BUSINESS

Australian Stock Market Report

US durable goods orders fell by 1.0pct in June after a 0.8pct fall in May and 2.9pct rise in April. Economists had tipped a 1.0pct rise in orders.

World Market Overview

The US stock market edged lower Wednesday on news that orders for big ticket items sank in June. The Dow fell 39.81 points (0.38%) to 10,497.88 in final trades, after a four day winning streak.
More news

The Overnight Report: Waiting For GDP

Having stalled on Tuesday, Wall Street could only drift off last night with little positive impetus ahead of Friday's GDP release. Dow down 39. (Locked for subscribers until 10:00 AEST)

House prices growing at slower pace

Australian house prices continue to increase in most capital cities, but growth pace is slowing, according to a June quarterly house price report released today by online real estate data group Australian Property Monitors (APM).

CHOICE demands parties address consumer issues

Consumer advocacy group CHOICE has challenged the major political parties to declare their hand on a range of consumer issues in the lead up to the Federal election.The group sent letters to the Government and Opposition parties, as well as the Greens, asking them to outline their approach to consum...

Powering the world - with butter

A new study by scientists at the American Chemical Society has identified an unlikely new source for raw materials for biodiesel fuels - butter.Researchers report that butter could be used as an eco-friendly feedstock for diesel fuel, a possible new source beyond the current ethanol production.As pa...

Australian Stock Market Report - Closing

The Australian share market managed a turnaround in afternoon trade to rack up a fourth successive win. Financial stocks drove the gains while the big miners also received support despite a shaky start.

Australian share market finished firmer

The Australian share market finished firmer for the fourth consecutive trading day, closing at its strongest level for more than a month. Sentiment on th local bourse was boosted by the release of lower than expected inflation figures for the June quarter.

Australia market makes a U-turn

The Australian share market has put in a U-shaped performance today, rallying initially, selling off after the release of CPI data and then rallying back to positive territory.

ABCC wins $1.3m over West Gate Bridge dispute

The Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC) has secured a record workplace relations penalty of $1.325 million as a result of a legal proceeding initiated by the ABCC in response to a protracted union demarcation dispute at the West Gate Bridge strengthening project in 2009.

BlueScope and Nippon Steel embark on joint-partnership in developing new steel products

Steel specialist BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) and Nippon Steel Corporation of Japan have agreed to undertake a long-term joint technical partnership in developing next-generation coated steel products as the Japanese company announced on Wednesday via its official online site that products to be manufactured by both firms are aimed for the global building and construction market.

Official inflation data ease rates pressure

The consumer price index, the key measure of inflation in the economy, rose by 0.6 per cent in the three months to June from 0.9 per cent in the March quarter, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Downer EDI reveals $2 billion work project deals with BMA

Engineering firm Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW) announced on Wednesday that it has sealed contract agreements amounting to about $2 billion with the BHP Billiton-Mitsubishi Alliance, which cover work projects at Goonyella Riverside and Norwich Park mines, both located at the Bower Basin in central Queensland.

IAG posts poor performance for fiscal year

Insurance Australia Group is the most recent insurance firm to report a poor performance for the previous fiscal year, as the season for reporting profit has turned sour for investors in insurance shares.

Another annual loss for Alesco

Australian industrial brands business Alesco Corporation (ASX: ALS) has posted another annual net loss and remains cautious about the coming 12 months.

Pages