BUSINESS

The Australian currency opened weaker today after soft US and Italian economic data dampened investor sentiment for risk.

The August results season has only just started, but I have already drawn conclusions and made observations that can be important for investors.

The UK Food Standards Agency is reminding caterers and consumers of the importance of refrigerating fish properly, following a number of incidents involving scombrotoxic fish poisoning during the (UK) summer.Scombrotoxic fish poisoning is linked to eating fish from the family that includes tuna, mac...

Leading premium brand, Bonne Maman, is being relaunched in Australia by national food marketing and distribution business, Menora Foods.Bonne Maman, the unrivalled market leader in France with more than 35 percent of market share, is now available in Australia at leading independent supermarkets and...

A glance through the latest expert views and predictions about commodities with some mixed views emerging for bulk materials but general upward trends in base metal and gold prices seen as sustainable.

Australian banking major, National Australia Bank, once again differentiating itself from its big four rivals over exception fees, says that credit card law reform would benefit consumers.Lisa Gray, who runs the lenders personal banking division says that NAB has already implemented changes to its c...

Mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity within the Australia and New Zealand region has slowed during 2010, with the values of transactions more than halving this year.Whilst the number of deals fell to their lowest level in over four years, according to a report authored by Thompson Reuters sug...

The Australian stock market finished over one per cent higher, led by gains in the mining and energy sectors, as investors took the previous day's decline as a buying opportunity.

Sydney-based Chameleon Mining NL (ASX: CHM) said on Friday that the state’s Supreme Court would be lifting its receivership filed by its Singaporean litigation funder International Litigation Partners (ILP).

Australian residential developer AVJennings (ASX:AVJ) is back in positive territory after offloading its loss-making contract building business.

Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban acquired $10 million-worth apartment in Manhattan.

The Australian market closed on its highs of the day shrugging off the doubts over global growth that plauged it for most of the week.

David Ryan, the controversial chairman of Transurban (ASX:TCL), a leading international toll road developer in Australia, has stepped down. His resignation spared him a confrontation with furious shareholders at the annual meeting in October.

South Korea’s Ssangyong Motor is set to be taken over by Indian firm Mahindra & Mahindra as creditors of the troubled company announced on Friday that the utility vehicle specialist edged out competing bidders from France, Japan and India.

AGL Energy Ltd plans to spend A$10 billion ($9 billion) building renewable production capacity by 2020 in line with Australia's quest to source a fifth of its power needs from alternative sources.

Shares in Australia's telecom giant Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) have plummeted to a record low, intensifying yesterday's loss of almost 10 per cent due to unsatisfactory full-year results.

Perth-based Kingrose Mining Ltd revealed on Friday that it has poured its first batch of gold and silver bars from its Indonesian mining project in Way Lingo following the site’s year-long development that cost $13.39 million.

Giant energy firm Chevron Corporation revealed on Friday that it has discovered fresh gas deposits on its Carnarvon Basin offshore project in Western Australia where the company is developing two huge liquefied natural gas LNG facilities.

The Australian and New Zealand currencies managed to pare losses in today's trading as investors thrived on confidence that the Japanese government will soon intervene to strengthen the yen.

The Australian stock market was higher at midday thanks to gains in the mining sector.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals (ASX:SIP) has denied market rumours it has received a higher 65¢-a-share takeover bid from South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare Holdings.

Myer recorded a mixed 4Q sales result but lifted earnings guidance for the full year, the result being brokers remain generally positive on the outlook for the stock.

A brief look at important company events and economic data releases next week.

US bank repossessions of mortgaged residential property were the second highest on record in July.

National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB) said small- and medium-size enterprises confidence has declined, two days after announcing a delay in its projected business banking growth.

Commercial building activities are declining in favour of state-funded public projects, according to a survey.

Giant oil company Chevron dismissed on Friday a workers’ union report of a housing ship that allegedly slammed into a barge off the Pilbara coast and endangered the lives of numerous workers aboard the vessel at that time.

Australian newspaper circulation has slid in the three months to June 30, according to recent data.

Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) announced today that private equity firms General Atlantic and Apax Partners have agreed to effectively underwrite a planned stockmarket float of SouFun Holdings Ltd, China's second-largest online real estate website where the Australian telecom giant is major shareholder.