BUSINESS

Gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd sent out its financial report on Tuesday, with varying results, where the company outlined its record production for the December quarter and its decision to nudge back a bit the firm’s full year gold production guidance.

Citizen calls made to Crime Stoppers have helped nab and curtail looters taking advantage of abandoned properties during the flood.

The Australian sharemarket received a positive lead from U.S and European markets overnight, thanks in part to solid earnings results from some of the biggest names in business.

Australia's inflation rate rose a less-than-expected 0.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2010 and 2.7 per cent from a year earlier, official data shows.

Adelaide suburb, Magill was the best performing market in South Australia with a 19.09 growth rate in December.

Even Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd appears as susceptible to the recent flood disaster that had hit Australia as the company echoed emerging sentiments of sliding profit guidance among the country’s major firms.

Stronger commodity prices and a positivenight on the offshore equity markets has seen the AUDrally over USD1cent overnight.

U.S. stocks climbed Monday as encouraging corporate earnings reports fueled growing optimism over the global economic recovery.

The advance estimate of Germany´s composite purchasing managers index for January lifted from 60.3 to 61.0 - the highest reading since June 2006. Manufacturing fell from 60.7 to 60.2 but services rose from 59.2 to 60.0.

The Australian Dollar dropped from 0.9890 to 0.9865 in quick fashion yesterday on the release of a weaker than expected reading in Producer Price Index.

Australia’s accommodation industry is confident there will be numerous benefits for the sector resulting from four just-completed screenings in the US of Oprah Winfrey’s Australian show.

Ten years ahead and Australia will be a sporting a new identity as a new report predicts of radical changes in the way the average Australian earns a living, chooses a house and whiles away leisure time, if that moment is still a possibility by the next decade.

Australia is fast-gaining a reputation as a global hub for online shopping, with no less than US giant internet retailer eBay reportedly alluding to the Aussie market as a viable and standout business consideration for web retailers.

Adelaide was voted as the most livable city in the country based on the results from a national survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia.

The Melbourne housing market was ranked at 321st place out of a 325 markets in the world in terms of housing affordability reports the Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey.

Trading in the shares of Australian mining contractor Downer EDI (ASX: DOW) were halted on Monday pending an announcement about its troubled Waratah train contract with the NSW government.

Economists said that soft import prices brought about a weaker than expected producer price index (PPI) in the December quarter, which according to the latest figures furnished by the Australian Bureau of Statics (ABS) on Monday merely jumped by 0.1 percent, en route to an annual rate of 2.7 percent.

The Australian sharemarket is currently up slightly after a flat start to the day. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is up 0.1pct or 5.6pts to 4866.5. Financial shares are helping to keep the market in the green with the big banks up at least 0.5pct.

In addition to the previous $1 million announced on 1 January 2011, BHP Billiton is donating a further A$10 million to the Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal to assist with Queensland flood relief and recovery efforts.

Canberra authorities are still offering incentives to commercial office buildings that implement changes to cut down on energy and water consumption.

Global mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd gets further push on its aim to corner a sizeable chunk of Africa’s coal resources as the resource firm’s $3.9 billion takeover proposal won the stamp of approval from Riversdale Mining Ltd’s board of directors.

Ausfilm announced on Monday it has appointed Debra Richards as its new chief executive officer.

Giant grocery operator Woolworths Ltd announced on Monday a likely retreat on its earnings guidance for fiscal 2011 as it cited that shaky disposition in consumer spending and volatility in inflation levels, interest rates and uncertainty in the global economy pushed down the prospects of the retail sector.

Canberra was ranked as the second most attractive city to live in based on its selection of good schools and healthcare services, safety and employment opportunities says a survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia.

Virgin Blue Group of Airlines launched on Monday an AFL-branded 737 plane to mark the beginning of its official partnership with the Australian Football League (AFL).

The Australian dollar has opened just under0.9900 this morning after a quiet day of trading on Friday night as all eyes focused on the jump in the EUR versusthe USD as data from Germany was much better thanexpected.

US stock markets' bull run stuttered during the week to Friday even though the Dow held firm on the final day of weekly trade to score its highest close since June 2008.

A key leading index for the US economy hit a 36-week high on Friday. The Economic Cycle Research Institute leading index rose from 128.1 to 128.9 in the week to January 14.

Apple has announced that download from its iconic App store breached 10 billion apps by the more than 160 million iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users across the globe. The 10 billionth app downloaded, Paper Glider, was purchased by Gail Davis of Orpington, Kent, UK. As the winner of the App Store Countdown to 10 Billion Apps, Gail Davis will receive a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card.