BUSINESS

Commonwealth Bank has given hints that it may increase interest rates even before the central bank makes its move to jack up cash rates.

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) issued an advisory on Thursday warning the existence of near-perfect counterfeit cheques that currently circulates across the nation, supposedly under the auspices of the tax office and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

Their 69-days of being trapped in a mining shaft sandwiched by tonnes of rocks and sand 2000 feet below, ended on a triumphant rescue operation on Thursday as all 33 miners ascended one by one riding through an escape capsule.

Across Asia, regional markets are all firmer this afternoon as global confidence continues to improve on expectations the Federal Reserve will pump more money into the ailing US economy.

Bank of Queensland (ASX: BOQ) saw its shares soaring on Thursday following its revelation that the bank’s yearly net earnings surged by five percent on the back of reduced costs and positive outlook for the remaining months of 2010.

Rising mining giant Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) reported on Thursday that it saw a seven percent slip on its September quarter iron ore shipments though the quarterly results exceeded previously set projections.

Australian mining firm Indophil Resources NL is most certain that a Philippine-based partner for their world-class mining reserve project is the way to go.

No more holiday tours to meet mortgage payments have become the norm for a great number of Australian homeowners, with about 50 percent more revealing that day-to-day basic requirements were being trimmed to cope with the upward surge of housing interest rates.

Australian consumers are bracing for higher inflation in the year ahead, increasing chances of official interest rate hikes by the central bank to cap prices.

Coal explorer Northern Energy Corporation Ltd (ASX: NEC) is thwarting the $193 million unsolicited takeover bid by New Hope Corporation (ASX: NHC), calling the proposal as inadequate and materially undervaluing the firm.

The falling out between Bendigo Mining Ltd (ASX: BDG) and BCD Resources NL (ASX: BCO) resulted to an expected business split as the former confirmed on Thursday that the planned merger between the two companies has been ditched following the deterioration of a rift that started over a loan default.

he AUD rallied to a fresh post-float high overnight of USD0.9937. It now seems to be a case of when, rather than if, the AUD will break parity. Some in the market are predicting the AUD will break through USD1.0000 before the end of the week.

US export prices rose by 0.6pct in September while import prices fell 0.3pct. The lift in export prices exceeded forecasts of a 0.2pct gain while import prices largely met forecasts.

Strong earnings from J.P. Morgan and Intel helped lift the broader market even as the two companies stumbled, putting U.S. stocks on pace for a fourth straight day of gains.

The Australian stock market is seen to benefit from the gains of the S&P 500 index and futures, which both bounced back reflecting the Federal Reserve's decision to ease up on its fiscal policy.

An upbeat sentiment in the domestic and global markets will once again give the Aussie dollar and the New Zealand Kiwi reasons to hit a new higher note in today's trading.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 1.7 points, or 0.04 per cent, at 4,619.9 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index was 4.8 points higher, or 0.10 per cent, at 4691.1 points.

The local share market ended relatively flat today, despite strong gains in early trade. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) closed up 4.8pts or 0.1pct to 4691.1 while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (XJO) firmed by 1.7pts or 0.04pct to 4619.9.

Kristy Fraser-Kirk has reportedly rejected a revised $8 million offer to settle her sexual harassment case against Australian department store David Jones Ltd.

Qantas Airways Ltd believes that the current solid standing of the Australian dollar would result to better profits for the airline but it admitted that the tourism industry would eventually feel the crunch of the surging currency.

Australian oil and gas firm Woodside Petroleum Ltd (WPL.AX) has launched a hunt for a new boss after its chief executive Don Voelte announced he will step down in the second half of 2011.

Base metal miner Copper Strike Ltd (ASX: CSE) advised its shareholders on Wednesday to hold off any action on the $14.3 million takeover proposal pushed forward by Kagara Ltd (ASX: KZL), calling the offer as highly opportunistic.

Iron ore mining firm Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) confirmed on Wednesday that it has been conducting negotiations with several financial groups following reports published by the Australian Financial Review that the company is mulling a capital raising of up to $US6 billion or $A6.11 billion.

Yielding a lower ore grade in the September quarter, uranium explorer Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ASX: ERA) announced on Wednesday that it would have to pare down its production guidance for the year 2010.

Total personal finance commitments slid 0.3 per cent, seasonally adjusted, from $7.410 billion in July to $7.392 billion in August, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said on Wednesday.

Adelaide will soon roll out freshly assembled Holden Cruze by 2011 as GM Holden Ltd said on Wednesday that its new facility in the area will commence production of a local version of the popular small car model.

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX:JBH), an Australian electronics and home entertainment retailer, said first-quarter sales rose 12.2 percent from a year earlier but were about 5 percent behind its target.

The Australian central bank’s move to opt for another pause on its policy rates in October apparently sparked a rise in consumer confidence that fresh data indicated has well exceeded the benchmark for spending optimism.

Shares of ASX-listed mining firm Conquest Mining (ASX: CQT) has steadily climbed with the lifting of its trading halt that coincided with its announcement of securing a $45 million institutional placement.