HEALTH

ChiTree Apricot Seeds is recalling its products as excessive eating of raw apricot kernels may cause poisoning from its naturally occurring hydrocyanic acid.

An Australian scientist says he has discovered a key factor in high blood pressure.

Beginning next week some patients in South Australian hospitals will have bedside touch screen computers under a $36.7 million deal between Telstra and the medical institutions.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA) is again in hot water over another apparent shady deal. This time it involves alleged kickbacks paid by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to chemists.

AFTERNOON REPORT (4.30pm AEDT)Local stocks managed to erase all of yesterday's gains during Tuesday's session, with fear and caution again at the forefront of investors' minds. Overnight, sentiment wasn't helped by negative commentary from Germany's Finance Minister who warned it was unrealistic to expect a definitive solution to the European debt crisis at this weekend's European Union summit.

MIDDAY REPORT (12pm AEDT)The Australian sharemarket is down 1.6 pct or 71.5 pts to 4266.4, effectively wiping out all of yesterday's impressive gains. Markets tumbled overnight due to concerns that the European debt solution might fall short of expectations.

More than half of Australian mid-market companies are not properly prepared for persistent fluctuations in business conditions, according to the inaugural Commonwealth Bank Future Business Index.

Australia's business and other industry groups are now on the quandary as to the passage of the carbon tax legislation in Congress now waiting for the final stamp of approval in the Senate.

The brain and kidney of a Newcastle nurse was damaged after she drank a native Bali cocktail laced with methanol during her holiday trip to the Indonesian island.

AFTERNOON REPORT (4.30pm AEDT)The local share market posted its fourth win in a row today, kick-starting the trading week on a positive note. Investor sentiment remained buoyant after German and French leaders agreed to do all that is necessary to secure the recapitalisation of European banks. Share markets around the Asian region were generally positive, despite ratings agency Fitch cutting the credit ratings of Italy and Spain. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) gained 37.3pts or 0.9pct to 42...

The Australian sharemarket is surprisingly holding up very well despite a fall in U.S shares on Friday. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is up 1.1 pct or 46.4 pts to 4271.4, adding to the 3.8 pct gains recorded last week.

The share market rally continued today, with local stocks gaining for the third session in a row. Investor optimism was boosted by strong gains in the US and Europe overnight after the European Central Bank announced new measures to provide cash strapped banks with liquidity.

Saying it was protect the profession's reputation, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia rejected Friday a proposal to sell dietary supplements with prescription drugs.

BC Partners is planning what could be the largest private-equity sale in 2011 by putting on the block Fitness First chains in Australia and Asia. The sale aims to raise $1 billion.

Australian shares leapt the most in almost three years as investor sentiment improved on renewed optimism a solution is near at hand for the Eurozone debt crisis. The local market opened more than one per cent stronger after Wall Street surged for its second straight day, then eased slightly after midday but soared in the last hour of trading. By the close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index had reached its highest level since September 21, rising 143.4 points, or 3.65 per cent to 4,069.9 and the br...

The Australian share market closed 0.6 per cent lower, with investors starting to hope that the central bank would cut interest rates for the first time in a year next month. The local bourse opened almost one per cent down on a weak lead from Wall Street overnight. By the close on Tuesday both major local indices had made back some of their early losses, with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index down 24.9 points, or 0.64 per cent, at 3,872.1 and the broader All Ordinaries index dropped 25.1 points, o...

MIDDAY REPORT (12.30pm AEDT)The Australian sharemarket is continuing to fall after a tough start to the new trading week yesterday. The ASX 200 index (XJO) is down 0.4 pct or 17.1 pts to 3879.9 while the broader All Ordinaries index (XAO) is 0.5 pct or 18.9 pts lower to 3941.8.

Manufacturers experienced another tough month in September with the Australian Industry Group - PwC Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) down 1.0 point to 42.3, indicating a further weakening in the sector.

AFTERNOON REPORT (4.30pm AEST)The Australian share market ended what has been another volatile week on a flat note, despite attempting a rally in early trade. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) added 2.2pts or 0.1pct to 4070.1 while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (XJO) firmed by 0.3pts to 4008.6.

MIDDAY REPORT (12pm AEST)It has been a volatile session of trade so far today, with the Australian sharemarket losing ground after posting gains for the first two hours of trade. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is down 0.4 pct or 17.4 pts to 4050.5. Almost all sectors are lower with weakness from the financials and miners holding the market back.

AFTERNOON REPORT (4.30pm AEST)The recent rally on the Australian share market came to an abrupt end today, although the losses weren't overly significant or surprising. US and European markets closed in the red overnight, as investors looked to square their books ahead of the end of the month and end of the September quarter. A lack of concrete and decisive action from European leaders also frustrated investors. The Australian market, which has gained around 4.5pct over the past couple o...

Fast food chain Hungry Jack will begin introducing sides of vegetables to go with its regular meals starting next month in a move to bolster its health credentials.

(4.30pm AEST)Investor confidence remained strong today, with the local market managing to hold onto and add to yesterday's 3.5pct gain. Markets around the Asian region were generally firmer, after the Greek parliament approved a contentious property tax law which is crucial to its austerity plan and its commitments to secure bail-out funds. The local share market lost a little steam in afternoon trade but closed higher by 0.8pct, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) adding 34.2pts to 4097....

MIDDAY REPORT (12pm AEST)The Australian sharemarket is gaining for the second straight day with the ASX 200 index (XJO) up 0.5 pct or 20.5 pts to 4025.1 while the broader All Ordinaries index (XAO) is also 0.5 pct or 22.2 pts higher to 4085.7. Shares improved by 3.5 pct yesterday, breaking three consecutive sessions of losses.

AFTERNOON REPORT (4.30pm AEST)The Australian share market snapped a three day losing streak today, rallying by 3.5pct as investor sentiment was boosted by hopes European leaders will announce fresh measures to address the sovereign debt crisis. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) added 135.9pts to 4063.5, after touching an intra-day high of 4049. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (XJO) firmed by 140.7pts or 3.6pct to 4004.6.

The latest Australian Industry Group/Deloitte CEO survey released on Tuesday, "Business Regulation," points to the high and rising cost of complying with regulation for Australian businesses.

MIDDAY REPORT (12pm AEST)As expected, the Australian share market is wiping out yesterday's falls with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) up 2.9 pct or 114.9 pts to 4042.5. Keep in mind that despite the improvement, the market locally has still lost ground for five of the past seven sessions.

AFTERNOON REPORT (4.30pm AEST)The local share market has finished the trading week on a positive note, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) adding 7.6pts or 0.2pct to 4277.4 and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (XJO) firmer by 6.7pts or 0.2pct to 4194.7.

Oxfam Australia is calling on the Just Group to ban sandblasting on its jeans manufacturing process due to serious health concerns it poses on workers.