POLITICS & POLICY

China Sets Aside Special Fund for Rare Earths Miners

Chinese miners of rare earths are bound to receive a funding support from China's Communist Party-led government to encourage further development and upgrades in the badly performing sector recently dealt with environment problems.

Save Murray-Darling Basin Proposal Now A Decree

A proposed management plan to save the Murray-Darling Basin after decades of degradation has finally become a decree on Thursday, with Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke affixing his signature to make the plan a final legality.

NSW Urged to Consider Nuclear Power Generation

Jonathon O'Dea, Liberal MP for Davidson, has urged on the New South Wales Government to consider exploring the potential of nuclear power generation after the state government reported 39 expressions of interest from companies wishing to explore for uranium in the province.
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11 Harvey Norman Franchisees Face Charges--ACCC

Some eleven franchisees of the Harvey Norman, a large Australian-based retailer of electrical, computer, furniture, entertainment and bedding goods, have been slapped cases by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in the Federal Court on alleged consumer rights misrepresentation.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 21 November 2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is slightly lower this morning following falls on US stock markets and a signal the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) may cut the cash rate again in the near future.

Australia Stock Market Report - Afternoon - 20 November 2012

Hopes the US government will reach a deal to avert the so-called fiscal cliff saw US share markets soar overnight, with the Dow Jones Index adding more than 200 points. Local stocks have followed suit, adding to yesterday's 0.5pct gain with another 0.6pct win today. By close, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) was higher by 24.9pts to 4407.5pts.

Lynas Fires Up Malaysian Rare Earths Plant in December

Australian rare earths miner Lynas Corp has scheduled for December the start-up of its processing plant in Kuantan, Malaysia, executive chairman Nicholas Curtis said at the annual general meeting in Sydney on Tuesday.

Australia Joins Nations Against Death Penalty

Australia, along with 109 other nations, on Tuesday supported a resolution at the UN General Assembly urging for the elimination of the death penalty. The declaration is voted upon every two years by member-nations.

Big Discounts Are Good, but be Click Frenzy Wary

Consumers and kibitzers can't wait for the day to finish and for the clock to strike 7pm in a mad dash to Australia's first nationwide online sale,Click Frenzy. But financial experts warned the frenzied clicking could do more damage than good to one's finances later on.

Global Markets Overview - 20 November 2012

The Dow Jones Industrial Average staged a triple-digit advance Monday, as investors rooted for signs of a compromise in Washington on the impending fiscal cliff. The Dow industrials climbed 160 points, or 1.3%, to 12748 in afternoon trading. Friday, it had risen 46 points to snap a four-session losing streak, although the blue-chip benchmark has lost ground for four consecutive weeks

Australian Stock Market Report - Afternoon - 19 November 2012

Since the GFC investors have become accustomed to political inertia at pivotal moments when bipartisanship or farsighted initiatives are required. The matter of the 'Fiscal Cliff' is another inflection point in this regard. When pressed, most commentators would agree that the situation will be resolved to avert a crisis

West Australia Approves Woodside's Browse Gas Project

The state government of West Australia has finally given the green approval to the proposed $30 billion Browse gas project of Woodside Petroleum, despite green groups denouncing the project as an "environmental disaster" waiting in the offing.

Global Markets Overview - 19 November 2012

Stocks posted their biggest daily gain Friday since the U.S. presidential election, after lawmakers said budget talks with the White House were "constructive." The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 45.93 points, or 0.4%, to 12588.31, reversing a morning slide of as much as 71 points.

Australian Stock Market - Opening - 19 November 2012

Risk assets lost ground in Friday's European session, only to recover in US trade on optimism that fiscal cliff negotiations are progressing after US politicians met at the White House. Further Greece concerns and disappointing US industrial production numbers had seen risk sold off in European and early US trade.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 19 November 2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is trading back in the mid 1.0300's this morning as talks in the US concerning the "fiscal cliff" offered some encouragement that a compromise will be reached between Republicans and Democrats.

Australian Online Shoppers Warned – Thieves Also Lurk Online

It's that merry season again where people splurge and shop for gifts either to give to others or to oneself. And as the number of Australians set to go online shopping will double this year, according to security technology company McAfee, it would be best to keep a mind or two whenever the urge to use that smartphone and tablet comes up to shop online.

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