Erik Pineda

Retail mogul Gerry Harvey remains committed on his stand to GST on Australian consumers’ internet-based shopping despite the backlash spawned by his campaign.

Giant mining firm Xstrata has admitted that a fire broke out on its Hunter Valley coal mine site in New South Wales, forcing the miner to evacuate some 55 workers from down below and halt all activities until the cause of fire has been established.

The Australian automotive industry rolled into its second biggest year ever in 2010 as more than one million units of brand new vehicles hit the country’s roads with industry experts expressing confidence that gains would be sustained in the current year, at least in a moderate way.

Woodside’s proposed billion-dollar Greater Sunrise floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) platforms in the Timor Sea remain locked in a controversy as the East Timor government maintains its position that a processing plant be built inside the country instead of the planned gas hub.

The federal government is extending its assistance on Queenslanders affected by the heavy rains and flooding that deluded the state, the worst flooding incident seen in Queensland for almost half a century, according to experts.

Giant global resource firm BHP Billiton Ltd is aiming to sustain the remarkable growth seen on its petroleum division over the past year and prowling the market for possible acquisition target is its way of further ramping up production outlook for some years ahead.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard scored the opposition for again fusing politics on the national broadband network project and this time around by dragging the names of two senior NBN Co executives to the alleged bribery scandals that occurred in Asia and Latin America.

Investors jittery of the volatile equity markets appear to increasingly train their attention on an unlikely but viable investment vehicle.

The downpours and flooding sweeping through the regions of Queensland and New South Wales would inevitably lead to losses that could cost the national economy some $7 billion, according to Australian economists.

The heavy rains and flooding currently denuding much of Queensland would definitely impact on QR National Ltd’s earnings but the rail operator is holding back its estimates until actual assessments are checked in.

China’s decision to reduce its export quota of rare earths boosted Lynas Corp’s prospect in the international market for the priced minerals and pushed up the emerging producer’s shares value in Australian market by at least 13 percent.

Indian firm Tata Steel is ready to work with any firm poised to acquire coal miner Riversdale Mining Ltd, where the giant South Asian steel company holds a 24 percent interest.

Construction giant Leighton Holdings Ltd found a viable ally for its Indian business interests on Welspun Corp Ltd, which recently acquired a 35 percent stake on the Australian contractor’s operations in the subcontinent for roughly $103 million.

Germany’s Mercedes Benz continue to enthral Australian luxury car aficionados as the carmaker rolled out its 1000th unit this year and just a day after Christmas from the global company’s AMG Performance Studio.

Western Australia now earns the distinction as the country’s first site of genetically modified (GM) canola contamination, with a farm in the state’s Great Southern region receiving confirmation from WA authorities that its organic produces could be laced with contaminants.

Seemingly unmindful of its mobile services woes, Vodafone pours million on advertisements that the telco hopes would lure new customers in light of the criticisms it now gets from disgruntled clients for apparent promises it could not deliver.

India’s burgeoning economy exposed the inability of its local economy to adequately fuel its accelerating expansion and some Indian firms are devising ways to meet the needs of the country’s power-hungry industrial activities.

Global mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd won the official approval of the Western Australian government for proceeding on the initial phase of its $3.9 billion iron ore expansion in the Pilbara region.

Australian companies appear to be concealing the more pertinent information when they file their annual business reports as the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) observed on its review that corporate declarations are lacking in quality.

The budget surplus heralded by the federal government for fiscal 2013 may not be realised after all following reports that the targeted $7.4 billion revenue from the minerals resource rent tax could suffer considerable shortfalls.

Popular athletes wear and endorse them purportedly to enhance their competitive skills but Choice merely labelled the rubber wristband as a waste of money and now Australia’s consumer watchdog calls the product as nothing but a scam.

Banks targeted by the country’s securities regulator for legal proceedings have lashed out on the agency, claiming that the lawsuits are unwarranted since their actions on the Storm Financial issue were merely procedural.

Giant telecommunication firm Telstra Corporation is writing down some $138 million in carrying value of its Octave business operation in China, which mainly deals on giving out technical services and providing phone content to mobile platforms.

Severe weather systems hovering over the European continent spawned unfavourable flying conditions on its vast area’s airport terminals, including London’s Heathrow Airport where two Qantas Airways flights coming and bound for the terminal are suspended on Wednesday.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh denies the existence of any challenges to her leadership of the state Labor Party, apparently convinced that politics is the last thing in the minds of people especially during the holiday season.

The trade relationship of Australia and China continue to bear fruit as it registered an annual growth of 8.8 percent in 2010, en route to whopping trade value of $90 billion, according to the latest report of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Australian economy moderately grew in October but economists expressed optimism that the firm movement signals calculated expansion and not deceleration.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) rolls into action its legal suits against parties allegedly involved in the $3 billion Storm Financial meltdown following the deadline’s lapse for banks to strike compromise deals with up to 14,000 investors affected by the collapse.

Sealing the deal on the national broadband network project appears to require more time than first thought as Telstra Corporation informed its shareholders that its discussions with the federal government has been delayed.