BUSINESS

By Greg PeelThe last time the RBA made rate cuts at each of three consecutive meetings was in the wake of the GFC.

With China's economy expected to weaken to 8.5 per cent this year, global luxury goods and branded items will most likely take also a beating as Chinese shoppers most definitely will trim on big-ticket item purchases in a bid to maintain and preserve wealth inside their hands and pockets.

Job security in bank posts continue to be placed on the line as Westpac announced the axing of up to 400 positions. Most of those who would be laid off are engaged in back office and IT roles, of which 150 would be outsourced to India.

The blockbuster 'merger of equals' between Xstrata and Glencore is nearing completion, media reports said, which indicated too that barring further glitches, the deal will be finalised by Tuesday this week.

Asian banks made its way to the top 20 international bank brands of the year 2011, highlighting how they have so far bested the global financial turmoil and their future potential, the latest Banking 500 Report said.

Although Australian consumers enjoyed the past few months lower prices on selected goods because of the price war between Coles and Woolsworth, they are actually paying higher prices for other commodities.

The specter of the mythical Apple TV rears its head again as a Piper Jaffrey analyst claims that Apple Inc. will release the Apple TV later this year

Latest inflation levels appear to be within the mark set by central bank authorities for the current year, according to the January edition of the TD Securities-Melbourne Institute measure of consumer prices.

Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce has opposed proposed changes in the Qantas Sale Act and cabin crew laws. He warned that planned changes being discussed in the Australian parliament could lead to job losses and reduced aviation access.

World-first technology in the mining industry is contributing to better health and safety for miners, production efficiencies and improved energy consumption and environmental benefits, according to a new research.

1300 Home Loan has ramped up its rhetoric, jumping into discourse on upcoming RBA rate moves following its consumer marketing launch.

Lenders have promised to continue to help dispel broker fear about non-conforming mortgage products.

Five days out from the RBA's next cash rate decision, Australian banks are again flagging that they may stay put on rates.

In Australia, retail trade, the monthly inflation gauge and data on job ads are released. NZ markets are closed for a holiday. In the US, the monthly employment trends report is released.

The optimism generated by the better-than-expected US jobs is seen to redound to the stock market.Analysts are bullish that Monday's trading will record some gains benefitting from the major averages posted by the Dow Jones Industrial Average, up 1.2% to close at 12862; the S&P climbed 1.5% at 1345; and the NASDAQ advanced 1.6% to end at 2906.

One of Australia's leading consumer product surveys, Product of the Year, today released its third annual survey results for innovative new products in the Australian supermarket retail industry. Product of the Year was established 25 years ago in France and currently operates in 28 countries worldwide.

What do business leaders expect from their Human Resources function? We constantly hear the phrase, "strong business acumen required" for senior HR appointments but this is also increasingly the case for roles within the early HR career market. What does this mean for early HR career professionals is the main subject of this month's Instep.

A wave of borrowers could be seeking out brokers should the banks choose to sit on their hands after any RBA rate cuts.

For a third year in a row, world markets have had a strong start to the year, but so far 2012 is the best of the three.

Central bank meetings in Australia, the UK and Europe will dominate the coming week.

The good jobs figures for the US in January, and then those late doubts about Greece, ended up confusing traders and gold slumped the most in five weeks on Friday.

Stocks rose Friday after the U.S. economy added more jobs than expected last month, driving the Nasdaq Composite to an 11-year high and pushing the Dow to its highest close in nearly four years. The earnings parade continues this week, with the latest results due from a handful of companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and from media giants and tobacco companies. In addition, seven companies across a range of industries are expected to go public this week, coming off a week that has seen ...

By Greg PeelIt was arguably the Big News story in the resources sector last week. Rare earth hopeful Lynas ((LYC)) had been waiting in frustration for a seemingly interminable period to learn whether or not the Malaysian government would approve its proposed Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) for...

By Rudi Filapek-VandyckThe first broadcast of the Friday Afternoon Round Table on the freshly rebranded BRR Media turned out an entertaining event and not just because I was (initially) given the dud seat around the table.

A French commercial court upheld an unfair competition complaint against search giant Google Inc. and has ordered it to pay a fine and damages to a French mapping company.

Xstrata, one of the biggest mining operators in Australia, is reportedly negotiating with giant commodities trading firm Glencore for a likely blockbuster merger that analysts said could easily reach $US79 billion.

After popular file-sharing website Megaupload was shut down last week by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, the next site in danger could be the aptly named The Pirate Bay.

Facebook Inc. filed documents for an initial public offering that could help the social network gain one of the biggest U.S. stock-market debuts of all time.

While New Zealand has not felt the brunt of recession, the Treasury has slashed its forecast for economic growth for 2013 in view of volatile and weaker global economy.