BUSINESS

The Australian bourse posted strong gains on Thursday, buoyed by better-than-expected employment figures.

The International Air Services Commission (IASC) ruled on Thursday that Qantas Airways Ltd could retain its code-sharing agreements with South African Airways for another 12 months on service routes between Australia and South Africa.

In a last-ditch effort to purchase cheap shares, trader David Tweed has launched a legal bid to force diversified conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) to open its register.

Insurance company Suncorp-Metway Limited (ASX: SUN) discovered that 32 percent of Australians are in the dark about their current worth. The alarming thing about the ignorance is it is by choice.

Australian supermarket chain Woolworths Ltd (ASX:WOW) remains open to further acquisitions as work continues on its venture into the multibillion-dollar hardware market.

The Northern Territory Government has given the site license for Tenax Energy to build a major tidal energy project over the Clarence Strait.

Coffee prices have been up for about 43 percent in the past three months.

Retirement home provider Aevum Limited (ASX: AVE) has opened the table for a number of companies.

The Australian share market was off to a strong start today on the back of positive lead from Wall Street overnight. Investors seem to welcome the easing of concerns that pulled the European markets down early on the week.

The Australian share market was nearly 1 per cent stronger by Thursday noon as finance stocks climbed and a jobs report boosted investor confidence.

Natural gas producer Santos Ltd revealed on Thursday that it is set to sell 15 percent of its $7.7 billion Gladstone liquefied natural gas (GLNG) project to Total SA for $650 million, giving the giant French company more stakes on the joint venture.

The Australian unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points to 5.1 per cent (seasonally adjusted) in August, according to official data released today.

Australian car maker GM Holden Ltd is all set to add a second assembly shift on its Adelaide factory as the company announced on Thursday that 50 more production jobs would be recruited to fill up the afternoon duties that would commence churning on November 15.

The consumers watchdog goes to court in order to stop a unit of south-east Asia's biggest phone operator Singapore Telecommunications Limited from running misleading advertisements.

The US Department of Transport (DOT) has disapproved on Wednesday the proposed Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd and Delta Air Lines partnership on trans-Pacific service routes, stating that the riding public would be disadvantaged by the carriers’ immunity from US anti-trust regulations.

Two recently merged bureaus tagged the mineral and energy exports during the June 2010 quarter as the second highest on record.

Following three days of retreat, crude oil soared back by up to 1.8 percent as the dollar and equities picked up some gains and further pushed the lingering allure of commodities to investors as the other pot for securing their money.

Ten years after the 2000 Olympics, Sydney faces the competition with Melbourne for the role of the top city in the country. GREATER Sydney Partnership founding chairman Peter Holmes a Court is getting the ball rolling for uplifting the city's appeal on people around the globe.

With continental equities in the US and Europe surging back in recovering losses registered in the previous day, demand for gold futures slid back a bit on Wednesday as investors picked up some confidence on concerns about European sovereign finances.

The proposed global bank reforms are designed to prevent another financial crisis. However, increasing the liquidity of the banks draws in dangers for depositors.

Former BHP Billiton head Don Argus will be protecting the Australian mining industry as he chairs the mineral resources rent tax (MRRT) consultation panel.

The seven-week stall on the National Broadband Network (NBN) Company's work seems to be enough to prepare the company for a redirection.

European and U.S. markets closed higher during overnight's trading, thereby, raising hopes for a strong trading in the Australian share market today.

The US Federal Reserve Beige Book - a summary of conditions across Federal Reserve districts - reported ´´widespread signs´´ of a slowdown in economic activity.

The Aussie dollar held firm in Asia yesterday despite a negative lead from offshore markets during the previous sessions trading between 0.9100 and 0.9130 for the majority of the day.

Australian fashion designer Dana Mathers has been credited with leading a new fashion trend in the US.

The Australian currency recuperated on Wednesday as it attracted steady demand below 91 US cents, helping it withstand losses in Asian stocks.

The Australian stockmarket closed in negative territory on Wednesday, with financials and miners dragging down the market.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) housing finance data released before noon indicates a relatively weak demand for housing.