POLITICS & POLICY

Australian Stock Market Report - 3 January 2012

MORNING REPORT(8.00am AEDT)The euro zone purchasing managers index rose from 46.4 to 46.9 in December. The French index rose from 47.3 to 48.9 and the German index lifted from 47.9 to 48.4. In figures released on Sunday the official Chinese manufacturing index rose from 49.0 to 50.3 in December.

Global Markets Overview - 3 January 2012

From Morrison Securities Pty Ltd.: The final Labor Department jobs report for 2011 will punctuate another holiday shortened week. In addition to the figures on joblessness some of the most closely watched indicators markets will mull over monthly sales figures from retailers for the key holiday-shopping month of December.
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Queen Bestows Order of Merit on Former PM John Howard

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard was appointed by the Queen to the Order of Merit. The order is bestowed on individuals who have achieved exceptional distinction in the arts, learning, sciences and other areas such as public service.

Welcoming 2012 [PHOTOS]

Welcoming 2012 may be varied in different areas around the world, but such a celebration holds one common practice - to party and make noise! It's the time to be happy and cheerful.

Hackers Say to Publish Emails Stolen from Stratfor

Hackers have stolen emails from the Strategic Forecasting Inc., a private analysis company serving for clients such as the Wall Street banks, U.S. military, and other big corporations. Hackers are associated with an Anonymous group and have indicated that they are prepared to publicize what they have taken from the firm.

Treasurer Swan: Australia in Stronger Position to Handle Global Slowdown

Australia is in a stronger position than most to handle the expected global slowdown to come from the European debt problem, Treasurer Wayne Swan said. In fact, the country can maximise the opportunities that will come from the Asia-Pacific, now the strongest part of the global economy.

U.S. Warns Tehran: Think Twice Before Blocking Gulf Strait

U.S military officials hinted strongly on Wednesday that Tehran courts possible military response if it makes good its threat of sealing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the major passageway of oil shipments to and from the Persian Gulf.

JP Morgan Cuts Molycorp Price Target, Shares Fall

Shares of US rare earths producer Molycorp Inc. plummeted 13% on Wednesday, trading for as low as $24.52 per share, after analyst JP Morgan slashed its price target on the stock to $39 from $57.

Chopper Drone To Spy With 1.8-Gigapixel Camera

The U.S. Army is developing a helicopter drone equipped with a 1.8 gigapixel camera that can provide high resolution ground images or video from an altitude of 20,000 feet and over an area of 65 square miles.

Royal Coal Expands Operations, Gets New Sales Contracts for 2012

Toronto-based junior miner Royal Coal Corp. on Wednesday announced it had secured a 234,000-tonne worth coal sales contracts for delivery starting January 2012.The company said the coal will be sourced from its Appalachian mines at an average sales price of $85 a tonne.

Qatar Q3 GDP Up 40% on Gas Expansion

Qatar's nominal gross domestic product (GDP) had grown by 40 per cent during the third quarter compared a year ago, latest data from the Qatar Statistics Authority said.

Australian Stock Market Report - Midday 12/29/2011

Yesterday, The Australian Stock market closed lower with The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) falling by around 50points. Today the market reopened lower, following the lead of major markets around the globe overnight. Key European and U.S. market index's off around 1pct.

Oldest U.S. Coal-Fired Plant Converts to Gas

Stricter U.S. regulations on pollution control, together with higher costs incurred in burning coal, have prompted Sunbury Generation LP, owner of one of the nation's oldest coal-fired power plants, to switch to natural gas by 2015.

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