POLITICS & POLICY

Australia’s Queensland Govt Divests Stakes in QR National

Australia's state government of Queensland on Monday announced it will divest its remaining stakes in coal-freight company QR National Ltd. for $1.5 billion in a bid to pool funds that could be used to pay down the state's bloating debt.

Global Markets Overview -10/08/2012

U.S. stocks ended mostly lower Friday, as enthusiasm over a surprise drop in unemployment faded and headlines sparked renewed concerns about Europe's debt problems. Still, the Dow industrials rose to a five-year high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 34.79 points, or 0.3%, to 13610.15, capping its first weekly advance in three weeks, although the benchmark pared gains of as much as 87 points earlier in the session.
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Chinese Huawei Mulling IPO – Report

Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co Ltd wants to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) to establish its credibility as it targets large contracts in major international markets.

Billabong Shares Down; Takeover Bidder TPG Raises Concerns

Billabong shares have sank, bordering at the $1 mark, which is way below TPG's indicative offer of $1.45 a share, after the troubled Australian surfwear retailer admitted that TPG is having some concerns and reservations about the takeover issue.

Global Markets Overview -10/05/2012

Financial and materials shares led stocks on a broad march higher and boosted the blue chips, which posted their biggest gains in three weeks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 80.75 points, or 0.6%, to 13575.36, the largest single-day gain since Sept. 13., when the Federal Reserve sparked a 1.5% rally in the Dow industrials by announcing a new bond-buying program.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 10/05/2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The AUD is likely to range trade today after posive night in equity markets, though we see further downside risks for the local currency.

Tony Abbott: A Softie Despite Tough Political Exterior, Says Wife

Margie Abbott, the wife of Coalition Tony Abbott, is on a public relations blitz in an apparent attempt to recover lost political support among voters for her husband who recently was questioned over having problems with female authorities or women in general.

Global Markets Overview -10/04/2012

Shares of telecom stocks helped nudge stocks higher after readings on private-sector hiring and service-sector activity bested expectations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 12.25 points, or 0.1%, at 13494.61, reversing losses earlier in the session.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 10/04/2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has been under pressure the past few days following the RBA rate cut and weaker data releases. Local data released today will again provide the AUD's direction for the day session.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 10/03/2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar remains under USD 1.0300 this morning following the Reserve Bank of Australia's surprise announcement to cut the official cash rate by 0.25% yesterday to 3.25%, a level not seen since March 2009 and only 0.25% above "emergency" levels set late 2008 during the GFC.

Newmont Taps SAP for Australian Operations

Newmont Mining, the second-largest gold producing mining firm in the world, will be installing a global SAP system in its Australian operations in the next two months.

RBA Cuts Benchmark Rates to 3.25%, Lowest in 3 Years

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) surprised the banking community on Tuesday by announcing an overnight cash rate cut of 25 basis points. With the decision, the country's key lending rate is down to 3.25 per cent, the lowest in three years.

Funny Memes: The Humour of the Nerds and the Geeks

"Smart is the new sexy," says the hit CBS sitcom about geek scientists, "The Big Bang Theory," one of the best comedy series today. Brainy people can be very funny, indeed. Perhaps the reason why there are several nerd and geek memes making the rounds on the internet is because the funniest memes are created by the nerds and the geeks themselves.

Congo, Cameroon Create Mbalam Iron-Ore Supervising Team

The republics of Congo and Cameroon have created a joint team to supervise the management of the iron ore deposits that are located along their common border as the owner of the Mbalam iron-ore project has been in an inconclusive takeover bid.

Qantas Divests StarTrack Freight Business to Australia Post

Australia Post, wanting to capture majority of the pie that caters to the growing online shopping activities of Australians, will acquire 50 per cent of Qantas Airways Ltd's freight business StarTrack for A$408 million ($422 million).

Global Markets Overview -10/02/2012

Stocks Monday started the fourth quarter mostly higher after a report showed an unexpected expansion in September U.S. factory activity. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 77.98 points, or 0.6%, to 13515.11, following its biggest weekly loss since the week ended June 1. The blue-chip benchmark trimmed gains heading into Monday's close, after climbing as much as 161 points earlier in the day.

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