BUSINESS

Federal Court ruling dismays Australian shareholders and investors for its failure to impose penalties on six directors of Centro Properties Group despite violating corporate laws. The court's decision to fine former Centro CEO Andrew Scott was also criticized.

Unless you're content with Rovio's Angry Birds all your life or The Sims on Facebook, you need a laptop, not an iPad or another tablet device, for some hard-core gaming.

Moody's Investors Service has rated Australia's corporate sector outlook as stable stable over the next 12 to 18 months although companies will remain cautions given the global economic uncertainties.

A former BHP Billiton official, Chris Lynch has joined the boards of Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited as a non-executive director.

Sony launched several new devices on Wednesday at the IFA conference in Berlin including an updated Reader device and two new tablets.

While Berlin's annual consumer electronics fair has previously been a showcase of home appliances from TVs to fridges, it has become a battleground for manufacturers of wireless gadgets.

Finance brokers are failing to capitalise on recent growth in the receivables finance market, it has been claimed.

Research published in the Harvard Business Review has shown that employees can greatly improve their productivity by taking a short nap during their workday.

Leighton Holdings faces a class action from investors who allege the construction giant breached continuous disclosure laws.

Over 30 per cent of the 214 Proserpine farmers in the co-operative voted against the proposal from Sucrogen to purchase the mill. The proposal had to be met with 75 per cent approval to be passed.

The skill set to influence senior management is a key to success for any HR professional. There are a number of skills that make up the full range of tools that can be used to influence decisions. One the most valuable tools is building the business case for change.

Shares in magnetite iron ore pellet producer Grange Resources jumped more than 8% yesterday after the company revealed a maiden dividend and a $58.1 million first half profit.

After three months of decline, Australian consumers went out to dine and shop in July providing a boost to the country's retail and services industries.

Massive fixed rate discounts have not wooed borrowers as expected.

The housing market is at a "crucial inflexion point", an economist has claimed.

The MFAA and FBAA should merge to present a united voice for the mortgage and finance broking industry.

Sydney and Canberra have dodged the trend of falling house prices across Australia's capital cities.

NAB has outpaced its rivals in home loan growth, expanding at nearly twice system during July.

Shares in Cash Converters, the Australian pawn shop and short term lending business, fell 3% yesterday after a deal by its largest shareholder to take control collapsed.

Australian workers are crying out for inspiration and looking to their leaders to provide it, according to an annual investigation into the world of Australian workers by recruitment and HR specialists, Randstad.

Apple has lost a unit of the next generation iPhone in a bar in a repeat of the embarrassing incident that took place last year with the iPhone 4.

August is over, yippee!

New research has shown that Australian employers are making use of temporary and part-time workers in the face of the uncertain economy and staffing challenges.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has approved an investment of US$367 million (BHP Billiton share) for the third stage of development of the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group’s (NCIG) coal handling facility in Newcastle, Australia aimed at increasing total capacity at the coal terminal to 66 million tonnes per annum.

Westpac is aiming to lend $1 billion to Australian businesses by the end of September through its Business Boost campaign announced on Wednesday.

FNArena has added another video to its Investors Education section on the website. In this video, ATW's Jerry Simmons suggests the rally in US equities might find the going tougher as strong technical resistance is looming.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 53 points or 0.5% while the S&P gained 0.5% to 1218 and the Nasdaq added 0.2%.

Australia’s plantation estate in 2010 was marginally less than in 2009 but substantially more than five and 10 years ago, according to Australian plantation statistics 2011.

The ISM-Chicago purchasing managers index fell from 58.5 to 56.5 in August - the lowest levels since November 2009. The new orders sub component recorded modest weakness. US ADP private sector employment rose by 91,000 jobs in August.