BUSINESS

HP, Toshiba Opts out of Windows RT Tablet Launch

Two prominent Microsoft OEM partners have expressed plans not to join the Windows RT tablet bandwagon, not yet at least, reportedly to focus their efforts on the more powerful Windows 8 slate that will hit the market in the early months of 2013.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 8/15/2012

Local stocks are trading in the red at lunchtime, following an unconvincing offshore lead and mixed commodity prices. A report showing the Eurozone economy shrank in the second quarter met expectations, and European shares rose in thin trade, however US markets were again mixed as were commodities. At midday in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 22.5pts or 0.5pct to 4294.9.

Florida Regulator Orders QBE Insurance to Cut Premiums by 1/3

The Office of Insurance Regulation in Florida ordered Praetorian, the subsidiary of Australian insurer QBE Insurance, to cut its home insurance premiums by one-third. QBE actually offered to reduce its rates by 2.2 per cent, but Commissioner Kevin McCarty asked the insurer to cut it by at least 35 per cent.
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Digital Sales for EA on the Rise, Expected to Cross Boxed Games

Game developers Electronic Arts anticipate profits derived from the digital downloads of their games to overtake the sales of physical gaming software within the span of a couple of years and according to their chief operating officer, the company is now directing its attention towards increasing its range of products meant for mobile and free-to-play.

The Overnight Report: Strong Data Confuses The Street

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 2 points, the S&P was flat at 1403 and the Nasdaq slipped 0.2%.The US economy is consumer-driven, hence data on consumer spending are an important indicator of the health of the US economy.

Aussie Importer May Recall 25,000 Made-in-China Cars Over Asbestos Fibre Content

Despite China being a major manufacturing hub and the second largest economy, the desultory Made-in-China tag continues to hound the Asian giant. Ateco Automotive, the Australian importer of made-in-China vehicles, could recall 25,000 Great Wall and Chery brand vehicles over its asbestos fibre contents in the car's engine and exhaust gasket.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon 8/14/2012

Local stocks managed a small win today, despite a negative lead from the US Dow Jones Index and as European shares eased from four month highs. Defensive stocks led the gains locally, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) adding 7.9pts or 0.2pct by close to finish at 4317.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 8/14/2012

The Australian sharemarket is improving for the second straight day, despite a weaker start to trade this morning. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up 0.2 pct or 8.1 pts to 4317.6 at lunch. Most sectors are gaining modest ground, with the exception of the miners and financials.

Another BHP Project On Ice?

By Greg PeelBHP Billiton ((BHP)) is currently reviewing its portfolio of large scale capex projects intended to carry the company into the future.

ASIC Runs After Insider Traders

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) is making renewed efforts against insider trading by launching a number of cases involved leaked information during the merger and acquisition phase of businesses.

Spot Uranium Slips Further

By Andrew NelsonLast week was yet another slow and fairly uneventful week on the uranium spot market. Volumes were thin, transactions were few, and the spot price slipped a little more after a seller cracked under the weight and gave in to a lower bid.

A Lesson in Modern Economic Management

Do you feel that in the air? It's the rustling of politicians all over the world, ready to meddle. It's coming. They've been pretty quiet over the North American summer. But that's probably about to change. The task of today's Daily Reckoning is to figure out what kind of change...and whether it's the kind of change you embrace...or flee with monster truck force.

Japan’s Debt: A Small Taste of the Coming Financial Implosion

Housewives With Frying Pans Protest Japan Tax Hike as Debt SoarsAbout 200 housewives marched down a shopping street in central Tokyo, beating pans with ladles and shouting slogans criticizing a government plan to double Japan's 5 percent consumption tax.

Qantas Launches 3 Daily Flights to Gold Coast

Qantas is on a roll. After winning Fair Work Australia's nod in its labour row with unions, the flag carrier is attempting to recover lost market sharing with the launch of three daily flights to Gold Coast.

European Downturn for Ford

Ford Motor Co.'s second-quarter earnings dropped more than half, even though the company has large profits in America. The decrease is high mainly due to losses in Europe and other parts of the world.

Global Tobacco Makers Gears up Further Devt of Smokeless Cigars

Giant tobacco firms are attempting to re-invent their products in the face of relentless onslaughts coming from government regulators and health experts, which have been actively pushing to limit the world’s smoking incidence in the past decade, report said.

Perth is Australia’s Most Expensive Night Out Destination – TripAdvisor

And Australia's most expensive night out destination award goes to Perth, which, according to TripAdvisor's TripIndex 2012, would charge $430.83 for two people just to spend a night at a four-star hotel, tour the city on a round-trip via taxi, get to enjoy cocktails at a five-star hotel bar and enjoy dinner with wine.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday 8/13/2012

The Australian share market started off stronger this morning up 23 points after a strong close on Wall Street on Friday. The US markets closed higher for the 5th straight week and European markets closed just off recent highs. The volumes traded on the overseas markets were still quite low and are expected to stay that way throughout this week as most major European official departments will remain closed until the 20th of August this year. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) held on to an 17 point ...

Facebook Taps Former Microsoft Exec as Acting Aussie Chief

A permanent point man for Facebook in Australia should be appointed soon, the giant social media firm said on Monday following its confirmation that an interim head has been tapped to run the company’s local operations on daily basis.

Manchester United Falls Short of IPO Target

Manchester United debuted Friday on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and ended up garnering total market value of $US2.3 billion yet beneath the impressive numbers, analysts feared that the hugely popular Red Devils could go the same way that Facebook’s IPO did – fizzling out too soon.

Water, An Endangered Global Resource

By Richard (Rick) Mills, Ahead of the HerdAs a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best informationOur groundwater is being used up at record rates and claims to ownership are becoming increasingly contentious.

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