BUSINESS

Commonwealth Bank economists believe the global economy is recovering as it should from such a significant financial crisis and there is no need to fear a return to recession.

The Australian market fell sharply today following negative leads from the US overnight.

Oakton delivered a solid full year earnings result, one that leads brokers to suggest the group's turnaround is continuing.

Fears about the economy stopped landlords from increasing rents over the last three months even with extraordinary house price hikes, according to a quarterly survey by Australian Property Monitors.

Alumina (ASX:AWC), a 40 per cent partner in the Alcoa-managed AWAC global alumina joint venture, said the industry's drive for alumina to be traded on global markets on a spot price/index-related basis instead of linking it to aluminium metal prices will produce large benefits.

The Australian Dollar continued to be sold off late yesterday and into the evening trading session ahead of the widely anticipated FOMC Meeting overnight.

The US Federal Reserve has left the federal funds target between zero and 0.25 percent but it has elected to further support a slowing economy.

U.S. stocks fell Tuesday as weakness in the supply chain system for personal computers weighed on Intel and Microsoft while signs of tapering demand in China weighed on materials stocks including Alcoa.

The Aussie dollar traded lower yesterday dropping from 0.9160 to an Asian session low of 0.9105 following a disappointing NAB Business survey and Chinese Trade data which soured sentiment towards growth in the region.

So the US Federal Reserve Open Markets Committee's statement at 4.15 am Wednesday has slowly become one of the more anti...

Now there's either no good news in the latest business confidence and conditions update from the National Australia Ban...

China's economy remains solid, with exports up in July to a record, imports down, property prices falling, car sales str...

China's economy remains solid, with exports up in July to a record, imports down, property prices falling, car sales str...

Cochlear Ltd has booked a 19% lift in annual net profit, and says the dynamics of the hearing implant industry remain po...

The QE2 remains at port but it will be kept fully supplied. After a wild ride, the Dow closed down 54. (Locked for subscribers until 10:00 AEST)

National Australia Bank says it had quarterly cash earnings of $1.1 billion in the June quarter, in line with the quart...

Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd (ASX: CBA) said today it will retain conservative capital and liquidity settings given the still uncertain environment after posting 42 per cent growth in full-year cash profit.

National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB) yesterday announced to continue to price home loans at a discount to the other major lenders, as part of its strategy to expand its share of the mortgage market.

The Australian share market is set to open flat after receiving negative leads from offshore markets. Wall Street finished weaker and oil prices slumped back below $US81 a barrel. Metals likewise backpedalled.

Cold Rock Ice Creamery is introducing new hot desserts to its menu across stores in Victoria and South Australia to beat the winter chill.The ice cream franchise will trial three new products - Nana's Rocking Apple Pie, Chocolate Rocker cake drizzled with hot chocolate fudge and Sticky Date Pudding ...

 "It can be extremely worrying for parents when they suspect their child has a food allergy, but wrongly diagnosing someone with a food allergy could also have a serious negative effect on their health" says Food Standards Agency's Chief Scientist Andrew Wadge.The National Institute for Health and ...

National Australia Bank's Australian Commerical Property Survey for the June quarter showed a weakening in conditions and a pushing out of expectations for a turnaround.

Australia’s largest and most profitable bank, CBA has refused to rule out interest rate hikes that are out of synch with the Reserve bank of Australia. CBA chief Ralph Norris in a briefing to the market says the lender was "closely monitoring" the cost of funding on wholesale markets, and the leve...

More data from China have simply added to more concerns about the slow down and about the need for further rate hikes.

The newest version of the virus has so far managed to steal $1.2 million from approximately 3000 online customers from an unnamed British bank , according to an internet security company.M86 Security which has offices in Britain and California says the money was remotely transferred from the account...

Google confirmed that police visited its Seoul offices to seize information related to an investigation surrounding its Street View product.

Australian market closes lower after poor China data

Shares in Whitehaven Coal (ASX:WHC) have soared to a record high on the likelihood of being the target of a $3 billion takeover bid from US firms.

The Queensland state government said today it is discussing with a group of coal firms a raised bid for its coal rail network but has not discarded plans to float the $6.98 billion operation.