BUSINESS

The Australian share market remains under pressure today, but fortunately isn't falling as hard as futures markets had predicted following a sell-off on global markets overnight. European and US markets fell in response to downbeat economic data out of America and China. After the bell, ratings agency Moody's downgraded 15 global banks adding to the negative sentiment. At lunchtime in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is weaker by 43.1pts or 1pct to 4133.7.

Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies announced on Thursday plans to ramp up its smartphone production for the current year, indicating that up to 60 million Huawei smartphones will be shipped to destinations around the world by the end of 2012.

Australia's richest woman, Gina Rinehart, may be busy seeking a seat in Fairfax Media board, but she has not left unattended the more lucrative mining sector, which catapulted her to become the world's richest woman. On Thursday, she invested $5 million in International Coal's (ASX: ICX) coal venture in Queensland.

By Richard (Rick) MillsAhead of the HerdAs a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best informationGeorge Mitchell, as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve in 1966, began urging bankers to consider how "the computer can drastically change money and...

The International Air Travel Association's (IATA) warning at last week's Beijing meeting that more large air carriers are expected to collapse in the next 12 months may come to pass after more turbulence continues to batter Australian flag carrier Qantas.

By Greg PeelThe Dow fell 250 points or 2.0% while the S&P lost 2.2% to 1325 and the Nasdaq dropped 2.4%.

By Chris Tedder, Research Analyst FOREX.comMost of the action was centred on the yen and oil. Initially, it appeared investors were returning to JPY, but USDJPY failed to push through 80.

Minecraft is one of the most successful games in Xbox 360 and when it was first introduced, not that many people believe that it would be a success especially when the Xbox 360 edition was introduced.

Microsoft seems to be on a roll these days as it recently announced their newest product: Windows Phone 8, code-named "Apollo". Through this new release from Microsoft, can it compete with the big players in the smartphone market such as Google's Android and Apple's iPhone?

A recently leaked document detailing information about Xbox 720 has recently surfaced in the Internet which was promptly reported by different news networks around the world. In response to this, Microsoft has confirmed that the details about the Xbox 720 is true which means that its possible release date is truly a go.

Apple has just unveiled its new MacBook line specifically the MacBook 2012 with Retina Display which is considered as one of the best gadgets launched by Apple. Despite that recognition, many people are asking this crucial question: Is it worth the price?

What makes an ideal workplace environment? As far as the findings issued this week by Business Review Weekly (BRW) are concerned, the general happiness and contentment of workers greatly depend on the culture being espoused by their employers.

After the price war on fresh produce between supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths, industry observers are anticipating another price battle, this time on hardware items. The price war could be the result of Metcash's purchase of Mitre 10.

It's the epic battle between Apple and Microsoft and this time, it's all about the tablets as Microsoft finally joined the tablet market with the release of "Surface", Microsoft's own Windows 8 tablet. This release leads to inevitable question of: Which is the Best? Microsoft's Windows 8 tablet (Surface) or Apple's New iPad?

Microsoft said on Wednesday that upcoming Windows Phones, which will run on the soon-to-be launched Windows 8, will give seamless mobile computing experience to global consumers, effectively unifying market platforms that the software maker has spent billions in the past years to break into.

Property owners and those looking to buy property are encouraged to take steps now to maximise their tax refund, according to Australia's largest independently-operated mortgage broker, Mortgage Choice.

Last month Fairfax launched some nifty technology that allows users to scan images in the Sydney Morning Herald and then view further images or videos in relation to the article. This means for a property advertised in the SMH readers could scan the property image and then perform a virtual open inspection through their mobile. I’m not yet aware that this is the case but I’m sure it’s something they will release shortly.

Gina Rinehart has asked for three board seats at Fairfax. Her accumulation of shares in the company has led Fairfax reporters to fret about editorial independence and the integrity of the Fairfax brand. But let's suck the emotion right out of it and boil it down to business.

You gotta love this Great Correction. It's gotten so much bad press. And so many people trying to stop it. But it just keeps going...doing its work in the US housing and mortgage market. From Barry Ritholtz.

Unfortunately the Great Correction is not correcting the sector that needs correction most. The financial sector. Why? The feds protect it.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down 12 points or 0.1% while the S&P lost 0.2% to 1355 and the Nasdaq finished flat.

The country's farm exports is forecast to go down 5 per cent for 2012-13 to $34.4 billion from $36 billion. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) issued the downgrade on Tuesday in its March forecast.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) announced on Tuesday that the 31 remaining All GAME stores in Australia would be closed after failure to find a buyer. PwC was appointed administrator of the video games retailer after All GAME's British parent company collapsed and placed into administration.

Motorola Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx are slated to receive their Android 4.0 or Android ICS update based on the recent announcement made by Motoroloa. Even if Motorola has not disclosed any specific date, the smartphone manufacturer revealed that the update is already rolled out but on the hands of their beta testers.

Nintendo recently unveiled new Nintendo 3DS games that will be launched for 2012. Nintendo have listed down the most anticipated games for the console as well as the updated downloadable content available in the Nintendo eShop. The games were first unveiled during the E3 2012 event held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Local stocks are staging a rebound today on the back of positive moves on offshore markets. US shares rose on hopes of further stimulus from the Federal Reserve while European markets rallied to a one month high. Mid-session, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is firmer by 21.6pts or 0.5pct to 4189.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is convinced that digital connection has yet to reach its full potential, declaring on Tuesday that "the World Wide Web has yet to live up to its name."

Mining billionaire Clive Palmer is apparently dead-serious in resurrecting one of modern history's most iconic figures - the Titanic, disclosing on Tuesday that definite plans were underway for the passenger ship's maiden voyage in 2016.

DC Universe Online and Sony Entertainment LLC had just revealed "The Last Laugh" which is the fourth downloadable content (DLC) pack for DC Universe Online. This downloadable content is more focused on the online multiplayer feature of the game.