BUSINESS

Inflation risk is starting to creep into the psyche of US markets; the S&P just snapped out of its longest streak of weekly gains in 2014 on Friday, as all eyes turn to this Thursday's FOMC meeting.

In US economic data, retail sales rose by 0.6% in August and lifted 0.3% if autos are excluded. Both results were in line with forecasts. Consumer sentiment rose from 82.5 to 84.6 in September, above forecasts for a result near 83.3.

Optus Australian subscribers could expect better TV, Internet, phone and data transmission with the successful launch of the carrier's Optus 10 satellite on Friday morning. The Ariane 5 rocket launched the satellite from the European space centre at Kourou, French Guiana.

The price of iron ore has hit a five-year low of $82.20 per tonne, spelling more bad news for Australia's top export commodity. Price of the key steelmaking-ingredient has been on a downhill trend since Dec 4, 2013 as the benchmark price of iron ore tumbled down 41 per cent.

BRW named on Friday a software firm about to launch a HipChat app for Apple watch as the best placed to work in Australia. The award is based on feedback from over 28,000 workers polled by BRW and a culture audit.

Embattled carrier Malaysia Airlines has barely recovered from two major tragedies four months apart when a third tragedy almost hit the airline on Saturday. MH 198 which left Hyderabad on late Saturday bound for Kuala Lumpur had to turn back because of auto pilot defect.

An online petition is collecting signatures to shutter the Naked Sushi catering company in British Columbia, Canada, because of its flagship service in which diners eat sushi that is piled on top of a naked female model's body. Feminist groups in Canada denounced the Japanese firm for treating women's body as just as object and only emphasises the sexual role of women in society

In a picture that was much like Thursday, sellers continued to push the ASX 200 lower over the course of the afternoon. Initially the area around 5520 for the index provided some modest support, although by mid-afternoon the area gave way and new lows were plumbed. Counter intuitively, the Materials sector was the sub index that performed the best over the last session of the week. The improvement was a combination of seller's fatigue and the anticipation of a lower Aussie dollar, which would...

The Australian sharemarket is falling for the third straight day and for the fourth time this week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) down 0.4 per cent. Should nothing change dramatically this afternoon, this has been the worst week for local shares in a month. Last night a report showed there were more people filing for unemployment benefits in the US last week than expected. The DOW slipped by 0.1 per cent while the broader S&P500 ended modestly firmer.

Telstra said on Thursday that as part of its expansion, the carrier's 4G coverage would be accessible to 90 per cent of Australians. The telco would also widen its 700MHz commercial trials to include selected zones in Sydney, Adelaide, Darwin, Bundaberg, Yamaba and Sarina when the 700Mhz offering is switched on next week.

Global equities seem to be in a holding pattern as we head into next week's FOMC meeting. Additionally resurfacing geopolitical risk from the Russia front seems to be keeping investors cautious. Perhaps the most significant development in overnight trade was further EU sanctions on Russia. The latest round of sanctions included moves like banning major Russian state-owned banks from any borrowing among other financial-related limitations.

Russia has pulled out its troops from Ukraine, NATO said there still remained 1,000 troops on the ground.

In US economic data, jobless claims rose by 11,000 to 315,000. The treasury monthly budget statement showed a $129 billion deficit in August, in line with estimates.

The rage now among men who love to live their sexual fantasies but probably couldn't find a female sex partner willing to do what they want is to buy a realistic love doll. Priced at a minimum of $2,000, the doll manufactured by a Japanese firm, Oriental Industry, may find competition within a decade from sex robots.

As expected, Syria and Iran are fuming over the battle plan that U.S. President Barack Obama laid down on Wednesday during a televised address. The two countries criticised Washington for not including them into the international coalition that will destroy ISIS.

The Australian sharemarket failed to recover this afternoon, with stocks falling for the second day. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) slipped by 0.5 per cent adding to Wednesday's similar pullback. The IT sector was the only improver with share registry Computershare (CPU) rising by 1.4 per cent.

France has responded to the call of U.S. President Barack Obama to unleash an expanded airstrike against ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq.

Telco giant AT&T spent $20.6 billion in 2013 for a new plant and equipment in the US, topping the non-financial companies in the United States for capital spending. It was the third consecutive year that AT&T topped the list, according to the Progressive Policy Institute study.

The downward momentum in the AUD continued overnight, following further USD strength, weaker Chinese data earlier in the week and continued weakness in the iron ore price.

As the most preferred PM candidate it will be a crowning achievement for John Key to rule the country with a large mandate.

The Global Commission on Drug Policy wants to go beyond the legalisation of marijuana but would recommend on Tuesday, Sept 16, the decriminalisation and regulation of the use of most other illegal drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

The Australian market is adding to Wednesday's losses, with a sharp drop in the unemployment rate, subdued Chinese inflation and a positive lead from Wall Street not enough to inspire local markets. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 0.2 per cent, adding to Tuesday's 0.6 per cent slide. After interrupted trade across the region due to holidays, all major markets are trading normally today which is likely to see volumes return to normal.

Various unions in British Columbia have offered assistance to the 41,000-striking public school teachers of the B.C. Teachers Federation (BCTF) province by offering them $8 million in interest-free loans.

There remains little in the way of meaningful data or macro news that would give markets a leg higher, or even lower in the case of the S&P.

Breaking news, the New Zealand Central Bank kept interest rates on hold at 3.50%. The statement following the no change decision suggested that policymakers were assesing conditions before looking to further rate hikes if necessary. The central bank talked down the NZ dollar saying "The exchange rate has yet to materially adjust to lower commodity prices. Its current levels remain unjustified and unsustainable. We expect a further significant depreciation".

A newly launched crowdfunding platform will be focusing on raising funds for non-bank lenders that provide short-term commercial property loans to small individuals and businesses looking at real estate investing, a report on Bloomberg said.

Because of the many perks enjoyed by Google employees, ranging from gourmet food to gym to laundry facilities, some wise workers manage to go around the giant tech firm's policy that no one should live in its office.

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) is open to the invitation by global business process outsourcing (BPO) giant Accenture to offshore IT work to the company's offices in the Philippines. However, ATO assured Australians that the deal, if it would push through, would exclude sending of personal tax information to Manila.

Sellers weren't discerning when it came to a choice off sectors on Wednesday, that largely chose them all , with the exception of the technology group. Apart from that most sectors experienced a solid decline. The economic news of the day only added weight to the selling cause.