BUSINESS

The Australian share market has started the trading day on a positive note, on the back of firmer commodity prices and expectations the Reserve Bank of Australia will leave interest rates on hold when it hands down its policy decision at 2.30pm Eastern time.

The Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) merger with the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) will firmly integrate Australia into Asian wealth markets, according to a global market research provider.

Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) declared support for revisions of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) made by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Brisbane City Council has approved the demolition of a 150 year old building on Albert Street for a proposed 13 storey office block.

The Australian Dollar continues to trade with conviction ahead of today’s interest rate announcement by the Reserve Bank.

Persistent weakness in new orders and activity kept the Australian construction industry in negative territory for the sixth consecutive month in November, new data show.

Investors paused Monday after last week's run-up in U.S. stocks, reading caution into Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's tepid assessment of the U.S. economic recovery.

The Sentix index of investor sentiment in the 16-nation Euro region declined to +9.7 from +14 in November.

The Aussie opens marginally lower against the greenback today at 0.9890.

The Australian share market has closed flat, as rising mining stocks offset falls by banks.

Falls in banking and healthcare stocks impacted on the local stock market today, capping gains made elsewhere and contributing to a flat finish.

Several banks in Australia have taken the opportunity to help people affected by flooding.

Media group Fairfax Media Ltd formally announced the resignation of chief executive Brian McCarthy from his position, pushing the media business into an international search for a replacement on the man who served the company for a number of decades.

Virgin Blue Group of Airlines has signed on as joint major sponsor of the Gold Coast Suns for 2011, three weeks after the airline group was named as the official airline and partner of the Australian Football League's (AFL) from next year.

In less than 3 years, profits from global online advertising will surpass that of newpaper ads by 5.4 per cent.

Self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) investors are looking into opportunities in real estate to make use of the advantages of investing in such a fund.

The first Australian Consumer Law (ACL) is expected to affect business owners, managers and sales staff starting January 1, 2011 when it gives consumers a new set of rights when availing of good or services.

Self-managed super funds are fueling demand for small offices that can be purchased using the fund structure.

Newcrest Mining (ASX:NCM) temporarily suspended operations in its Bonikro mine in Cote d'Ivoire, after contested elections in that country.

As the year draws in to a close, property auctions are still steady despite more properties being offered for sale.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals (ASX: SIP) says it expects its annual wholesaling revenues to decrease by approximately 10 to 15 per cent from February next year, as a result of a decision by one of its major suppliers.

Local stocks have started the trading week on a relatively steady note, following a flat offshore lead on Friday and mixed commodity prices.

One of the largest bed linen and product wholesaler in the country, Bianca Enterprises bought an office/warehouse site in the northern suburbs of Melbourne for US$2.1 million.

Reports published by a British newspaper over the weekend have suggested that mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd is eyeing Sydney-based Riversdale Mining Ltd for a billion-dollar acquisition deal.

The Melbourne apartment construction boom continues as more monthly building approvals for units have been registered started June, almost double the number for the same period in 2009 reported the Bureau of Statistics.

The popularity of fixed term home loans rose in every state during November this year to hit 10.9 per cent of approvals nationally, according to customer data from Mortgage Choice, Australia's largest independently-owned mortgage broker.

MAp Group, formerly Macquarie Airports, announced today that its foreign ownership level has fallen from 37.3 per cent to 37.2 per cent.

The Australian Dollar had a strong rise on Friday evening finishing over 0.9900 as the weaker than expected non-farm payroll data from the USA for November fell short of expectations.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) today announced a recommended and unconditional on-market cash offer for all of the issued and outstanding shares of Impress Energy Ltd (ASX: ITC) that it does not own.