BUSINESS

And, after a couple of weak months, consumer confidence has rebound strongly in July.The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Con...

Singapore enjoyed better than expected economic growth in the second quarter, according to government data published yes...

AGL Energy's move to buy explorer Mosaic Oil NL for around $130 million for a big hole in Queensland will succeed.AGL w...

The week-long rally found some profit-takers last night as the Fed poured cold water on recovery enthusiasm. Dow up 3. (Locked for subscribers until 10:00 AEST)

The mining sector gained $7.5bn in the Gillard government's remodelled tax, according to new figures that unveiled Treasury significantly undervalued earnings from the resource super-profits tax (RSPT).

US retail sales fell by 0.5pct in June after a 1.1pct fall in May. Excluding autos, sales fell 0.1pct. Economists had tipped a 0.2pct fall in sales (ex autos unchanged).

CSR's newly-sold sugar and renewable energy business, Sucrogen, through its joint venture, Sugar Australia, has signed an Agreement with GLG Life Tech Corporation for the distribution and marketing of its stevia extract products as an ingredient to the food and beverage sector.The distribution agree...

Australia's biggest companies are happy to make their lending bank their main bank, according to new data compiled by finance researcher East & Partners.

On Monday, Ajinomoto announced that the two companies were to join forces to develop products that are low in sugar and salt and that meet consumer demand to manage weight.Kellogg has insisted its tie-up with Ajinomoto will give the US cereal giant "some great opportunities" to combine its product p...

Australian banking major NAB, which is embroiled in an acquisition attempt of AXA Asia Pacific Holdings (APH) has said that negotiations taking place over the proposed asset divestment of APH’s Wealth.net platform were still continuing, despite the fact that the lenders exclusivity agreement with ...

New regulations and poor sentiment could well push borrowing costs for banks even higher in the next few months. However according to CBA treasurer Lyn Cobley, the outcome would depend on the results of European bank stress tests.Ms. Cobley who acts as treasurer for the largest bank in Australia, as...

Qantas Airways Ltd said on Wednesday that it is stepping up the deliveries of the airline’s ordered Boeing 787 Dreamliners by about two years, with the first eight B787-8 series aircrafts to be received by the middle part of 2012.

Australians are now seeing a brighter economic outlook, having looked past global market gloom and recent interest rate hikes.

US energy company Chevron said on Wednesday that its newest gas discovery in Western Australia’s Carnarvon Basin should buttressed the company’s huge Gorgon and Wheatstone liquefied natural gas exploration projects.

A new survey showed that an estimated 50 percent of Australian households were worrying that interest rates would further increase while only 20 percent were holding expectations that household debt levels would spike in the next few months.

AGL Energy is all set to acquire oil and gas explorer Mosaic Oil NL for $130 million and according to the joint statement released by both companies on Wednesday, Mosaic’s board unanimously pushed for the AGL offer in which the bidder dangled 15 cents per share or 1.01 AGL share on every 100 fully paid Mosaic stocks.

Jetstar, the budget airline, has announced its expansion of the airline’s services in Queenstown by more than 50 per cent, with twice a week services from Melbourne to the Gold Coast by the middle of December.

Gold, though little changed in early Asian trade, is seen to lose its shimmer and prices may reach the $1,200 per ounce because investors are now keener to invest in other riskier assets.

Nufarm has announced a trading halt again this day in expectance of a profit downgrade this afternoon.

The Opposition has called for the sacking of Peter Garrett, Minister for Environment Protection, over restraints that will delay Queensland’s coal gas projects.

Australia's coal exports rose 10.1 million metric tons in June, as more demand from steel-making countries Brazil and India raises demand, according to data posted on the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corp.'s website.

A multitude of family members and friends came together to bid mining magnate Ken Talbot farewell at a funeral service held at St John's Cathedral in Brisbane this morning.

China's stock market rose after a two-week slump as forecasts showed earnings can exceed an economic slowdown.

Rio Tinto Group, Australia's third largest mining firm, reported a lower iron ore production in the second quarter, a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange indicated.

The Australian stock market has closed higher, lifted by hefty gains from the big miners and major banks.

The Australian sharemarket close 1.8pct or 77.3pts stronger to 4477.30. Asian markets are maintaining their strength in the second half of trade thanks to strength from both US and European markets overnight.

The Australia 200 CFD Index added 1.9% today, with the financial, material, industrial and energy sectors all outperforming.

Across Asia, regional markets are all pushing higher in afternoon trade after Intel reported a stronger-than-expected Q2 result and Singapore upgraded its 2010 economic growth forecast.

A rising tide has lifted all the boats on the share market today. Buoyed by optimism about the US earnings outlook and an overnight bounce in commodity prices, screens are a sea of green. An opening above the technically significant 4410 level on the ASX200 Index has also spurred buying.