Prices of major commodities remained uneasy as Eurozone leaders continued to debate on how to address their financial crises.
From Craig James, Commsec Chief EconomistMORNING REPORT (6am AEDT) The US leading index rose by 0.9pct in October, well above the consensus estimate of an increase of 0.6pct. Industry orders in Italy fell by 8.3pct in September after rising by 4.2pct in August and rising 1.2pct in July. German producer prices rose 0.2pct in October while the core rate fell 0.2pct - both weaker than expected.
From robot snakes to breathable mattresses designed after honeycombs, more innovative designs are using the art and science of biomimicry. The field of biomimicry has already given consumers hundreds of products and devices that are based on nature.
From Bell FX Currency Outlook:
The AUD has opened little changed from Friday around the 1.0000 level, with financial markets subdued and attention more focused on politics in Europe and America.
Africa, hungry for acceptance into the big league of nations with high economies, has sprung on every possible merger and acquisition (M&A) it can hold or get into, a strategy very reminiscent of China two decades ago.
Queensland Mining Corporation has gained approval from major shareholder Tulla Resources to push through company works towards the development of the White Range Copper Project.
As the world fiscal crisis continues to shake developed economies, emerging economies are left to fend for themselves.
Multi commodity explorer and miner Alkane Resources is edging closer toward development approval for its Tomingley Gold Project.
Prices of iron ore continued its 13th straight day winning streak, in what seems to be a rosy picture again for producers, encouraged on by strong demand from top buyer China.
Global miners BHP Billiton Ltd, Rio Tinto Group and Vale SA had received requests from China Steel Corp (CSC) to suspend or reduce the deliveries of iron and coking coal because of a slow output requirement for the raw materials.
For this year's Guinness World Records Day, the inadvertent theme was taking back records to for a sense of community and countrywide pride-there were Irish leprechauns and a massive tea party from Britain.
Santos Mine informed a Parliamentary inquiry that it will back out of a planned coal seam gas (CSG) pipeline pipeline project in New South Wales's (NSW) central west.
China has been given the go-signal to resume the construction of its nuclear power plants that were discontinued earlier this year prompted by Japan's Fukushima crisis in March.
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said on Thursday night that Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s decision to overturn Australia’s uranium sale ban to India was the latter’s initiative and he was not fully consulted on the matter.
Afghanistan's mining ministry has shortlisted the number of foreign investors interested to explore its iron ore rich Hajigak mine, and it is likely the mine will go to an Indian firm.
Determined to attract more investment and tourism to Sri Lanka, the country would ease its foreign ownership restrictions on land ownership.
Full competition in the telecom industry has resulted in almost 50 per cent drop in average mobile voice price, a report released on Friday said.
Dozens of anti-government protesters stormed Kuwait's parliament as hundreds of activists protested outside demanding the resignation of the prime minister and dissolution of the legislature on Wednesday.
The AUD continued to drift lower overnight trading below 1.0000 as European debt issues continue to weigh on markets.
Global markets slid overnight, on the back of a deepening European debt crisis. Borrowing costs in Europe continued to rise, keeping investors at bay and causing heightened risk aversion. A euro-area official was reported as saying there are no plans for aid for Italy from the EFSF, and the Super Committee talks in the US have reportedly stalled with less than a week until the deadline to propose a plan to cut the deficit. Everything just seems to be going wrong at the same time.
From Craig James, Commsec Chief EconomistMORNING REPORT - (8am AEDT) US Philadelphia Fed factory activity fell from 8.7 to 3.6 in November. The result was below economist expectations of a result around 8.0. On a positive note the more forward looking indicator of business conditions six-months from now rose sharply from 27.2 to 41.9 - the highest reading in almost 7 years.
Commodity explorer and miner, Alkane Resources (ASX: ALK), has upgraded its resource of zirconia and rare earths at Dubbo in the central west of NSW.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) released on Thursday a discussion paper on proposed liquidity coverage ratio requirements of the new Basel III rules.
Help for Flinders Mines continue to pour in as it announced on Wednesday it has entered into a non-binding agreement with an independent rail provider to scout possible solutions to transport iron ore on a multi-user rail line from the Pilbara to nearby ports on the Western Australian coast.
Chilean copper producer Antofagasta and Canada's Barrick Gold have been denied a mining lease application by Pakistan's Baluchistan province over the Reko Diq copper-gold project.
New South Wales Attorney General Greg Smith proposed on Thursday limiting the number of times an Australian could legally change name. He wants to limit it to three times and to impose as well tougher requirements in a bid to prevent criminals from hiding from the law.
At least four foreign resource firms have expressed interest to conduct talks with Mumbai-based firm Varun Industries after it announced the discovery heavy minerals reserves at its blocks in Madagascar.
Despite a Supreme Court ruling allowing former Philippine president Gloria Arroyo to receive medical treatment abroad, the Philippine government prevented her from leaving NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) in Manila.
Police had arrested a suspect in a shooting incident at the White House on Friday night.
Despite existing self-regulation adopted by the food processing industry in 2009, television food advertisements promoting the so-called junk foods still make their way to considerable number of Aussie children, a new study said.
