BUSINESS

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.

Ivanhoe Australia (ASX:IVA), which is 80 per cent owned by the Robert Friedland-chaired Ivanhoe Mines, plans to raise up to $269 million for a takeover and project development in Queensland as well as to settle debt.

Thin trading volumes and weak economic data saw the Australian share market ease today, with both major indices shedding 1.2pct. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) fell 52.6pts to 4563 while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (XJO) was off 54.2pts to 4540.7.

Call them strange bedfellows but Blackfeather Ltd and AdultShop.com (ASC), both firms catering to adult entertainment needs, are set to collaborate on a steamy deal as ASC announced on Tuesday that it is taking over Blackfeather’s Stiletto brothel operation.

IT consultancy firm Oakton Ltd (ASX: OKN) reported on Tuesday that it saw a 42 percent spike on its full-year profit as the company recuperates from the debilitating effects of the worldwide economic downturn.

Business confidence has continued weakening, while trading conditions also deteriorated in July, according to National Australia Bank's (ASX: NAB) monthly business survey.

CBS reports that Miss Universe 2010 constestants completed their photoshoot by the pool in Las Vegas. During their free time, some candidates took stance on various political and global issues

The World Trade Organization (WTO) ordered the Australian government to revise its stringent restrictions on imported New Zealand apples, arguing that the measures were inconsistent with scientific evidence.