BUSINESS

Institutional buy-side investors see the emerging financial markets as a source of ongoing positive returns as developed markets continue to show slower growth and increased risks. According to TABB Group in new research published today, prime brokers hold the key to the hardest-to-access markets based on their ability to provide cost-efficient access products as well as technology platforms, including direct markets access (DMA) systems and cross-region, cross-asset portfolio management too...

At a basic level, electronic alpha capture is poised to become a major work flow tool forevery portfolio manager and broker-dealer to prioritize data points and opinions, pushing the most relevant ideas to the surface.

By Richard (Rick) MillsAs a general rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the best informationThe rare earths are a group of 17 elements comprising Scandium, Yttrium, and the Lanthanides.

U.S. stocks closed sharply higher Tuesday, notching a fourth-straight day of gains, as investors bet Greece will take the appropriate actions toward averting a sovereign debt default.

The reticence of Australian households to spend has been well-documented, but yesterday we got news that was mixed, to say the least about why they are saving.

A Senate decision on the future of the exit fee ban was postponed yesterday, after hopes from industry that it would be overturned.

Union delegates are employees who provide on the ground representation for union members.

Australian shares held on to early gains to put in their best performance in about a week on the back of firm offshore leads.

US existing home sales fell by a less than expected 3.8pct to an annual rate of 4.81 million units in May.

Bankwest has informed broker partners it will maintain its existing clawback structure following 1 July.

A major international report has predicted that average food commodity prices will be much higher this decade than the last.

The Australian sharemarket is making up for yesterday’s pullback and the All Ordinaries index (XAO) is 0.8 pct or 36.3 pts stronger to 4548.8. Almost all sectors are higher with the mining and energy players amongst the most significant improvers at lunch.

Australian consumers have been carefully weighing their spending and priorities have been set to stop themselves from buying things that are unnecessary.

Reports of a possible BHP Billiton takeover on Perth-based Woodside Petroleum emerged on Tuesday, contradicting earlier speculations that the mining giant is considering a buyout amidst Woodside’s numerous woes on its Pluto LNG project.

Export earnings from the rural and mineral resources sectors are expected to reach a record of $256 billion in 2011-12, according to the Australian commodities-June quarter 2011 report, released by ABARES today.

Google and the British Library recently sealed a deal that would allow the tech firm to scan some 250,000 copyright-free books and make them available through its Google Books services.

By Greg PeelThe week before last saw minimal activity in the spot uranium market which was largely a result of attendance at the World Nuclear Fuel Conference, but last week was hardly a hive of activity either.

- Russell Investments remains cautious on investment outlook- Global equities slightly cheap, better value relative to Australian shares- Australian dollar remains overvalued- Reversal in commodity markets still expectedBy Chris ShawAs Russell Investments points out, the recovery in global share mar...

Its acquisition of Skype almost a certainty with the recent regulatory approval pushed by the $8.5 billion deal, Microsoft gears up its consolidation move on its new pet by letting go of executives that experts said is a move that would save up some cash for the new owners of the fairly popular internet calling firm.

Australians are still paying too much in bank fees, with banks raking in over $4 billion in 2010 from bank fees on household accounts alone, according to financial comparison website RateCity.

A pledge by European leaders to head off a Greek debt default helped push U.S. stocks higher Monday, easing the market's recent sovereign-debt jitters.

Malaysia's appointed independent panel investigating the environmental impact of the Australian rare earths plant in the country has completed its work and is set to issue its findings by end of the month.

A large number of flights to and from Adelaide, Canberra and Sydney are expected to be cancelled today.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 76 points or 0.6% while the S&P gained 0.5% to 1278 and the Nasdaq added 0.5%.

Two thirds of Australian employees believe organisations are not doing enough to help women attain roles in senior management.

Anonymous, the hacker collective famous for performing cyber attacks as public retribution, has reportedly teamed up with LulzSec, the hacker group that attacks mostly for entertainment, for a mission going by the title AntiSec (Anti-Security) which seeks to expose any government-classified information that can be stolen.

Australians are ready to opt for housing types outside the traditional "detached home on a large block" stereotype, according to the Grattan Institute, but the housing market is not supplying dwellings to meet their needs.

The US Food and Drug Administration has found traces of listeria at an Augusta, Georgia, bakery owned and operated by US cereal giant Kellogg.

Patties Foods has announced plants to donate a full day’s production worth of its iconic Four’N Twenty pies - 138,000 pies in total - to Australia’s largest hunger relief organization, Foodbank.