POLITICS & POLICY

Australian Dollar Outlook - 06/20/2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar remains well supported this morning following a night of strength in equity markets and upbeat statements from the G20 regarding Europe.

Global Markets Overview - 06/20/2012

Speculation that U.S. central bankers are set to unveil additional stimulus measures lifted the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index for the fourth session in a row, as tensions eased across Europe's financial markets.

BRICS Injects Huge Money to IMF’s Firewall Fund

The firewall purse being worked on by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) got a significant boost late Monday as the world's emerging markets pledged a total of $US95.5 billion to the emergency fund that the global lender said will be used to fend off threats of recession around the world.
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German Utility Firm RWE Abandons Nuclear Plan Ambitions

Massively knocked down by its own government's ruling to phase out nuclear power, Germany's second-biggest energy supplier, RWE, announced on Monday it will no longer build nuclear power plants, both domestically and overseas.

FM Bob Carr: Melinda Taylor's Freedom Lies on ICC Hands

The ball on the Melinda Taylor affair is now on the International Criminal Court's (ICC) hands as Foreign Minister Bob Carr said on Tuesday that an apology coming from the court could soon win the release of the detained Aussie lawyer and her ICC co-workers.

How to Advocate for Family Leave Insurance, a.k.a “Paid Family Leave,” in Your State

This week I wrote a post for Forbes.com entitled "3 Reasons Why Card-Carrying Capitalists Should Support Family Leave." To help individuals advocate for Paid Family Leave (which is really Family Leave "Insurance") in their state, Ellen Bravo the Executive Director of Family Values @ Work, a national network of 16 state and local coalitions helping spur the growing movement for family-friendly workplace policies, offered the following get-started tips:

Senator George Brandis Blames Carbon Tax for Fairfax Woes

Australian politicians are again playing the blame game just barely two weeks to the collection of the carbon tax on July 1. Coalition Senator George Brandis on Tuesday pointed to the carbon prices as the reason behind Fairfax Media's woes.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 06/19/2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar is unchanged this morning currently trading at USD1.0115 as the offshore markets digested the result of the Greek elections.

Global Markets Overview - 06/19/2012

The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index inched ahead Monday after Spanish borrowing costs rose to a record high and Greek political leaders sought to form a pro-bailout coalition following Sunday's election. Stocks bounced from opening lows to waver between slight gains and losses for most of the day. The S&P 500 edged up 1.94 points, or 0.1%, to 1344.78

Japan, Vietnam Launch Rare Earths Technology Facility

More and more non-Chinese rare earths related projects are starting to get off the ground, proof that the world is determined to reduce its dependence on a China for rare earths, as Japan and Vietnam launched over the weekend its very first rare earth research and technology transfer facility.

Lynas Gets Thru Hurdle with Malaysia Science Ministry; Parliament to Deliberate Rare Earths Plant Tuesday

It won't be long before the controversial rare earths processing plant of Australian miner Lynas Corp. goes full blast in Malaysia even if protesters are sure to mount various objections to challenge its eventual kick-off, after the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) ruled out the appeal of locals against the temporary operating license (TOL) issued in January by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB).

Galaxy Poll Says Labor’s PM Gillard a ‘Spectacular Failure’

The country's first female Prime Minister may have attracted the adulation of the international community for her tax programs that aim to reduce the world's collective carbon emission and to filter down the benefits of Australia's ongoing resource boom but her countrymen do not share the same sentiments, the new Galaxy poll said.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 06/18/2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The AUD has continued its firm tone from Friday's trading, as it appears a new coalition government will be formed in Greece between the New Democracy Party and PASOK, giving them control of 161 seats in the 301 seat parliament.

Australia Market Leads - 06/18/2012

Risk currencies have gapped higher this morning as projections showed Greece's two largest pro-bailout parties winning enough seats to forge a parliamentary majority. Anti-bailout party Syriza received 26.6% and 71 seats. The euro raced to a high of 1.2747 against the greenback, while the Aussie dollar advanced to 1.01327 against the USD. With the euro taking the election results positively ahead, Asian markets are in for a firm open. As well as listening for political commentary in Greece, i...

Global Markets Overview - 06/18/2012

Energy stocks led the U.S. market rally as rising optimism that the world's central bankers are primed to stabilize financial markets boosted stocks for a second day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 115.26 points, or 0.9%, to 12767.17 to close near Friday's session highs.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 6/15/2012

The Australian sharemarket managed to improve for the second time this shortened trading week. It certainly was quiet over the past four days, partly due to the Greek Presidential elections which will take place this Sunday. Markets were closed on Monday due to the Queen's birthday. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rose 0.4 pct or 17.2 pts to 4107.

Gov't Vows No Cover-Up on Alleged Abuses in ADF

The government does not intend to hide from the public eye wrongdoings, past and present, committed by officers of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), as alleged in the review conducted by law firm DLA Piper.

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