Sharon Olalia

After the latest inflation figures released on Wednesday showed that the Australian economy is slowing, economists are now tipping an interest rate cut.

Concerns about the NSW planning system along with turbulence in international and national economic markets is keeping a cap on confidence in the state’s property sector, a new survey has revealed.

Should the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lower interest rates, most Australians would rather reduce debt than go on a Christmas spending spree, a national survey by mortgage broker Loan Market has found.

Timmy the sheep led a mob of concerned Victorians at a rally at the MCG Thursday night calling on Primary Industries Ministers to close the loophole that allows un-stunned slaughter in Australia.

Leighton Holdings (ASX: LEI) has confirmed the previously provided guidance for the 12 months to 30 June 2012 for an after tax profit of between $600-650 million after completing a detailed forecasting review across all of its operating companies.

The engineering and construction markets in Australia are expected to grow strongly over the next few years, according to construction giant Leighton Holdings (ASX: LEI).

A new book has claimed US President Barack Obama’s actions to reduce nuclear weapons threats have not been commensurate with his rhetoric.

If valuers “get it wrong” they will often find themselves being sued by Lenders Mortgage Insurance companies who may be out of pocket after selling a property to recover funds lent on a loan that went bad.

Virgin Australia has announced plans for additional capacity over the next two weeks, adding 64 domestic services to meet increased demand.

If it was his decision, Barry O'Farrell would allow the coalition a conscience on the issue of same-sex marriage, the NSW Premier confirmed on Wednesday.

Broadband will bring a new boom to the bush, with High-Definition Telepresence set to revolutionise services in regional and rural Australia, according to an independent expert.

In recent months, direct lender MyRate Home Loans has seen a number of valuations coming in below borrower expectations, and in some cases, they even come in lower than the purchase price paid only weeks earlier.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is in a position to give the Australian retail sector the Christmas present it’s been asking for, a cash rate cut next week, according to the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) . The comments come after the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released consumer price index (CPI) for the September quarter, showing a slow in inflation.

About 48 per cent of home seekers in Australia are still set to buy a first home according to a new first time buyer survey by RAMS Home Loans.

AusGroup announced Tuesday its construction, integrated services and fabrication company AGC Industries has been chosen to construct a low grade pilot plant at the Rio Tinto-operated Brockman 4 mine site located in the Pilbara region, Western Australia.

TRUenergy is seeking development approval for two high-efficiency gas-fired power stations in Queensland to meet forecast increases in electricity demand in the state.

The online group GetUp has launched a campaign calling on the Australian government to return to its policy position of treating refugees and asylum seekers humanely, as outlined in the 2008 speech by former Immigration Minister Chris Evans, “New Directions in Detention.”

Funds manager Securcorp Ltd has delivered the final touches to its residential apartment project undertaken in the Townsville CBD, the $40 million Altitude in Walker Street.

The Australian Beverages Council, representing the Australian non-alcoholic beverage industry, has criticised the recent US study attempting to link increased soda consumption with violence.

Wesfarmers-owned Coles supermarket is set to lift the amount of milk it sources from Western Australian dairy farmers by 33 percent, with its three major new dairy contracts.

Victoria’s largest and most complex protected action secret ballot started Monday with more than 35,000 Australian Nursing Federation (Victoria Branch) members across the state receiving ballot papers in their letterbox.

As saving for a home deposit becomes an even greater challenge with higher living costs, some borrowers are exploring unconventional ways to help them save sooner, according to Mortgage Choice, one of Australia's largest independently owned mortgage broker.

Research has found potential borrowers are saving rather than taking on debt this year, and Australian banks have responded by loosening their lending criteria.

Analysis of the top content categories in Australia showed that Portals reached 96.1 percent of the total Australian online population age 6 and older accessing the Internet from a home or work location, ranking as the top category by penetration.

Leighton Asia in joint venture with Gammon has secured a A$1.2 billion contract from the MTR Corporation to construct the West Kowloon Terminus Station North, part of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL).

Fixed interest rates have continued their downward slide in October, with 36 lenders moving rates downward this month, according to new research from Australia's financial comparison site RateCity.

As mortgage lenders continue slashing fixed home loan rates, Australia's financial comparison site RateCity warns availing even discounted rates can actually cost more for households in the long run.

Wesfarmers Ltd on Thursday announced its retail sales growth rose 6.5 percent for the first quarter of the 2012 financial year.

The Australian Bankers’ Association (ABA) on Thursday reiterated it is important that Australian banks are profitable, because they provide economic security at a time when global conditions are unstable.