BUSINESS

New Zealand Parliament Bans Software Patents; IT Industry Rejoices

It is a major piece of legislation and could change the way we know software. It is a move that is expected to improve the system and drive further innovation. The New Zealand parliament on Thursday passed legislation that bans software patents. The motion was passed by a 117 to four vote and followed five long years of parliamentary debate. However, the legislation will only affect new patent applications. It means that existing software patents in New Zealand will continue to remain in force.

Australian Stock Market Report –Evening 8/30/13

The modest improvements recorded at midday were built on in the afternoon, with shares closing at intra-day highs. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) jumped by 0.8 per cent, the fourth improvement for the week and pushing the XAO back above 5100pts.
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Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 8/30/13

The Australian sharemarket is improving modestly for the fourth time this week. Conflict in Syria is still a problem for markets; however the chance of an imminent US led military intervention seems to have diminished for the time being. Overnight, the British parliament voted against using force in Syria.

Your Editor On Twitter

By Rudi Filapek-Vandyck, Editor FNArenaI joined Twitter. Not because I am curious what this celebrity has to say about her kids, or to read that another one is waiting for a connecting flight, impatiently.

Sony (NYSE: SNE)'s Smartphone Lens Camera to Cost $450, Announcement on Sep. 4

What could be better than taking photos with top of the line smartphones with like iPhone 5, or Samsung Galaxy S4? Taking photos with lenses attached to the smartphone. Sony has done exactly that with the QX10 and QX100, two lenses that connect to the smartphone camera. These are essentially huge lense camera accessories that can be hooked up to cameras on mobile devices. What does it do? You can turn your smartphone into a mean machine that zooms right in with image sensors giving you amazing q...

Some Profit at Last for Qantas

Australian flag carrier Qantas is slowly beginning to turnaround financially as the air carrier logged $6 million full-year net profits, its first after it suffered from its first loss since the company was privatised.

US Market Crash Alert!

Our operating hunch is that US stocks, Treasuries and gold have all turned over recent months.

Emerging Markets Are In Trouble

Emerging markets are in all sorts of trouble, and with the oil price preparing for another Middle Eastern war, centred this time in Syria, their problems are about to get worse. A collapsing currency combined with a rising US dollar oil price is a big tax on economic growth, and it comes at precisely the wrong time for the global economy.

McDonald’s to Add Mighty Wings on its Menu

McDonald's the world's most popular hamburger chain is getting into the chicken wing business. After several months of testing in Chicago, McDonald's is preparing for a nationwide rollout of its "Mighty Wings" next month, the company has confirmed.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 8/29/13

The Australian sharemarket rose modestly today, with concerns relating to Syria put on the backburner briefly. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) edged higher by 0.1 per cent, with the underperforming (yesterday) mining & energy stocks leading the improvements.

New Zealand's Fonterra Back in Sri Lanka, Units Gain After Botulism False Alarm News

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra has announced that it will resume its Sri Lankan operations after temporarily suspending work and plant processing for the safety of its employees. Meanwhile, the price of Fonterra's NZX-listed units went up 3.2 per cent or $7.10 after the company retested its alleged contaminated whey protein concentrates and found the botulism scare to be a false alarm.

Bull Market Back In Gold?

By Jonathan BarrattAs we have already seen a 20% rally in gold from the lows of US1180 we have to assume, based on a technical footing, that the bull market is back with us.

The Overnight Report: Tentative Rebound, Oil Pushes Higher

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 48 points or 0.3% while the S&P gained 0.3% to 1634 and the Nasdaq added 0.4%Result season took a back seat on Bridge Street yesterday as offshore pressure finally became too much and Australia joined in a Syria-related risk-off divestment which saw cyclicals dumped, with ma...

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 8/28/13

Australian shares finished firmly lower at the close, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) slipping by 1 per cent. The losses within the mining sector worsened throughout the afternoon, with the S&P/ASX200 Materials Index falling by 2.1 per cent.

Can Apple Inc Succeed in Grabbing a Sizeable Market Share in China?

Reports of Apple Inc getting a deal with China Mobile may be attempts to make an aggressive push for Chinese customers to buy more iPhones. If Apple does release a cheaper iPhone, the company should get the pricing right since there is no guarantee it will be warmly welcomed.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 8/28/13

After doing little on Monday and Tuesday, the local market is recording its biggest daily slump since 7 August. The most significant driver is the tension in Syria. The potential for a US led military strike has been pushing gold and oil prices higher, while equities have been punished.

Canadian Woman Sarah Casanova Appointed New McDonald's Japan CEO

In what has been an unprecedented move for a country whose mindset is to put only males as leaders whether in the corporate or political streams, McDonald's Japan on Tuesday announced its top post will now be helmed by a woman in the person of Canadian Sarah Casanova.

Be A Realistic Optimist

By Peter Switzer, Switzer Super ReportThere are about four weeks to go for this taper-talk anxiety, which has been unsettling markets.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 8/27/13

The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) eased modestly after a slightly improvement on Monday. The 5100pt mark remains key for the ASX200; a level we've traded above for three straight sessions. The Australian market hasn't traded above the 5100 in a decisive manner however since June 2008. Weakness from the mining, energy, industrials and telcos kept the market a touch lower. Improvements from three of the four major banks helped to limit the losses; however wasn't enough to push the broader XA...

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