MARKETS

Never a company to rest on its laurels, IKEA plans to open 100 'budget design' hotels across Europe. The bad news? Guests probably won't be able to order a platter of Swedish meatballs from room service at 2 a.m.

Jamelle Agbuis Aug 21, 2012

By Andrew NelsonLast week was slightly busier than what passes for normal these days on the uranium spot market.

Admin System Aug 21, 2012

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down 3 points to 13,271 while the S&P was flat at 1418 and the Nasdaq was flat.

Admin System Aug 21, 2012

Investors took somewhat of a breather today, as China's Shanghai Composite fell to its lowest level since 2009 on worries there may not be any forthcoming stimulus from the Central Bank of China. The mood was in stark contrast to global markets on Friday, where US and European markets gained albeit in thin trading volumes. European markets rose to 13-week highs as Germany gave its backing to the European Central Bank's efforts to support the Eurozone while the S&P 500 Index on Wall Street ...

Vittorio Hernandez Aug 20, 2012

Following a weak start to the session, the Australian sharemarket is a few points higher, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) up 0.1 pct or 5.7 pts to 4399.5. A number of companies have gone ex-dividend today, which is putting downward pressure on the broader market.

Vittorio Hernandez Aug 20, 2012

Australian banks lost on Friday the country's longest-running court case after appeal judges in the West Australian Supreme Court upheld a ruling that ordered the lenders to pay creditors of the collapsed Bell Group almost $3 billion.

Vittorio Hernandez Aug 20, 2012

By Greg PeelCentral banks across the globe are implementing and/or are expected to implement or increase monetary policy stimulus over coming months in order to reduce sovereign risk and prop up a flagging global economy.

Admin System Aug 20, 2012

BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP) inked a native land agreement in the Pilbara with the Nyiyaparli people. The signing would lead to expansion of the mining giant's iron ore operations and boost its output to 350 million tonnes by 2020 from the current 120 million tonnes.

Vittorio Hernandez Aug 20, 2012

The state of California has seen upgrades in the technology of roads to provide auto insurers with the ability to monitor the driving behavior of their clients and offer reduced premiums to them. However, the move has not been received well by advocates of privacy who have dismissed it as an unnecessary amount of intrusion leading to serious results.

Jamelle Agbuis Aug 20, 2012

There's something about the quality of a great leader that makes him or her stand out no matter the situation or the crowd. History's greatest leaders have all had that quality, though they may not have all started out as leaders of many or even very few people.

Jamelle Agbuis Aug 20, 2012

Facebook shares dropped by 6.27 percent. Facebook stock hit record low as the first lock-up period ended. Shareholders, who invested in the well-known social media company, cashed out some of their stake. Facebook shares are down almost 50 percent from its debut.

Jamelle Agbuis Aug 20, 2012

There's been some positive momentum gaining across global markets over the past 24 hours after German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced support for the European Central Bank's efforts to prop up the Eurozone. US share markets rose to four month highs overnight, while European markets also rallied. Here positive earnings reports helped boost sentiment with the All Ordinaries Index adding to yesterday's gains, up 1pct. Over the week, the market gained 2pct.

Vittorio Hernandez Aug 17, 2012

Local stocks are continuing to add to yesterday's gains, thanks to strong earnings results and positive offshore leads. European and US share markets moved higher overnight on hopes of further stimulus measures after German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced support for the European Central Bank's efforts to support the Eurozone. Mid-session, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up 28.2pts or 0.6pct to 4381.7.

Vittorio Hernandez Aug 17, 2012

By Peter Switzer, Switzer Super ReportOne of the scariest propositions you can deal with as a financial adviser is to play around with the timing of a stock market.

Admin System Aug 17, 2012

By Rudi Filapek-Vandyck, Editor FNArenaI joined Twitter. Not because I am curious what this celebrity has to say about her kids, or to read that another one is waiting for a connecting flight, impatiently.

Admin System Aug 17, 2012

Note from the Editor: The Consumer Metrics Institute in the US offers independent data and analysis on (online) consumer spending in the US.

Admin System Aug 17, 2012

A study by the Institute for Policy Studies has found that twenty-six big US companies paid their chief executive officers more last year than they did in federal taxes.

Lawrence Villamar Aug 17, 2012

At the rate that Russia has purchased official gold reserves, the European nation logged the largest increase in global official gold reserves purchases over the five year period 2008 to 2012. Russia bought over 500 tonnes of the yellow metal.

Vittorio Hernandez Aug 17, 2012

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 85 points or 0.7% while the S&P gained 0.7% to 1415 and the Nasdaq added 1.0%.

Admin System Aug 17, 2012

The Australian sharemarket improved for the third time this week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) gaining 1.1 pct or 46.5 pts to 4353.5. The energy and financial sectors led the rest of the market higher, while the property trusts ended flat.

Vittorio Hernandez Aug 16, 2012

Australian Banks on the Run

Jamelle Agbuis Aug 16, 2012

Local stocks are trading higher at lunchtime, following a mixed lead from overseas market and commodity prices. The European markets closed lower on growth concerns and rumours percolating around the markets that Spain is preparing to ask for an official bailout. The US markets were again mixed after stronger than expected US economic data have raised more doubts that the Federal Reserve will hold off from easing at its next policy meeting.

Vittorio Hernandez Aug 16, 2012

The car repair industry in Australia criticised on Thursday the decision by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) not to require the recall of 24,000 made-in-China vehicles with asbestos fibre parts.

Vittorio Hernandez Aug 16, 2012

By Jonathan BarrattEconomic numbers from China last week and the lack of any follow through on stimulus talks from central banks over the last few weeks has seen some weakness reemerge into the copper market.

Admin System Aug 16, 2012

By Greg PeelThe Dow dropped 7 points, the S&P was up 0.1% to 1405 and the Nasdaq gained 0.5%.It is looking increasingly likely the Fed will not need to provide additional stimulus in any big way in September.

Admin System Aug 16, 2012

The Australian sharemarket eased a touch for the first time this week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) falling 0.2 pct or 10.4 pts to 4307. The mining sector was the biggest drag on trade, with the S**9**P/ASX 200 Materials index slumping by 1.35 pct or 131.2 pts to 9620.7.

Vittorio Hernandez Aug 15, 2012

Local stocks are trading in the red at lunchtime, following an unconvincing offshore lead and mixed commodity prices. A report showing the Eurozone economy shrank in the second quarter met expectations, and European shares rose in thin trade, however US markets were again mixed as were commodities. At midday in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 22.5pts or 0.5pct to 4294.9.

Vittorio Hernandez Aug 15, 2012

The Office of Insurance Regulation in Florida ordered Praetorian, the subsidiary of Australian insurer QBE Insurance, to cut its home insurance premiums by one-third. QBE actually offered to reduce its rates by 2.2 per cent, but Commissioner Kevin McCarty asked the insurer to cut it by at least 35 per cent.

Vittorio Hernandez Aug 15, 2012

Three of Brazil's largest telecommunication companies will have to spend more than $9.8 billion to upgrade their internet and mobile access services ahead of the upcoming football World Cup in 2014, reported the Financial Times on Monday, after the Brazilian government threatened to punish the companies unless they did so.

Lawrence Villamar Aug 15, 2012