Jamelle Agbuis

Confidence is back, risk is 'on' again and markets almost blushed with vigour last week, none more than the Aussie dollar which added a large 5.9% or nearly 6 USc in jumping well past parity with the greenback.

Incoming head of third party for Suncorp Steven Heavey has vowed the bank’s credit policies and broker processes will go under the microscope when he begins his role.

Treating cancer is BIG business in America -- in fact, it's a $200 billion a year business. Yet 98 percent of conventional cancer treatments not only FAIL miserably, but are also almost guaranteed to make cancer patients sicker.

Good news for the Australian iron ore and coal industries, and of course the country's balance of payments for the next 18 months or so.

A case is emerging for the Reserve Bank not to cut interest rates, either next month or December.

Treating cancer is BIG business in America -- in fact, it's a $200 billion a year business. Yet 98 percent of conventional cancer treatments not only FAIL miserably, but are also almost guaranteed to make cancer patients sicker.

A proposal put forth by four members of the New York State (NYS) Senate have surely caused the Founding Fathers of the US to roll over in their graves. Hinged upon the stated goal of protecting children against "cyberbullying," NYS Senators Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), Diane Savino (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn), David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Orange), and David Valesky (D-Oneida) have proposed the passage of a ridiculous new bill that will essentially criminalize free speech.

The pet products industry is burgeoning, as 2011 figures released by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) show that Americans now spend more than $50 billion a year on food, supplies, and veterinarian care for their pets -- up nearly 300 percent since 1994.

A federal law passed in July was supposed to benefit American Indian and Alaskan Native women who are disproportionately vulnerable to abuse. But tight funding and immunity for non-Indian men are two major limitations.

Questions are being asked if China's economic slowdown is starting to crunch sections of the economy, just as the trade surplus weakens as export growth fades.

According to the latest results from a brand value report from branding consultancy Interbrand, Toyota has retained its top automotive position, and is placed 11th overall in the annual study.

BMW Group has released a countdown timer on its Facebook page for the unveiling of the new 2012 BMW 3 Series, which is set to be revealed this Friday. The new model will showcase an all-new exterior and interior, as well as feature various new powertrain trims levels.

Volkswagen Australia has announced the new facelifted 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. It gets revised styling, a new entry-level 1.4 TSI engine available in two-wheel drive, slightly more power for the base model 2.0-litre as well as a top-spec 2.0 TSI with 155kW.

For her Spring/Summer 2011-12 collection, entitled Luxor, Sara Phillips was inspired by the Egyptian landscape - the soft colours of the sand and the sky are punctuated by bright neons that can be seen in Egyptian textiles and buildings.

It was seven months to the day yesterday since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan, which then triggered the Fukushima nuclear crisis and crunched the economy.

For Spring/Summer 2011-12, Beau Coops designer Carrie Cooper has taken influence from the dark and gothic to create the 'Anyone Left is Lost' collection.

Occupy Wall Street protesters are undergoing collectivist zombie training in Atlanta, where a large group was caught on film engaging in a weird sort of "one voice" hypnotic chanting ritual that characterizes the key principles of both Communism and Socialism.

Insanity prevailed in California once again today as Governor Jerry Brown signed bill AB499 allowing 12-year-old children the ability to consent to being injected with Gardasil vaccines without their parents' knowledge; yet at the same time the Governor banned the use of tanning beds by anyone under 18 unless they received parental consent.

Victorian-based Rex Minerals has upgraded its plans for its low grade but huge Hillside copper prospect on Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, potentially doubling the original production forecasts.

Despite the solid rebound in market confidence last week (well, up to Friday night in the US), the European debt problems haven't gone away.

As forecast the latest ANZ job ads survey for September shows demand for new employees continues to ease.

I know there are lots of hair removal techniques out there — is one way safer than another? And most importantly, which way is most likely to be permanent?

One new nettle species, found hidden among stalagmites and limited to just 10 adult plants, may be a relic from a past ice age.

How to get help when it's more than just the 'baby blues.'

First it was Standard & Poor's, then a fleet of private economists; finally it was the IMF delivering the bad news that everyone knows: developed Europe is in trouble and the various economies are sliding towards a new recession.

Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like.

Two more tests approach for the slowing US economy.

More evidence yesterday that Australian consumers are spending solidly.

More evidence the Australian economy is better placed than all the business and consumer sentiment surveys have been suggesting.