BUSINESS

Newly promoted business executives in Singapore often "derail" because they lack the capabilities needed for their new positions, according to Mr. Sattar Bawany, an authority on leadership transition.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is extending a $300 million loan for road improvements that will lead to new economic opportunities and improve access to essential services in Madhya Pradesh, one of India's poorest states.

Australia’s export earnings from energy and mineral commodities in 2010 soared to record $165 billion, 25 per cent higher than in 2009, according to ABARES’ Australian mineral statistics–December quarter 2010 report.

Overseas business travel has bounced from the effects of the global financial crisis and is now leading the growth in Western Australia’s inbound tourism numbers in 2010.

Integrated forestry company Gunns Limited (ASX: GNS) today announced the Federal Government had granted the final environmental approvals for the proposed Bell Bay Pulp Mills, estimated to require some $2.5 billion in investments.

Fortune magazine has released their 14th annual World's Most Admired Companies (WMAC) list.

The Australian sharemarket is falling for the second straight day with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) 1.2 pct or 58.6 pts lower to 4804.6. Almost all sectors are lower except for the defensive healthcare space.

Gearing to expand its niche and establish a multi-brand strategy this year, Westpac Banking Corp has announced plans to revive the Bank of Melbourne in Victoria and spending some $90 million for this undertaking.

The Australian government is keeping its target date in implementing a carbon tax in July 2012 in spite a petition from industry sectors to postpone it.

- Russell Investments expects volatile markets in 2011- Forecasts modest gains for equities- Less cautious on Australia relative to rest of worldBy Chris ShawEquity market forecasts for 2011 have included some optimistic estimates, with top of the range targets of 1,500 for the S&P500 in the US and 5,600 for the S&P/ASX200 (if not higher). Russell Investments suggest more measured performance is l...

- There are quite some scare mongering myths around when it comes to buying gold as a store of value- Richard Mills believes many of those myths can be tracked down to sources with an obvious self-interest- buying numismatics is not the ideal way to protect your savings, he warns No Reason Today for Yesterday’s Executive Order 6102By Richard (Rick) MillsAhead of the herdAs a general rule, th...

The Australian dollar has traded in a relatively tight range overnight, with this trend likely to continue until later this morning when employment data for February is due to be released.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down one point while the S&P lost one point to 1320 and the Nasdaq fell 0.5%.Yesterday in Australia we saw weak housing finance numbers and a dip in consumer sentiment, the latter largely attributed to higher petrol prices and carbon tax fear. Along with ex-dividend influence, the market fell 0.8% despite the overnight rally on Wall Street. But it was resources stock whi...

The Australian Dollar traded in a 40 pip range (1.0060 - 1.0100) during the Asian time zone with the market holding steady in buying or selling the local unit. Despite a relatively downbeat reading in the Westpac Consumer Sentiment report (Actual -2.4%; Previous 1.4%), its lowest reading since July 2010, as investors still continue to weigh up the timing of the next move in domestic interest rates.

The Australian share market closed lower as investors ignored a positive lead from United States markets and pulled back from the resources sector.

US wholesale inventories rose by 1.1pct in January to $436.88 billion the highest level since November 2008.

Breaking up from the other banks appears to be driving a positive customer response and positive momentum in National Australia Bank’s (ASX: NAB) business.

Better trade training wages and conditions are needed to lift apprenticeship completion rates as part of an effective response to the future skills needs of the Australian economy and its workers, and to provide good, fulfilling jobs for young Australians.

The recovery in the global economy will help the Pacific economies improve in 2011. The strongest gains are expected in the resource-rich countries that are benefiting from both major new resource projects and better world commodity prices, says the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Pacific Economic Monitor.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has released a report which found during the first stages of the resources boom, unemployment was actually very low across the entire country.

The Australian government has committed $3.3 million towards a world-first education centre in Washington DC honouring Vietnam veterans.

National Australia Bank’s (ASX: NAB) direct asset management business, nabInvest, has acquired a 35 per cent interest in AREA Property Partners (AREA), a global real estate fund manager based in New York.

The Australian Dollar is weaker this morning, currently around the USD1.0100 level as equity markets recovered their previous day’s losses and oil eased.

- Things seem to be going from bad to worse for alternative energy play Geodynamics- February revealed a large interim loss and S&P removed the stock from the ASX300- Investors appear in particular concerned about rapid cash burnBy Rudi Filapek-VandyckPrior to January 2008, owning shares in alternative energy play Geodynamics ((GDY)) may have seemed like a good idea. Since then, however, the price...

By Jamie SaetteleI wrote Friday that “the short term count makes the case for one more high before a more important top registers. Gold has pulled back from a record high but focus remains the next big round figure at 1500. Keep an eye on weekly resistance lines as well (there are 2 lines – one extended from the December 2009 and December 2010 highs and one extended from the May 2010 a...

The Australian Dollar opens marginally weaker against the greenback today at 1.0100.

Soaring bank shares led the broader U.S. stock market higher Tuesday as Bank of America raised hopes it will increase dividends and share buybacks.

US chain store sales rose 2.3pct last week compared with the prior week. Chain store sales are up 2.6pct on the same period a year ago.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 124 points or 1% while the S&P gained 0.9% to 1321 and the Nasdaq added 0.7%. It was all one way.It is apparently not just a rumour that Colonel Gaddafi has invited opposition leaders into talks to resolve the civil war in Libya. It is nevertheless speculation that Gaddafi is looking for a safe exit. Commentators note that Gaddafi is a shrewd operator and such “tacti...