BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP) inked a native land agreement in the Pilbara with the Nyiyaparli people. The signing would lead to expansion of the mining giant's iron ore operations and boost its output to 350 million tonnes by 2020 from the current 120 million tonnes.
The state of California has seen upgrades in the technology of roads to provide auto insurers with the ability to monitor the driving behavior of their clients and offer reduced premiums to them. However, the move has not been received well by advocates of privacy who have dismissed it as an unnecessary amount of intrusion leading to serious results.
There's something about the quality of a great leader that makes him or her stand out no matter the situation or the crowd. History's greatest leaders have all had that quality, though they may not have all started out as leaders of many or even very few people.
Facebook shares dropped by 6.27 percent. Facebook stock hit record low as the first lock-up period ended. Shareholders, who invested in the well-known social media company, cashed out some of their stake. Facebook shares are down almost 50 percent from its debut.
There's been some positive momentum gaining across global markets over the past 24 hours after German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced support for the European Central Bank's efforts to prop up the Eurozone. US share markets rose to four month highs overnight, while European markets also rallied. Here positive earnings reports helped boost sentiment with the All Ordinaries Index adding to yesterday's gains, up 1pct. Over the week, the market gained 2pct.
Local stocks are continuing to add to yesterday's gains, thanks to strong earnings results and positive offshore leads. European and US share markets moved higher overnight on hopes of further stimulus measures after German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced support for the European Central Bank's efforts to support the Eurozone. Mid-session, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up 28.2pts or 0.6pct to 4381.7.
By Peter Switzer, Switzer Super ReportOne of the scariest propositions you can deal with as a financial adviser is to play around with the timing of a stock market.
By Rudi Filapek-Vandyck, Editor FNArenaI joined Twitter. Not because I am curious what this celebrity has to say about her kids, or to read that another one is waiting for a connecting flight, impatiently.
Note from the Editor: The Consumer Metrics Institute in the US offers independent data and analysis on (online) consumer spending in the US.
A study by the Institute for Policy Studies has found that twenty-six big US companies paid their chief executive officers more last year than they did in federal taxes.
At the rate that Russia has purchased official gold reserves, the European nation logged the largest increase in global official gold reserves purchases over the five year period 2008 to 2012. Russia bought over 500 tonnes of the yellow metal.
By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 85 points or 0.7% while the S&P gained 0.7% to 1415 and the Nasdaq added 1.0%.
The Australian sharemarket improved for the third time this week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) gaining 1.1 pct or 46.5 pts to 4353.5. The energy and financial sectors led the rest of the market higher, while the property trusts ended flat.
Australian Banks on the Run
Local stocks are trading higher at lunchtime, following a mixed lead from overseas market and commodity prices. The European markets closed lower on growth concerns and rumours percolating around the markets that Spain is preparing to ask for an official bailout. The US markets were again mixed after stronger than expected US economic data have raised more doubts that the Federal Reserve will hold off from easing at its next policy meeting.
The car repair industry in Australia criticised on Thursday the decision by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) not to require the recall of 24,000 made-in-China vehicles with asbestos fibre parts.
By Jonathan BarrattEconomic numbers from China last week and the lack of any follow through on stimulus talks from central banks over the last few weeks has seen some weakness reemerge into the copper market.
By Greg PeelThe Dow dropped 7 points, the S&P was up 0.1% to 1405 and the Nasdaq gained 0.5%.It is looking increasingly likely the Fed will not need to provide additional stimulus in any big way in September.
The Australian sharemarket eased a touch for the first time this week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) falling 0.2 pct or 10.4 pts to 4307. The mining sector was the biggest drag on trade, with the S**9**P/ASX 200 Materials index slumping by 1.35 pct or 131.2 pts to 9620.7.
Local stocks are trading in the red at lunchtime, following an unconvincing offshore lead and mixed commodity prices. A report showing the Eurozone economy shrank in the second quarter met expectations, and European shares rose in thin trade, however US markets were again mixed as were commodities. At midday in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 22.5pts or 0.5pct to 4294.9.
The Office of Insurance Regulation in Florida ordered Praetorian, the subsidiary of Australian insurer QBE Insurance, to cut its home insurance premiums by one-third. QBE actually offered to reduce its rates by 2.2 per cent, but Commissioner Kevin McCarty asked the insurer to cut it by at least 35 per cent.
Three of Brazil's largest telecommunication companies will have to spend more than $9.8 billion to upgrade their internet and mobile access services ahead of the upcoming football World Cup in 2014, reported the Financial Times on Monday, after the Brazilian government threatened to punish the companies unless they did so.
The German and French economies showed signs of resilience as the two eurozone countries performed slighter better than expected.
Groupon Inc., online shopping giant, on Monday published its quarterly profit as its shares dropped by nearly 20 percent due to revenue miss and investors' concern over growth in the next months.
FNArena has added another video to its Investors Education section on the website. This week ATW's Jerry Simmons looks at the AUD rally, discusses a steadier run for the euro, prognosticates on a few market indices futures and soy beans, among many other things.
Game developers Electronic Arts anticipate profits derived from the digital downloads of their games to overtake the sales of physical gaming software within the span of a couple of years and according to their chief operating officer, the company is now directing its attention towards increasing its range of products meant for mobile and free-to-play.
By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 2 points, the S&P was flat at 1403 and the Nasdaq slipped 0.2%.The US economy is consumer-driven, hence data on consumer spending are an important indicator of the health of the US economy.
Despite China being a major manufacturing hub and the second largest economy, the desultory Made-in-China tag continues to hound the Asian giant. Ateco Automotive, the Australian importer of made-in-China vehicles, could recall 25,000 Great Wall and Chery brand vehicles over its asbestos fibre contents in the car's engine and exhaust gasket.
Four Australian cities landed on top 10 list by the Economist Intelligence Unit of the Global Liveability Survey of 140 worldwide cities. However, Brisbane officials are questioning the survey because the city is only 20th on the list below Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Perth.
Local stocks managed a small win today, despite a negative lead from the US Dow Jones Index and as European shares eased from four month highs. Defensive stocks led the gains locally, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) adding 7.9pts or 0.2pct by close to finish at 4317.
