POLITICS & POLICY

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 7/11/2012

The Australian sharemarket is losing ground for the fifth straight day, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) down 0.2 pct or 9.9 pts to 4128. Despite the falls, the last week and a half has been extremely quiet on markets, so the losses cannot be taken too seriously.

Carbon Tax to Add 0.7% to Inflation Rate

On the second week of the implementation of the carbon tax, Treasurer Wayne Swan said the $23 per tonne carbon price is now a reality which Australians would have to judge its impact on their lives.

Global Markets Overview - 07/11/2012

Worries from the tech and industrial sectors and an underwhelming earnings report from bellwether Alcoa sent stocks tumbling Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 83.17 points, or 0.7%, to 12653.12, while the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index fell 10.99 points, or 0.8%, to 1341.47.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 07/11/2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has opened fairly unchanged this morning after trading to a high of USD1.0245 overnight during the European session.
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Global Markets Overview - 07/10/2012

Nervousness about Europe's debt crisis, an economic slowdown in China and the onset of domestic earnings season pushed U.S. stocks lower for a third-straight day Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 36.18 points, or 0.3%, to 12736.29. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index gave up 2.22 points, or 0.2%, to 1352.46.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 07/10/2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar continues to hover around the USD1.0200 level, despite weaker offshore equity markets and continued concerns about the European recovery.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 7/9/2012

It was a less than ideal start to the new trading week, with shares losing ground for the third consecutive session. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) fell 0.9 pct or 39.2 pts to 4159.8. Today was also around 20 pct quieter than last Monday. It is important to note that last week was one of the quietest so far in 2012.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 7/9/2012

Friday night the overseas markets were hit by weak U.S. job numbers and concern over global growth. The all-important U.S. non-farm payroll numbers came in below market expectations as 80,000 new jobs created over the month of June was just not enough to settle markets. European and U.S. investors were also cautious ahead of the new global growth forecasts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The head of the IMF Christine Lagarde said in a speech on Friday, in Japan, that she will revise ...

Melbourne Cemetery Charges Family $55 as Carbon Tax

Despite the threat of a $1.1 million fine from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), some Aussie entities continue to gouge residents by blaming the two-week-old carbon tax for large increase in prices.

Queensland Joins Andrew Forrest in Mining Tax High Court Battle

Andrew Forrest of Fortescue Metals has found an ally in its High Court battle against the mining tax in the Australian state of Queensland. Despite a meeting on Monday between Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, the state will go ahead and join Fortescue in the High Court challenge.

Global Markets Overview - 07/09/2012

U.S. stocks fell sharply Friday to cap a holiday-shortened week marred by weak readings on the U.S. economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished Friday off 124.20 points, or 0.96%, at 12772.47, as investors responded to a third consecutive month of employment data that were worse than expectations.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 07/09/2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar retreated from its recent highs on Friday night after the June US non-farm payrolls came in lower than expected with 80,000 new jobs created versus the 100,000 generally predicted.

AFP Absolves PM Gillard’s Aide in Australia Day Fiasco

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) cleared a former media aide of Prime Minister Julia Gillard from any wrongdoing despite the information that he leaked to Canberra protesters during the Australia Day celebration early this year.

PM Gillard Calls on Tony Abbott to Work with Asylum Committee

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said on Friday that the Multi-Party Reference Group she convened "to address asylum seeker and refugee issues," is all geared up for work, with its cross-party composition filled up save for the slots reserved for the Coalition.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 07/06/2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar had a brief boost to two month highs after the UK and European Central banks announced fresh bouts of stimulus overnight.

Global Markets Overview - 07/06/2012

Actions by central bankers to juice the global economy failed to excite investors Thursday, while signs of hope on the U.S. jobs front also weren't enough to push stocks higher. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index dropped 6.44 points, or 0.5%, to 1367.58, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 47.15 points, or 0.4%, to 12896.67.

Labor Govt Downplays Talks of Carbon Price Revisions

Barely a week after it came into full swing, talks of revising the carbon tax swirled as Independent MP Rob Oakeshott further pushed on his campaign for the federal government to drop the $15 floor price from the scheme.

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