BUSINESS

- Many small time investors have been burnt in FX trading recently as the Yen changed direction- Despite gigantic marketing efforts from trading platforms, FX trading is not a guaranteed win-win- Investment U's Alexander Green offers some wise advise By Alexander Green , Investment U’s Chief Investment Strategist Monday, March 21, 2011: Issue #1473Pity the average investor…He got burn...

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 67 points or 0.6% while the S&P rose 0.3% to 1297 and the Nasdaq added 0.5%.Wall Street opened lower last night on the release of the US February new home sales, which fell 16.9% from January and 28% from a year ago to 250,000. Economists had expected a slight rise to 290,000.The disparity and the size of the drop led many to question what is always a highly volatile ...

Guest commentary by John Browne, Euro PacificWhile the world's attention has been focused on the physical destruction wrought by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, the desperate attempts to contain the fallout from the shattered Fukushima Daiichi plant, and the daunting problems that Japan faces in rebuilding its infrastructure, few have truly illustrated how long-lasting and widespread the radi...

It's just on a fortnight since the terrible earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis shook confidence in Japan and world markets, and you'd be entitled to think that all is right in the world.Share prices have bounced back, commodity prices have firmed and risk aversion has again been relegated to the backburner.But Japan weakened yesterday after early strength.The Nikkei fell in late trad...

Portugal's government is in danger of collapse as the country's opposition parties oppose another austerity package, a move that could force the country to seek a bailout from the rest of Europe and the International Monetary Fund.According to media reports, the situation in Portugal was due to come to a head last night.The Financial Times reported:"Portuguese opposition parties have ref...

John Holland, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX: LEI) has secured a $150 million subcontract for the construction of marine offloading facilities as part of Gladstone LNG’s proposed Curtis Island LNG facility.

The Federal Government's ban on mortgage exit fees passed into law Wednesday and will apply to all new home loans from 1 July 2011.

National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB) today showed it support to the government’s plan to ban exit fees saying that the removal of mortgage exit fees is good for bank customers and competition and would also benefit those lenders who are offering their customers the fairest value and most competitive interest rates.

The Australian Parliament has approved the Commonwealth Government's Flood and Cyclone Levy Bill, which has earmarked some $5.6 billion in funds for the reconstruction of severely damaged townships.

Fortescue Metals' Andrew "Twiggy'' Forrest has jumped from number two to number one on the BRW executives' list of the richest 200.

Blackthorn Resources Ltd (ASX:BTR) has placed 16 million ordinary shares to its joint venture partner for the Perkoa Zinc Project in Burkina Faso, Glencore International AG.

Upscale retailer David Jones Ltd (ASX: DJS) today reported a record high first half profit after tax (PAT) of $105.7 million for the six months ended 29 January 2011 (1H11). This represents an increase of 5.2 per cent on 1H10 ($100.5 million).

Symex Holdings Ltd (ASX:SYM) says it is planning to extend White King beyond just the bleach category after acquiring the iconic brand late last year.

- Recent threats and events have had a noticeable impact on US consumers appetite for discretionary durable goods- Surveys by the Consumer Metrics Institute show another decline in spending was occurring prior to events in Japan- Is there a parallel between human errors made at Chernobyl and Fed policies post the GFC? News And The Consumer, Reflections On Chernobyl And The EconomyBy Consumer Metri...

Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX:VBA) is expecting its 2011 financial year profit to fall to a net loss of between $30 million to $80 million.

Apple has announced that iPad 2, the second-generation of its third post-PC device, will go on sale in 25 additional countries this Friday, March 25.

- The market is fearful of Shell's desire to sell its Woodside stake- The market is not ascribing value to Woodside's ambitious developments- Woodside is struggling with funding, but Shell needs projects- Perhaps the solution is to swap one for the otherBy Greg PeelGlobal oil and gas giant Royal Dutch Shell has a problem. Once the global leader in liquid natural gas, Shell is finding its position ...

The Australian Dollar has opened firmer this morning, trading north from yesterday’s levels through USD 1.0100 after continued support from investors seeking higher yielding assets.

Boeing and United Continental Holdings, Inc. has entered into an agreement to modify United Airlines' 777 fleet with a Performance Improvement Package with the aim of achieving greater fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

Six companies that own and operate some of the largest networks in the world - Deutsche Telekom, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Verizon, and Yahoo! - has announced the launch of the Open Networking Foundation (ONF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a new approach to networking called Software-Defined Networking (SDN).

Ratings agency RBS has upgraded Westpac Banking Co., shares from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating after equities research analyst noted confidence in the bank. The research note was presented to investors on Monday.

The Australian Dollar was supported yesterday by firmer commodity prices and a return to risk after last week's co-ordinated G7 intervention to curtail the surging Japanese Yen.

The International Monetary Fund has reportedly left its forecasts for the global economy unchanged with growth tipped at 4.4pct in 2011 and 4.5pct in 2012.

By Gavin Wendt, Founding Director & Senior Resource Analyst MineLife Pty LtdThe reactions of financial markets around the world to the horrific events that have taken place in Japan have been reasonable and entirely predictable. Markets that were already nervous from the ongoing political unrest in MENA, ongoing European debt woes, rising oil prices and fears of an outbreak of inflation, have used...

By Greg PeelThe Dow fell 17 points last night or 0.2% while the S&P lost 0.4% to 1293 and the Nasdaq lost 0.3%.After several sessions featuring large moves, first to the downside and then to the up, Wall Street decided to take a break last night. There was news to digest but nothing much to change the current situation. Volume was anaemic.In Japan, power has now been restored to all six reactors a...

Australia's senator Nick Xenophon has filed a motion today seeking a parliamentary inquiry into the proposed takeover-merger of the ASX Ltd. (ASX) by the Asian bourse Singapore Exchange Ltd.

Strategic Airlines, Australia’s newest domestic and international airline, has acquired a Brisbane engineering maintenance facility and new corporate headquarters in Brisbane.

Australia has moved to reassure consumers that food imported from Japan was safe to eat, saying the chance of products being affected by radiation was 'negligible'.

Marex Group Ltd, the international broker of commodity derivatives, financial futures and foreign exchange, which is majority-owned by JRJ Group and its partners, Trilantic Capital Partners and BXR Group, has reached agreement with Imarex ASA to acquire its 100 per cent holding of Spectron Group Ltd for approximately 94.5 million pounds.