spearheaded a fall in Australian's stock market Monday after a devastating earthquake and tsunami last week hit Japan, Australia's second biggest trading partner behind China. Insurers and agricultural companies also fell, while steelmakers, oil refiners and clean energy producers were among a handful of gainers. The S&P/ASX 200 was down 1.2% at 4588.3 points around 0220 GMT after earlier hitting low of 4564.1.
Mortgage Choice CEO Mr. Russell has welcomed the Productivity Commission report findings ratify an earlier government department report identifying the true cause of deteriorating housing affordability. Mortgage Choice is Australia's largest independently-owned mortgage broker.
By Greg PeelRegular readers of this weekly report will appreciate that it summarises activity in the spot uranium market from the week before as noted by industry consultant TradeTech, and notes the indicative price for the week set by TradeTech. While this week's report will briefly summarise last week's activity, let us be clear all reported transactions occurred in blissful ignorance of what wa...
The Australian Dollar weakened against the US Dollar as Japan's biggest earthquake dampened demand for higher yielding assets.
U.S. stocks fell to six-week lows Monday as investors worried about the financialfallout from Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami.
- Asian stocks have been undervalued on US economic strength vis a vis Asian tightening- The potential is there for a strong June quarter- QE2 uncertainty nevertheless throws up risks- Australia is a foreign proxy for Asia By Greg PeelAsian equities have been a popular destination for foreign investment flows post-GFC given the disparity between soaring emerging market GDP growth compared to strug...
The OECD leading economic indicator rose from 102.8 to 103.1 in January with gauges for most industrialised economies strengthening in the month except China, India and Brazil.
By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down 51 points or 0.4% while the S&P lost 0.6% to 1296 and the Nasdaq fell 0.5%.Please note the US went on to summer time over the weekend. For the next three weeks the NYSE will close at 7am Sydney time before Australia reverts to standard time on April 3 after which the NYSE will close at 6am Sydney time.In the light of the tragedy in Japan, one feels rather uncomforta...
QBE Insurance Group says its preliminary estimate of net claims from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan is about $US125 million.Australia's biggest insurance company says the total net cost from all large individual and catastrophe claims to date in 2011 will now be about $US550 million.This doesn't take into account future disasters (if they occur) over the rest of 2011.That compares w...
As expected Japanese shares were hammered yesterday in the wake of Friday's quake and tsunami, and the explosions at nuclear reactors at Fukushima on Sunday and yesterday.Shares fell more than 6%, to be down almost 8% since the quake happened after the 1.7% fall late last Friday afternoon after the quake happened.The Nikkei ended down 6.2% at 9620.49.Tokyo Electric Power shares plunged 24% ye...
As markets grapple with the impact of the Japanese quake and tsunami, the unrest in the Middle East, the euro debt crisis and worries about the strength of the US recovery, a bonus may be about to be delivered by the US Federal Reserve.Some time in the next few days, possibly within the next 24 hours, America's 19 biggest banks will learn the results of the latest stress tests conducted by re...
Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd (ASX:CBA) has achieved excellent progress in a core banking modernisation program that it has been pursuing since April 2008, the bank said today.
Citigroup has appointed Vibha Coburn as Head of Mortgages for Citibank Australia. Ms Coburn was most recently a business director in Secured Finance Solutions at Citibank Singapore.
Renewed safety concerns regarding nuclear generation resulting from the massive Japanese earthquake may benefit the development of new liquefied natural gas projects (LNG) in Australia, according to an international ratings agency.
Nokia Australia has unveiled the new E7 Symbian smartphone, with the phone maker expecting to lure mostly business professionals in snatching a unit that mostly boasts of a wide 10cm touchscreen that slides sideways and tilts for better viewing pleasure.
Mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd. (ASX: BHP) has announced dividends to be distributed to shareholders amounting to 45.935919 Australian cents.
Virgin Blue Group of Airlines says it would increase fares and international fuel surcharges in response to further rises in global fuel prices.
- Short term economic contraction should give way to medium term economic growth in Japan- The Kobe quake in 1995 provides lessons- Demand for crude, LNG and coal should increase to offset lost nuclear power- The longer term impact on nuclear energy as a whole is of concernBy Greg PeelAs the impact of the Japanese earthquake and subsequent tsunami became apparent, the response from global financia...
Hunting for bargains, discounts, and or major freebies on the Internet, opens a lot of doors to Australian consumers looking forward to discounts and even freebies in their favourite restaurants and supermarket chains all over the country.
(This story was originally published on Wednesday, 8th March 2011. It has now been re-published to make it available to non-paying members at FNArena and to readers elsewhere).- The world will have to get used to higher priced oil- There will be no QE3, unless the US experiences another shock- Europe remains a troubled, high risk proposition- Forecasts for equity returns this year likely too bulli...
- Magnitude, speed and duration of higher oil prices matter- Growth impact of recent oil price gains expected to be mild- Morgan Stanley forecasting US growth of 4.0% in 2011By Chris ShawWith oil prices surging recently, Morgan Stanley notes investors are again questioning just how sustainable is the US economic expansion. The concerns appear justified, as Morgan Stanley suggests a rough rule of t...
