BUSINESS

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has ordered its members of stop working on electric meters in homes constructed before 1983. The order is in response to a hazard warning that Sydney-based company, Endeavor Energy, issued to its workers due to risks from asbestos exposure.

Investors were faced with a variety of news over the last 5 trading days. A large number of companies have hosted investors at AGM's. The Mid week release of higher than expected QIII CPI numbers startled interest rate and equity markets, whilst the local currency ran higher. WA and NSW were put on negative credit watch by Standard and Poors. Historically such an outcome would have seen a substantial down draught for the currency. Regional stock indices seemed unimpressed by an improved read ...

American PC maker Dell is gearing up for a price war with the newly released Microsoft Surface by placing on its Web site the XPS 10, its 10.1-inch Windows RT table, as available for pre-order.

Due to Australia's geographical location, Aussies were among the first in the world to purchase the rolled out Windows 8 operation system by Microsoft, as well as new devices that run on the OS.

For two quarters in a row, Apple failed to even equal market expectations, departing from its famed reputation of measuring up or even exceeding the figures churned out by market analysts.

Samsung Electronics has again romped its way to record sales numbers in Q3 2012, pocketing $US7.4 billion in operating profits mostly on the back of close to 60 million Android smartphones the tech giant has shipped out in the period.

Despite a positive start, local stocks have turned south at lunchtime in the East, as losses from the big mining players detract from gains elsewhere. Overnight, US stocks rose modestly although volumes were light ahead of US growth numbers being released tonight. European markets also had slight gains, with UK September quarter economic growth figures bouncing by one percent, although these figures were distorted by the effects of the Olympics on the economy. At lunchtime in the East, the All O...

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.

Mining giant BHP Billiton (AXS: BHP) warned on Thursday that the mining industry faces short-term instability over eurozone instability and concerns on China's growth. To address this situation, he said the company will instead focus on volume instead of price.

By Peter Switzer, Switzer Super ReportThe S&P 500 is now below an important testing level of 1,420; it's sitting on 1,412, which should have some resistance, but if it falls, 1,400 is the next big one.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 26 points, or 0.2%, while the S&P gained 0.3% to 1412 and the Nasdaq added 0.

The US Federal Reserve announced overnight that it would continue with its current economic stimulus program, QE3. The move failed to excite local investors, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) finishing only slightly higher, up 2.9pts to 4533.5pts.

Cupertino-based Apple, after dominating the larger tablet market it popularized, has turned its attention to the slightly smaller screen. The 7.9-inch iPad Mini has Apple's attention to style and detail behind it, but it certainly isn't the only gadget that size worth looking into, especially with the Mini's stepped-down processor and screen resolution.

Samsung continues to attempt to provide one of the most robust smartphone line-ups ever through gadgets devices like the Galaxy S3 Mini that offer consumers more Android smartphone options. One new handset, the Galaxy Premier, has surfaced with the first actual picture of the phone finally leaked.

It’ll be gadgets galore this holiday season as tech firms flooded the market with new toy devices, meant to lure the young and old, that are expected to be snapped up in huge numbers by Christmas shoppers.

Personal computers will inevitably be relegated behind the pacesetting smartphones and tablet computers, research firm Gartner said in a new report made public on Wednesday, adding that mobile phones are likely to emerge as the preferred computing tool by 2013.

The spotlight is on Microsoft this time as it launches Windows 8, leaving the tech world wondering if smartphones and tablet computers running on the new operating system would measure up with Apple and Android devices.

Overseas markets generally stabilised overnight following the sharp sell-off yesterday. European markets were higher even with weak manufacturing numbers and lower metals prices. The US markets lost ground towards the close of trade the Dow finishing down 25 points and the NASDAQ only down 8points but still in the red.

By Greg PeelWhen the price of Brent crude futures started to blow out over the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures in 2010, much money was lost by traders used to wide spreads lasting only briefly before slamming shut again.

Droppings from Blantyre Farm's 22,000 pigs helped the enterprise be on record as Australia's first farm eligible to earn carbon credits under the Gillard government's carbon farming initiative. The hog manure is converted to methane through the commercial-scale system built by Quantum Power that the farm operator installed.

The ANZ Banking Group will have less believable reason not to pass in full any future overnight cash rate cuts to be made by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) since it reported on Thursday another record-breaking profit.

Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest woman, had her sweet revenge on Wednesday against the Fairfax Media board which slammed the door on her face a few weeks ago when she sought a director's seat.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down 25 points, or 0.2%, while the S&P lost 0.3% to 1408 and the Nasdaq fell 0.

While Apple and Samsung were generating so much hoopla in the mobile devices industry, a silent but key player was gradually creeping in and by Q3 2012, South Korea’s LG Electronics is back in black.

A weak offshore lead impacted local stocks today, sending the Australian share market down 0.8pct. Worries about Spain's spiking borrowing costs saw European markets hit 6 week lows while US investors were spooked by disappointing earnings results. Adding to the downbeat mood, ratings agency Moody´s downgraded five Spanish regions. The All Ordinaries Index closed down 37.4pts to 4530.6.

With the official release of Windows 8 on Friday, Microsoft has created a tablet PC to compete with other similar devices from iOS and Android and even from other manufacturers that will use the same operating system.

The Optimus G, since it was designed to a flagship standard and powered by the latest in handheld computing, cannot hope for a warm welcome from its competitors. However, it is due every bit of their respect. Although LG is not asking for it, the technology giant is apparently ready to earn it.

Apple recently added three attractive colours to the latest iPod Touch edition, giving consumers more funky options to best represent their unique taste and apparently making it easier for them to buy the upgraded gadget.

Apple has officially unleashed the iPad Mini with company executives insisting that global consumers will not be getting a watered-down version of its bigger sibling – what will be rolled out come Nov 2 is an entirely new gadget, said the tech titan.