BUSINESS

A smartphone user shows the Facebook application on his phone

Average Value of Top 4 Social Media Sites is $101 per User

A 2013 Experian Marketing Services survey found that consumers in the UK, U.S. and Australia spent an average of 16 minutes for every hour on the Internet on social media sites. After social media are entertainment Web sites where consumers spend an average of 9 minutes for every hour.

Human Pilot Error Cause of Fatal 2013 Asiana Airlines Crash

An Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 plane is seen in this aerial image after it crashed while landing at San Francisco International Airport in California on July 6, 2013. REUTERS/Jed Jacobsohn
Before the still missing ill-fated Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, there was Asiana Airlines Flight 214 on July 2013. On Tuesday, authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board said the jetliner crashed and killed three people at San Francisco International Airport in 2013 because of human error on the part of its pilots.
More news

Global Markets Overview – June 26, 2014

Once again we saw a sharp contrast in sentiment from European to US trade as a different set of forces dictated sentiment. European trade remained fairly risk-off as investors focused on rising geopolitical tension on the Iraq and Ukraine front. Latest reports suggest the US is considering further sanctions against Russia, while militants in Iraq continue to expand their territory.

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning June 26, 2014

In US economic data, durable goods orders fell by 1.0% in May, below forecasts tipping a flat result. Excluding defence equipment, orders rose by 0.6%. The final reading of economic growth (GDP) in the March quarter showed a decline of 2.9%, bigger than the 1.7% decline that was forecast.

Carers Top ABS List of Top 10 Jobs in Australia With Growth Over Next 5 Years

In February 2014, Australia's joblessness rate hit 6 per cent, the highest rate since 1997. Employment experts believe that by identifying the hot jobs over the next five years, Aussies could help prevent their becoming unemployed since they could initiate steps this early to shift careers or learn a new trade.
The Apple Logo is Pictured at a Retail Store in the Marina Neighborhood in San Francisco

Apple Posts Job Ads for Siri to Support 13 More Languages

After the announced Siri enhancements at the Worldwide Development Conference (WWDC), Cupertino tech giant Apple post job ads that will teach the digital assistant Siri to expand her existing lexicon and at the same time understand and speak 13 more new languages.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon June 25, 2014

The ASX 200 remained under pressure over the course of the afternoon, although there were some signs of resilience. The index recovered from session lows when it was down by about 64 points. At that level the index was at 5378, marking an area of support that has been a feature of recent week. Buyers defended the level successfully and the market traded higher although buyers were reluctant to take the bourse substantially beyond the 5400 mark. Investor interest was respectable with healthy leve...

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday June 25, 2014

The Australian sharemarket is losing ground for the second straight day, with weakness across U.S markets and continued conflicts in Iraq and Ukraine keeping investors edgy. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is back below 5400pts, falling by 0.5 per cent at lunch.

Global Markets Overview – June 25, 2014

US equities unwound despite some mostly positive economic releases, as geopolitical risk came back into play. The conference board's consumer confidence and new home sales both came in well ahead of estimates, but this wasn't enough to lift sentiment. Fed members were also quite vocal with Dudley saying a mid-2015 rate hike seemed reasonable, while Plosser suggested the Fed is closer to meeting its twin objectives. Risk assets lost some ground, while the yen and gold were bid higher in a f...

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning June 25, 2014

In US economic data, new home sales soared by 18.6% in May to a 504,000 annual rate, above forecasts for a result near 440,000. Consumer confidence rose from 83.0 to a 6-1/2 year high of 85.2 in June, above forecasts near 83.5. The Case Shiller measure of home prices rose by 0.2% in April with the annual rate easing from 12.4% to 10.8%. But the Richmond Federal Reserve index eased from +7 to +3 in June.

Australian Stock Market Report – Afternoon June 24, 2014

The Australian sharemarket erased around half of Monday's improvements, dragged lower by US weakness. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) finished 0.3 per cent softer, with the major banks the worst performers. Improvements amongst the industrials and property trusts were short lived today and all sectors ended in the red.
Google Signage

Google Inc. Pays Only $220K Tax in New Zealand Despite Earnings of $10M

Google Inc may be paying more taxes in New Zealand with a bill of $227,074 in 2013. However, according to reports, the Internet search giant has earned US$15.42 billion in global revenues in the first quarter of 2014. Comparing Google's tax bill in New Zealand and its total earnings, the amount the company paid to the government may be deemed not enough.

Australian Stock Market Report – Midday June 24, 2014

The Australian sharemarket is losing ground at lunch, with U.S. market weakness providing a negative lead for local shares. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 0.4 per cent, with all sectors in the red. On Monday, the Australian market rose by 0.4 per cent thanks to better than expected economic news in China.

Global Markets Overview – June 24, 2014

The major development from overnight trade was news that Iraq's army enjoyed a minor victory after recapturing some territory from militants. This resulted in a sharp decline in oil prices, particularly Brent crude which is more sensitive to geopolitical issues. The drop in oil along with some encouraging US economic data in the form of flash manufacturing PMI and existing home sales helped US markets come off their lows and finish the session relatively flat. However, it was a different stor...

Australian Stock Market Report – Morning June 24, 2014

In US economic data, the Markit ´´flash´´ manufacturing purchasing manager's index rose from 56.4 to 57.5 in June, above forecasts near 56.5. Existing home sales rose by 4.9% to a 4.89 million annual rate in May, above forecasts of 4.73m. And the national activity index rose from minus 0.15 points to +0.21 points in May.

Pages