BUSINESS

Facebook is set to recruit a high-profile executive whose primary role is to make sure that the social network would establish solid ties in the film and music industries in a bid to boost its content.

Skype has been informed by a researcher it is vulnerable to information thieves online. In a Fairfax Media report, security researcher Phil Purviance of AppSec Consulting says a hole in Skype's system for Phone and iPod Touch devices.

The long wait for Diablo 3 may be almost over as Blizzard Entertainment has launched the closed beta version of the hack-and-slash game.

ERM Power has received environmental approval from the Western Australia government for its proposed $500 million Three Springs power station and 60 kilometer gas pipeline in Western Australia.

Treasury boss Martin Parkinson has backed a move to abolish real estate stamp duties, saying they are biggest drag on productivity and inhibit economic adjustment.

Commonwealth Bank today unveiled its landmark new office premises at Darling Quarter in Sydney’s western CBD fringe.

It ain't over yet. Beleaguered Qantas Airlines faces more turbulence ahead as the Transport Workers Union (TWU) pushes for successive work stoppages this and next week.

Days after S&P reduced Italy's credit rating on Monday, Chinese foreign currency experts are getting restless the euro's weakness will greatly affect the value of Chinese currency and its overall exports performance.

With an aim to provide high-end technologies to everyone, Microsoft will give one million students marked down PCs, software and internet to poor families.

FNArena Editor Rudi Filapek-Vandyck has joined the queue of financial markets experts who appear regularly on Sky Business's Switzer TV, hosted by Peter Switzer himself.

China, in a bid to gain a foothold in the global pricing of iron ore, will launch by October its own iron ore price index, with updates on a weekly basis.

Mining giant BHP Billiton spent close to $19 million in financial year 2010-2011 for executive salaries, which Chairman John Buchanan described as investments geared to reap more company earnings in the future.

The Heart Foundation, which grants the use of the health seal in license agreements, said it has asked McDonalds to remove the popular Tick sign, not as a criticism, but as a move indicating a change in the foundation's focus. McDonald's pays about $300,000 a year for the right to display the Tick seal.

Three years before it has yet to really produce coal, the northern Galilee basin is already fully booked to Indian and Chinese coal mining companies.

In a bid to get a larger cut of the shrinking Australian consumer market, online department store CatchoftheDay rolled out on Wednesday it third e-commerce portal named Grocery Run. By its foray into grocery, the online seller challenges traditional supermarkets.

- Premier Investments result met expectations- Guidance maintained for FY12- Weakening retail environment sees cuts to earnings forecasts- Two broker ratings downgraded post resultBy Chris ShawRetail group Premier Investments ((PMV)) reported an adjusted net profit after tax of $51.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts a not-so-rosy prospect for the global economy by the end of the current year, a trend that the lending institution said would only be sustained until the closing months of 2012.

The RBA has indicated that a 'clouded' international outlook had contributed strongly to a decision to keep the cash rate on hold.

Standard & Poor's surprise downgrading of Italy's credit rating yesterday has confirmed why the Reserve Bank is watching foreign events more closely than at any time since the GFC.

Brokers should be careful before branding themselves as advisers, and ensure the term accurately reflects their business model, ASIC has stated.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 7 points while the S&P lost 0.2% to 1202 and the Nasdaq fell 0.9%.I'm not going to labour the point.

The two giant technology giants, Google and Facebook, upped their ante this week as they battle for supremacy in the cyberworld.

The International Monetary Fund has cut its forecast for global economic growth. The IMF expects growth of 4.0 percent this year, down from its previous forecast of 4.3pct. The Australian economy is tipped to grow 1.8pct this year and 3.3pct in 2012.

Fears about Greece's debt crisis battered U.S. stocks again Tuesday, with a market rally all but evaporating in the session's final hour following reports that the heavily indebted country's negotiations with international inspectors may drag on and could still fall apart

Global financial overseer IMF warned Tuesday that the European Union and the United States face recession if the sovereign debt crisis is not resolved even as it predicted lower economic growth for the two countries.

Often referred to as China's Caterpillar, Sany Heavy, the largest construction machinery manufacturing company of China, is all set to launch its expansion phase despite volatile market trends, by planning an IPO in the Hong Kong stock market later this month. Sany Heavy reportedly aims to raise around $3.3 billion from this offering.

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. This idiomatic expression seems to be the labor policy of Amazon.com at its warehouse in Lehigh, Penn., if what workers there say is to be believed.

Google Inc. opened its Google+ social network to the world on Tuesday, removing the required invitation to join the search giant's rival to Facebook. Click google.com/+ to join in.

It seems like smartphones running on Google's Android platform are slowly, but surely winning the race, while crowd favorite Apple Inc.'s iPhone 5 is still sleeping in some overseas production plants. Android phones now have bigger screens, an improved interface, more powerful processors, and now, virtual wallets?