BUSINESS

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 3/12/14

In US economic data, chain store sales rose by 2.5% in the latest week compared with a year earlier, down from 2.7% in the previous week. Wholesale sales fell by 1.9% in January, the biggest fall in almost five years and well below forecasts centred on a gain of 0.2%. Inventories rose by 0.6%.
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A woman looks on in front of a giant screen showing the hours since Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 went missing and the number of passengers onboard, including 154 Chinese people, at a shopping mall, in Beijing March 10, 2014. The disappearance of a Malay

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370: Conspiracy Theories Abound Missing Plane

Mystery continued to deepen surrounding the fate of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 four days after it disappeared on the air with nary a hint of anything that could pinpoint to where it can possibly be right now. Sherlock Homes-conspiracy theorists have pounced on the incident.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 3/11/14

The ASX 200 started with modest gains on Tuesday, notwithstanding the weaker finish seen in US markets overnight. At its best levels in the first hour of trade the index was ahead by 11 points, although that lead faded quickly. Patchy improvements for the financials helped the market hold its ground initially.

Global Markets Overview – 3/11/14

We are currently inundated with influential macro events: China data; Russian-Ukrainian tensions; sluggish Japanese data; indifferent US data; steel demand in China and the slide into bear markets of industrial commodities.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 3/10/14

The Australian share market started the trading week firmly in the red today, following a sharp fall in the iron ore price which weighed on mining stocks. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) closed down 46.2 points or 0.8 per cent to 5430.8 after rising 1.1 per cent over the course of last week.
A doctor conducts a thyroid examination on five-year-old girl as her older brother and a nurse take care of her at a clinic in temporary housing complex in Nihonmatsu, west of the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Fukushima prefectur

Fukushima 3 Years After: Thyroid Cancer Cases Among Children Rising

Cases of thyroid cancer among children residing in Fukushima have grown steadily since the disastrous March 2011 incident. Citizens have all but lost hope and confidence in their government. And three years after, no one has been made accountable for the supposed worst nuclear disaster since the 1986 Chernobyl.

The Patent War: Apple vs. Samsung - Samsung can take a breather

Apple was looking to capitalize a permanent ban on Samsung products due to the patent infringements. According to Reuters, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh, ruled that Apple had not presented enough evidence to show that its patented features were a significant enough driver of consumer demand to warrant an injunction.
A relative (front) of a passenger of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 cries as she walks past journalists at a hotel in Beijing March 9, 2014. The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER aircraft carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew was presumed to have crashed o

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370: Wife of Kiwi Passenger Prays for Miracle, Air New Zealand Still Believes in Safety Features of Boeing 777s

Paul Weeks was headed to Mongolia to pursue his "dream job" in what he believed will help him provide comfortably for his family. His wife Danica is praying for a miracle that could still come true. Mr Weeks is one of the 239 passengers now part of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 that went out of the radar over the weekend and disappeared over the South China Sea.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 3/10/14

The Australian sharemarket is having its worst day since early February, partly driven by a fall in China's monthly trade surplus and a weaker iron ore price. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 0.7 per cent, with the mining sector the the biggest loser. This is only the sixth time in 23 sessions that the local market is losing ground.

Global Markets Overview – 3/10/14

We start the week on a downbeat note with a raft of disappointing headlines from the weekend putting Asia on the back foot. While non-farm payrolls surprised significantly to the upside on Friday, disappointing China data, escalating Russia/Ukraine concerns and the missing Malaysian aircraft have all contributed to a sombre mood.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning 3/10/14

In US economic data, non-farm payrolls (employment) rose by 175,000 in February, ahead of forecasts for a gain of 149,000 jobs. The unemployment rate rose slightly from 6.6% to 6.7%. Average earnings grew by 0.4%. The trade deficit expanded from US$38.7 billion to US$39.1 billion in January, just ahead of forecasts.

China Ready for Free Trade Deal With Australia

China is optimistic that by the end of 2014, it would have signed a free trade agreement with Australia. Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng said in a press briefing on Friday that the prospects of inking the deal as soon as possible were optimistic.
Relatives of Missing Malaysian Airlines Plane

Empty Nester Queensland Couple Among the 6 Aussie Passengers Aboard Missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 (VIDEOS)

Passengers of the Malaysian Airlines plane that went missing on early Saturday while flying over South China Sea included telecom executives, metal traders, beach goers, two babies, calligraphers and a Queensland couple who are empty nesters. The Sydney Morning Herald identified the Aussie empty nesters as Catherine and Robert Lawton, 54 and 57, who are flying to different parts of the world after their three adult daughters have left home.
Ukraine Peace Deal Halts Violence but Crowds still Angry

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 3/7/14

The last 5 trading days have seen the local market progress as investor focus shifted from the concerns surrounding The Ukraine and Russia towards more encouraging news in relation to the domestic economy. As a result the market recovered from the 0.4% loss on Monday to be ahead by almost 1% for the week at the close of trade this afternoon.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 3/7/14

The Australian sharemarket is firmer thanks partly to a surge in U.S. equities overnight and yesterday's better than expected retail spending and trade figures locally. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is rising by 0.3 per cent; making it the fourth straight day of improvements and a 5.5 year high for local stocks.

Global Markets Overview – 3/7/14

Risk assets mostly extended gains overnight, with some positive US economic data and dissipating Russia/Ukraine concerns helping sentiment. The latest on the Crimea front is that it will hold a referendum on 16 March on whether to join the Russian Federation or not. That could be the next talking point as the international community seems to be against this move.

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