POLITICS & POLICY

China Yancoal Suspends Expansion Plans in Australia

Poor prices of coal in the world market spurred by a continuing weak demand from the Asian market had prompted China-backed Yancoal Australia to suspend its expansion plans in all its seven mines in Australia.

Gu Kailai, Bo Xilai's Wife, Nets Prison Life Sentence

Gu Kailai, wife of former Politburo top contender Bo Xilai, was given a suspended death sentence on Monday, concluding a brief but high-profile murder trial that China watchers said was both a political and criminal proceeding.
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More Mining Taxes Could Mean More Job Cuts in Queensland

For every cause, there will always be a corresponding, resulting effect.With prices of commodity on the downhill, coupled with growing operating costs, Queensland miners may be forced to slash jobs if only to be able to comply to a proposal to increase mining royalties in the Australian state.

Molycorp Shares Slip Further on Financing Plan

Shares of Molycorp Inc. dropped to a year low on Thursday after the cash-strapped rare earths miner announced on the same day plans of selling a combination of stock and debt in order to raise as much as $517.5 million to help fund operations at its California mine.

Global Markets Overview - 08/17/2012

Technology stocks helped drive the biggest advance for the Dow in almost two weeks after investors took comfort in German Chancellor Angela Merkel's stated commitment to hold together the euro zone. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 85.33 points, or 0.7%, to 13250.11, and the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index added 9.98 points, or 0.7%, to 1415.51.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 08/17/2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar moved modestly higher overnight as comments from German Chancellor Angela Merkel lifted sentiment in another quiet session.

Tony Abbott Demands More Govt Resolve in Enforcing Immigration Policy

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has assailed federal authorities for lack of strong resolve in handling serious border protection affairs in light of reports that the crew of a cargo ship that rescued asylum seekers off the Indonesian waters were intimidated by some of the refugees.

BHP Hints of More Job Cuts

Saddled by the continued deterioration of the global market, coupled with a slowing appetite from its major market importer, BHP Billiton has warned it would need to undertake more job cuts at its Australian operations.

China Posts Biggest FDI Decline This Year In July

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in China for the month of July has narrowed down by 8.7 per cent compared to a year ago, latest data released by the Commerce Ministry on Thursday showed, affirming what could really be a slow economic rebound for the Asian country.

India's Low Rainfall to Affect Rice Production, Exports

A looming rice supply shortage could occur in the next few months as the poor monsoon and low rainfall in India, the world's second-biggest grower, hampers the nation's rice output, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) said.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 08/16/2012

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is slightly higher this morning, currently trading just below USD1.0500 despite some mixed data released during the offshore session overnight.

Global Markets Overview - 08/16/2012

U.S. stocks finished the day roughly flat as investors juggled an unexpected contraction in domestic manufacturing activity and a mixed batch of corporate earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 7.36 points, or 0.1%, to 13164.78. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index gained 1.60 points, or 0.1%, to 1405.53 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 13.95 points, or 0.5%, to 3030.93.

Wayne Swan Brags on Australian Economy’s Olympic-Level Feats

Australia barely made it to the Top 10 of the recently concluded London 2012 Olympics but Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan still rejoices with the fact that amidst the lingering financial difficulties, the domestic economy “is 10 per cent bigger,” when pitted against the other developed economies.

Global Markets Overview - 08/15/2012

U.S. STOCK MARKETSConsumer stocks lifted the Dow industrials after Home Depot and a handful of high-end retailers posted upbeat quarterly earnings and July's retail-sales report topped estimates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.71 points, or less than 0.1%, to 13172.14.

Jobs at India Threatened by Coal Importation

India's massive coal importation, spurred by the sector's belief that local coal has poor content and low quality, has led to the unfortunate downsizing of employment in the coal sector.

ILVA, Italy’s Largest Steelmaker to Close Shop, Thousands of Jobs at Risk

A manufacturing plant in Taranto, Italy by ILVA, Italy's largest steel maker, may be forced to close shop after a court ruling released over the weekend ordered the particular plant cannot fabricate steel while in the process of carrying out court-ordered improvements to its production line in light of the environmental and public health hazards it has created to its community.

New Zealand Bonds in China’s Radar

With the economy of New Zealand showing signs of stability and moderate growth, more and more nations are interested to invest in its bond market, particularly China.

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