Erik Pineda

Australia bested only South Korea in the list of six major trading partners that implement measures in reducing carbon pollution dependence, this according to the Vivid Economics report commissioned by The Climate Institute.

Picking up the pieces after its twice failed efforts on emission trading scheme, the federal government has decided to enlist the collective minds of a multi-sectoral group that would infuse fresh ideas on its climate change policy.

Many Australian firms are finding it hard to cope with their payables and stretch more time to make payment in the September quarter, leading businesses to worry that cash flows could be restricted amidst efforts for a significant turnaround on the current year.

The steady but relatively low level of unemployment rate in Australia could lead to business slowdowns and render the federal government’s infrastructure initiatives quite vulnerable.

Reacting to the acquisition bid tossed on its German parent company, Hochtief AG, Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX: LEI) moved on Monday to protect its minority shareholders as the construction firm requested the Australian regulator to intervene on the buyout transaction.

Popular social networking site Facebook recently imposed charges of up to $US2500 on company employees for divesting their private stock in an apparent attempt to capitalise on the burgeoning market that trains the attention of investors on similar start-up companies such as Twitter and LinkedIn.

The months of tabloid-hogging stories finally ended in a settlement that eventually veered away from the multi-million dollar sexual harassment suit filed by a former publicist against her former employer, high-end retailer David Jones Ltd and its resigned chief executive Mark McInnes.

The speculations circulating as early as last week proved true as giant mining firms Rio Tinto Ltd and BHP Billiton Ltd finally admitted on Monday that the planned merger of their Western Australian iron ore operations has been ditched, with the proposal being shot down by foreign regulators.

Though it started operations in April this year, Rio Tinto Ltd formally inaugurated its $US1.29 billion or $A1.3 billion Clermont thermal coal mine on Friday, located in the Bower Basin of Queensland, with Queensland Premier Anna Bligh attending the official opening ceremonies.

More than 60 percent of Australian consumers were in anticipation of a surge in home prices over the next 12 months, which is actually improvement from previous months’ expectations in the current year.

Tourism journalist Simon Anhalt added unsolicited colour on the prospects of Australia’s tourism industry when he labelled the country as the ‘dumb blonde’ in the sector for its attention-grabbing but bland allure.

An online poll conducted by Loan Market showed that many Australians were not even aware that there exists a federal program that provides assistance for first time home buyers.

The federal government said on Friday that ministers who handled the country’s botched home insulation scheme should not take the entire blame even as a report furnished by the auditor-general declared that risk management measures were largely overlooked during the project’s implementation.

Organised crimes in Australia suffered a major blow on Friday as authorities seized an estimated half tonne of cocaine in Brisbane that could easily fetch some $160 million had it managed to hit the nation’s streets.

Following years and billions of development investments, the new Ford Ranger makes its debut on Friday in a Sydney motor show that Ford Australia said has captured the attention of journalists, dealers and executives alike from across the Asia-Pacific.

The federal government needs to inform affected farmers on specific measures that it would implement to alleviate the anticipated damages set to be caused by the planned reduction of water usage in the Murray-Darling Basin area on South Australia.

Global mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) heralded a breakthrough September quarter for its mining operations as the company revealed on Thursday that its resources sites delivered record yields of iron ore, alumina and coking coal in the three months leading to September 30.

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) issued an advisory on Thursday warning the existence of near-perfect counterfeit cheques that currently circulates across the nation, supposedly under the auspices of the tax office and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

Their 69-days of being trapped in a mining shaft sandwiched by tonnes of rocks and sand 2000 feet below, ended on a triumphant rescue operation on Thursday as all 33 miners ascended one by one riding through an escape capsule.

Bank of Queensland (ASX: BOQ) saw its shares soaring on Thursday following its revelation that the bank’s yearly net earnings surged by five percent on the back of reduced costs and positive outlook for the remaining months of 2010.

Rising mining giant Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) reported on Thursday that it saw a seven percent slip on its September quarter iron ore shipments though the quarterly results exceeded previously set projections.

No more holiday tours to meet mortgage payments have become the norm for a great number of Australian homeowners, with about 50 percent more revealing that day-to-day basic requirements were being trimmed to cope with the upward surge of housing interest rates.

Coal explorer Northern Energy Corporation Ltd (ASX: NEC) is thwarting the $193 million unsolicited takeover bid by New Hope Corporation (ASX: NHC), calling the proposal as inadequate and materially undervaluing the firm.

The falling out between Bendigo Mining Ltd (ASX: BDG) and BCD Resources NL (ASX: BCO) resulted to an expected business split as the former confirmed on Thursday that the planned merger between the two companies has been ditched following the deterioration of a rift that started over a loan default.

Qantas Airways Ltd believes that the current solid standing of the Australian dollar would result to better profits for the airline but it admitted that the tourism industry would eventually feel the crunch of the surging currency.

Base metal miner Copper Strike Ltd (ASX: CSE) advised its shareholders on Wednesday to hold off any action on the $14.3 million takeover proposal pushed forward by Kagara Ltd (ASX: KZL), calling the offer as highly opportunistic.

Iron ore mining firm Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) confirmed on Wednesday that it has been conducting negotiations with several financial groups following reports published by the Australian Financial Review that the company is mulling a capital raising of up to $US6 billion or $A6.11 billion.

Yielding a lower ore grade in the September quarter, uranium explorer Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ASX: ERA) announced on Wednesday that it would have to pare down its production guidance for the year 2010.

Adelaide will soon roll out freshly assembled Holden Cruze by 2011 as GM Holden Ltd said on Wednesday that its new facility in the area will commence production of a local version of the popular small car model.