BUSINESS

A stable interest rate environment is working to turn consumer confidence around and sparking a recovery in housing, according to peak building and construction organisation Master Builders Australia.

U.S. stocks closed lower Friday for just the second time in two weeks as a disappointing monthly employment report prompted investors to dial back their recent optimism about the economic recovery.

(This story was originally published on 6th July 2011. It has now been re-published to make it available to non-paying members at FNArena and to readers elsewhere).

FNArena has added another video to its Investors Education section on the website. In this broadcast, ATW's Jerry Simmons zooms in on some recurring patterns for equities.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has gained approval to use in-house lawyers to conduct all its civil penalty litigations.

Capital city auction clearance rates are edging up after tracking below 50% for five weeks, RP Data has indicated.

Australia is on the cusp of making major changes to its credit reporting regime, but whether the new system will be better for brokers’ clients is still up for debate.

Despite the latest forecast showing a slight oversupply for accounting and auditing professionals for the next five years, employers will face difficulties in recruiting personnel as the demand for multi-skilled staff increases.

The protracted pause on interest rates by the RBA is bringing first home buyers back to the market, Loan Market has claimed.

Implementing generous and accommodating parental leave policies can help employers boost their productivity and bottom line, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman.

The Australian share market on Friday closed firmer after strong gains in the resources, retail and telecommunication sectors.

US employment (non-farm payrolls) rose by just 18,000 people in June - well short of forecasts centred on a jobs gain of 90,000. Private sector jobs rose by 57,000.

Since the release of the first model four years ago, Apple's iPhone has been blazing the trail for all smartphones. A decade ago, in the age of mobile calling and sending short messages, Finland-based Nokia was the king. Then came Research in Motion's BlackBerry, with its bigger display and QWERTY keyboard providing U.S. President Barack Obama and others a more convenient means of sending instant messages and e-mail. But in the age of the mobile Internet and apps, iPhone has been atop e...

The Australian dollar has opened higher this morning, buoyed by positive sentiment in offshore markets overnight.

The latest rate rise from China's central bank should make investors and others just that teensy weensy concerned about the country's economy.

The Australian economy is not falling apart, despite all the talk of multi-speed economies, recession and doom and boom.

The past few weeks have been full of commentary questioning the resources boom and its impact on the wider economy.

Four of Austrlia's biggest cities are now among the most expensive places in the world to live in according to a new global survey published this Thursday.

Apple Inc. is releasing a thinner and lighter iPhone at the end of September, hoping to cut off Samsung Electronics Co. and other manufacturers benefiting the delayed release of the iPhone 5.

A research team from North Carolina State University headed by professor Xuxian Jiang discovered early this month a trojanised app called Fast Racing, hiding malware which it called 'Golddream'.

- Bradken announces two acquisitions- Deals should boost earnings and product offering- Stock upgraded to Buy by Credit Suisse and Deutsche BankBy Chris ShawIn May Bradken ((BKN)) announced a capital raising, one that was seen by brokers as dilutive to earnings in the absence of any associated acqui...

The Australian sharemarket is gaining for the third straight day with the All Ordinaries index up 0.9 pct or 44 pts to 4710.1. All sectors are trading higher with the energy and mining sectors the best performers.

Consumer watchdog Choice has called for the Financial Claims Scheme (FCS) to be maintained to enhance competition in the banking sector and benefit consumers.

Australia's crop growing industry can take advantage of the weather and other climate conditions with the new online tool from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

Rupert Murdoch will shut down Britain's biggest selling Sunday newspaper, the News of the World, in a startling response to a scandal engulfing his media empire.

By Greg PeelAustralia's coal industry is making as big a song and dance as it can about the crushing impact of the government's planned carbon tax, as well it might.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 93 points or 0.7% while the S&P gained a more impressive 1.1% to 1353 and the Nasdaq added 1.

Brokers who choose to add risk insurance and financial planning into their business may be stretching themselves too thin, according to aggregator Australian Loan Company (ALCo).

Prospective home buyers are borrowing more today compared to 12 months ago, according to independent mortgage comparison website Yourmortgage.com.au.