BUSINESS

After reaching a 2012 high yesterday, the local share market pulled back a little today, following falls in offshore markets and due to a lack of guidance in the form of economic data. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) closed down 9.5pts or 0.2pct to 4422 while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (XJO) lost 5.6pts or 0.1pct to 4337.9.

Five million units of Samsung Galaxy Note have been shipped since its October debut in 2011, South Korea's Samsung said on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone for a device that the tech world greeted with mixed reactions.

Let's begin the day looking at Bank of Queensland's (ASX:BOQ) $91 million first-half loss.

Last year, I was at a dinner with a bunch of fertilizer analysts from Wall Street and Toronto.

Pay off a credit card, take a vacation, open a Roth IRA and more.

One of the great things about markets is how they are always changing. They never cease to surprise. But the market, as sly as it is, sometimes tips its hand.

Fresh accusations of wrongdoings further deepened the existing woes of global media firm News Corporation, which has yet to put behind the hacking scandals that led to the closure of its major daily in the United Kingdom.

The Canadian miner, Crocodile Gold, just purchased two Australian mines from another Canadian firm, AuRico Gold. It bought the Fosterville and Stawell mines in Victoria for $101 million.

China assailed Australia's decision this week of banning a major Chinese firm from participating into the $36-billion roll out of the national broadband network (NBN), labelling the move as discriminatory and unfair trade practices.

By 2030, Australia would have a population of over six million people. That would need another 2.7 million more homes, 125,000 retirement facilities and 24,000 additional hospital beds.

The Reserve Bank has given the Australian financial system and banks a tick of good health in its first Stability Review of 2012.

Tech giant Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is giving back Aussies’ money as iPad 3’s 4G feature is not applicable in the country.

The Australian market sparked yesterday for a second day in a row, despite a down day on Wall Street Tuesday night and weakness in other Asian markets.

Shares in the Bank of Queensland relisted yesterday after the first stage of a $450 million capital raising, and contrary to previous belief, the damage to the share prices wasn't too heavy.

While many Australian businesses would want to gain greater access to ecommerce through mobile devices, many of these firms lack the knowledge and infrastructure to reach their target market.

By Greg PeelBy late 2011 Europe had endured two years of financial uncertainty and fear over Greek sovereign debt and general zone-wide contagion.

In Australia, population data is released together with job vacancies and the Financial Accounts. In the US, weekly jobless claims data is released together with revised GDP figures.

U.S. stocks were dragged lower as commodities tumbled and investors considered disappointing U.S. and European economic data and weakness in overseas markets.

By Greg PeelThe Dow fell 71 points or 0.5% while the S&P lost 0.5% to 1405 and the Nasdaq dropped 0.5%.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently made a legal move against Apple regarding the false claims of their new iPad. In response to this, Apple announced that they would offer refunds for people who were affected by this issue.

Recent news reports are claiming that the Android 4.0 or Android ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich) update for the Samsung Galaxy S II will be pushing through for the month of March. Unfortunately, these news reports are false and many Samsung Galaxy S II users are now becoming frustrated regarding the availability of Android ICS in their devices.

Quickflix, the Australian counterpart of US-based Netflix -- which is known for its online DVD rental service -- is expected to launch in New Zealand on Thursday.

Australian stocks closed at their highest levels in almost five months today as investors snapped up financial and consumer stocks, encouraged by commentary from the Reserve Bank of Australia. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rose above 4400 for the first time this year, adding 39.8pts or 0.9pct to 4431.4 while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (XJO) firmed by 42.2pts or 1pct to 4343.5.

News is out that teenage heartthrob, Justin Bieber, is looking to by a million dollar mansion in Calabasas, California. Now what’s up with the hefty prized mansion and who is the 18-year old planning to take home? Wasn’t it just last month that Bieber supposedly bought a love pad for his girlfriend, Selena Gomez? With all the mansions the Bieber is deciding to buy, how much money did his single hit, “Boyfriend” roll in?

Researchers at Deakin University, in Victoria, have found that eating less than the recommended amount of red meat is related to depression and anxiety in women.

Apple has insisted Wednesday that its marketing ploy for the new iPad led not Australian buyers into believing that the tablet computer will be able to connect on Telstra's 4G network.

Miners at Bowen Basin, jointly-operated by BHP Billiton and Japanese firm Mitsubishi, have walked off from their work details Tuesday night following the collapse of negotiations that union leaders said was caused by management's behaviours.

Well, today Peter Mericka had his day in court only to find that it appears that Sifris J of the Supreme Court of Victoria decided "Lawyers Real Estate Have Been Breaking The Law".

The 'pink slime' maker hung up operations at all Monday, but one plant where the beef ingredient is made; acknowledging recent public uproar, over the product has cost the company business.