POLITICS & POLICY

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar has risen this morning to the high 1.0700's after China's weekend move to yet again lower the reserve requirements it imposes on its banks.

From Morrison Securities Pty. Ltd: The Dow Jones Industrial Average pushed higher for the second day after European leaders signaled progress toward an agreement on a second bailout for Greece. Both the Dow and Standard & Poor's 500 stock indexes made runs at multiyear milestones, but a late rally lost momentum ahead of the long, holiday weekend.

Today marks the end of an eventful week for the Australian sharemarket. Shares rose on three occasions, had its worst daily performance in 2012 yesterday and there were 36,000 more jobs created in January than expected. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) edged higher by 0.4 pct or 16.1 pts to 4273.3.

Gold imports by China in the last quarter of 2011 have overtaken those by India, recognized top global importer of the precious safe haven yellow metal, during the same quarter, and it is most possible that China will snatch that title from its neighbor and fellow Asian emerging economic leader this 2012.

In the same way that summer outfits such as board shorts and bikini tops and bottoms are easy to take off after a romp in the beach, jobs in clothing companies such as Pacific Brand and Billabong are easily being shed.

Australia and Asia's richest woman is making her voice heard again in national affairs. She proposed in article in the Australian Resources and Investment Magazine slated to be published March 1 that the Canberra no longer be considered the capital city, but to move major government offices to Alice Springs.

Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Bank reported on Friday unaudited December quarter profit of $1.48 billion. It is up 4.1 per cent from $1.4 billion profit for the same quarter a year ago. Unaudited net profit reached $1.7 billion.

A proposal on how to address five remaining sets of preconditions is holding up the temporary operating license earlier approved by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board of Malaysia for Australian miner Lynas Corp.

It was great to see the Australian share market bouncing back from yesterday's losses at the open of trade today. Yesterday the market posted its worst day of 2012.Today, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) slumping by 1.6 pct or 70.2 points to 4257.2. This morning the All Ord's opened 40 points higher and by lunch the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) had given back most of its early gains as investors because a bit more cautious head of trading tonight in the U.S. ahead of the Presidents Day lo...

CatholicVote.org, a top national grassroots Catholic group, announced that 100 percent of Roman Catholic bishops (180 in total) who lead a diocese in the U.S. have publicly denounced the mandate that their insurers for church-related institutions cover birth control.

The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) recently conducted their third quarter DUMA survey for the year 2011. In this survey, AIC included new set of questions that covers the illegal use of prescription medications as well as the extent of these medications in the black market.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar has risen almost a full US cent overnight to open at USD1.0750 this morning, up from USD1.0668 late Thursday.

A new bill was introduced in Parliament today which aims to help more Australians to vote even if they are not enroled. This new bill entitled the Electoral and Referendum Amendment (Protecting Elector Participation) Bill 2012 would enable at least 1.6 million eligible Australian voters to practice their right to vote. Through this bill, the Electoral Commission will be given the authority to enrol eligible voters. Currently, only individuals have the power to enrol themselves.

David Bradbury, the Parliament Secretary to the Treasurer announced that a new legislation has been introduced in the Parliament which is focused on helping employees get their entitlements. This new legislation is called the Corporations Amendment (Phoenixing and Other Measures) Bill 2012. Through this legislation, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) are given the authority to communicate and demand from abandoned companies the entitlements that their previous employees ...

A new legislation passed into Parliament focuses on supporting Australians with disability in terms of finding work. This new legislation entitled The Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Disability Support Pension Participation Reforms) Bill 2012 introduces new participation requirements for Disability Support Pension (DSP) recipients who are capable to be employed. The bill also highlighted a much flexible law that allows DSP recipients to work for at least 30 hours a week and stil...

The Australian sharemarket had its worst day of 2012 today, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) slumping by 1.6 pct or 70.2 pts to 4257.2. It was also one of the busiest days on the local market this month with around $5.8 billion worth of shares exchanging hands throughout the session.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) Chief Executive Ian Narev said on Thursday that the bank is not ruling out an independent interest rate cut if global financial conditions would improve.

The raging two-year drought that continues to affect Chile has made copper producers concerned as to how to source electricity generation to adequately support their operational requirements.

The raging two-year drought brought by La Niňa that continues to affect Chile has made copper producers concerned as to how to source power generation to adequately support their operational requirements.

The Australian share market lost ground from the open of trade today, in line with falls on the U.S. markets overnight. All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 1.5 pct or 64.4pts to 4263 at lunchtime. All market sectors were in the red with the biggest slides occurring in the S&P/ASX 200 Materials sector off 2.17 pct and the best performing sector of the day being the S&P/ASX 200 Telecom Services sector helped by market heavy weight, Telstra Corporation Limited (TLS) up $0.02 to $3.43 cents a share a...

Tuning out the uncertainty cast by the Greek debt default and further quantitative easing in the U.S. will be difficult for the local Aussie markets to overcome on Thursday as profit-taking dominates in the early hours of trade and signalling a sluggish start.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar edged its way towards USD1.0800 during yesterday's local session but is back down under USD1.0700 this morning.

U.S. stocks were on pace for their steepest fall of the year, as questions about the latest Greek bailout added to concerns about industrial stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 111 points, or 0.9%, to 12768, in late Wednesday afternoon, after rising for five out of the past six days.

The Australian sharemarket was trading in the red until some upbeat comments from the head of China's central bank gave the market a boost. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rose by 0.2 pct or 8.5 pts to 4327.4. Most sectors gained some ground, however the miners and health care stocks held the market back.

India, in a bid to support government revenues in light of a deepening and stretching fiscal deficit, plans to sell some of its interests in state-run firms, Dow Jones Newswires reported, quoting an unnamed senior official connected with India's finance ministry.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ordered on Tuesday giant telco Telstra Corporation to reduce the wholesale pricing of its asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) service.

Australia has further improved on the social condition of its indigenous population four years after the country expressed its deep regret over the disadvantages suffered by the nation's original settlers.

Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee admitted that the country's inflation rate is still at a high and hopes that it could lower in March.

The Australian stock market on Wednesday will try to put away the lacklustre sentiments generated by the U.S. and European indices overnight with a focus on a few earnings reports due to be released today.