Millionaires Jan Cameron and Graeme Wood both conservation-minded entrepreneurs have achieved a stunning coup over loggers by buying the Triabunna woodchip mill right from a logging company.
In spite the lowered residential property prices, affordability is still a major concern among residents in Australia, the National Australia Bank's latest survey indicated.
In Washington, online retail giant Amazon plans to unveil a tablet computer before October in a bid to carve out a slice of a growing market dominated by Apple's iPad, the Wall Street Journal and the AFP reported on Wednesday.
Research In Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry smartphones, told shareholders of plans to release new smartphones running on next-generation operating system in the coming months.
Peabody Energy Corporation and AcelorMittal S.A. have submitted a joint offer to purchase Macarthur Coal limited for $4.7 billion. The rise in shares signal that the market is expecting another bidder that would force Peabody and AcelorMittal, which owns 16 percent of Macarthur's outstanding shares, to raise their offer.
MARKET CLOSE--
(4.30pm AEST)The Australian sharemarket was lower in the first half of the day; however our fortunes changed for the better following solid economic numbers out of China today. The ASX 200 index (XJO) rose 0.40 pct or 19.4 pts to 4514.8 while the broader All Ordinaries index (XAO) gained 0.40 pct or 19.7 pts to 4583.2.
Australia's reforms to improve on the retirement savings of citizens are still hanging and waiting to be addressed, according to the industry group Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) after meeting with government authorities
MIDDAY REPORT -CommSec
(12.00pm AEST)After a stronger start to trade today, the Australian sharemarket has crept into negative territory with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) down 0.1 pct or 6.7 pts to 4556.8. Most sectors are lower with the exception of the industrials, telcos and healthcare stocks.
Consumer sentiment in Australia has plummeted to its lowest level in over two years, dragged down by European debt concerns and worries about the introduction of the price on carbon.
Human Capital recently reported survey findings that predicted an increase in salaries and employee benefits as organisations strive to combat the deepening skills shortage.
With employment intentions remaining positive, finding suitably skilled labour has returned to the agenda of many organisations.
MARKET CLOSE--Commonwealth Securities
(4.30pm AEST)The Australian sharemarket extended its falls in the second half of trade today, with the ASX 200 index (XJO) down 1.9 pct or 86.9 pts to 4495.4 while the broader All Ordinaries index (XAO) slumped by 1.8 pct or 83.3 pts to 4563.5. Almost all regions of the market ended lower with the exception of the coal producers.
Hewlett Packard has made organizational changes designed both to accelerate the scale and growth of its existing webOS business as well as to expand and enhance other HP product lines.HP released the Wi-Fi version of HP TouchPad at the start of the month and will release the tablet in other territories later in the month.
iriver Ltd., the South Korean company known for digital MP3 players, will start selling the iriver Story HD e-reader for US$140 this Sunday. The Story HD will be the first e-reader to connect to the Google eBookstore to download digital books using Wi-Fi
Apple Inc. has filed a complaint against HTC Corp., accusing Asia's second-largest maker of smartphones of infringing on the iPhone and iPad maker's patents. Apple has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to enjoin the Taiwanese company from importing its phones and Flyer tablets to the U.S.
The National Australia Bank has slashed down its economic growth forecasts for the country based on its latest survey that shows very slight increases in domestic sectors in Australia for the last six months.
MIDDAY REPORT-Commonwealth Securities (CommSec)
(12.00pm AEST)The Australian sharemarket is pulling back for the second straight day, with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) down 1.4 pct or 65.5 pts to 4581.3. Almost all sectors are currently trading in the red with the miners down in the order of 1.5 pct.
The Australian HR Awards, to be held on 28 October at the Hilton Sydney, will bring together industry leaders to celebrate excellence in the HR profession.
Beleaguered and undaunted, Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard had begun her final push for the carbon tax deemed necessary for the environment but would be costly for the domestic economy. There is no turning back for Ms Gillard determined to put a carbon emissions scheme in place no matter what the odds.
DrinkWise Australia, a liquor industry funded organization will officially launch today a campaign that will introduce warning labels on alcoholic beverages about the dangers of drinking excessively and drinking while pregnant or underage.
Research firm International Data Corp. said Friday that Apple's iPad and the recently introduced iPad 2 continue to dominate the media tablet market, as other vendors have had a more difficult time finding market acceptance for their products.
Just like Craigslist, Cracker has sections devoted to jobs, stuff, cars, community, real estate, housing for rent and sale, services, and dating and personals.
ANALYSIS: Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO), the company perhaps best known for Internet protocol-based networking and other products, has launched its own tablet PC, called Cius. Cisco describes the device based on Google's Android platform as "an ultra-portable, mobile collaboration enterprise tablet that offers access to essential business applications."
MARKET CLOSE-CommSec
(4.30pm AEST)It was a less than desirable start to the week for equities, with the ASX 200 index (XJO) falling 1.6 pct or 72.4 pts to 4582.3 while the broader All Ordinaries index (XAO) has dropped 1.5 pct or 69.2 pts to 4646.8. Almost all market segments ended in lower territory by the close of business.
Qantas pilots have voted unanimously to take protected industrial action for the first time since 1966 in pursuit of a Qantas flight/Qantas pilot clause in the new enterprise agreement.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has gained approval to use in-house lawyers to conduct all its civil penalty litigations.
Despite the latest forecast showing a slight oversupply for accounting and auditing professionals for the next five years, employers will face difficulties in recruiting personnel as the demand for multi-skilled staff increases.
Implementing generous and accommodating parental leave policies can help employers boost their productivity and bottom line, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Since the release of the first model four years ago, Apple's iPhone has been blazing the trail for all smartphones. A decade ago, in the age of mobile calling and sending short messages, Finland-based Nokia was the king. Then came Research in Motion's BlackBerry, with its bigger display and QWERTY keyboard providing U.S. President Barack Obama and others a more convenient means of sending instant messages and e-mail. But in the age of the mobile Internet and apps, iPhone has been atop e...
Apple Inc. is releasing a thinner and lighter iPhone at the end of September, hoping to cut off Samsung Electronics Co. and other manufacturers benefiting the delayed release of the iPhone 5.
