POLITICS & POLICY

The much awaited listing of Polyus Gold International Limited in the London Stock Exchange is now preceded by reports that the company is mulling merger talks with fellow Russian and rival Polymetal International PLC.

He might still be pushing for the Tent Embassy's relevance, but indigenous leader Mick Gooda has emphasized that violence is not the answer to make known their cause for the aboriginal populace in Australia.

The worsening eurozone debt crisis has prompted Australian banks to be more aggressive in cutting their exposure to the embattled continent.

In a dramatic turn of events during Australia Day, the prime minister has been reported around the world to have had a ‘Cinderella’ moment when she tumbled and lost a shoe while being dragged by security away from an angry mob of protesters.

Crocodile Gold Corp. of Canada and Petropavlovsk of Russia, just some of the world's numerous gold miners, both eye favorable production yields of the gold metal in 2012.

Westpac could follow the lead made by ANZ Bank of independence from the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) overnight cash rate cuts insofar as setting of interest rates is concerned.

The Australian sharemarket was closed yesterday due to the Australia Day public holiday and is gaining for the second time this week. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is up 0.6 pct or 28.1 pts to 4357.2. Almost all sectors are improving however companies within the consumer discretionary industry are holding the market back.

A day after revealing on Tuesday that it encountered a $40-million blowout in related construction costs at its controversial LAMP advanced materials refinery plant, Australian miner Lynas Corp. faced yet another hurdle, this time, the 2,000-page feedback it received to the application for a temporary operating license it lodged before the Malaysian Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB).

Two days after it downgraded global economic growth forecast, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also cut its outlook for Australia to 3 per cent from previous forecast of 3.3 per cent.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar has opened above USD1.0600 against the Greenback this morning after hitting a three month high of USD1.0688 overnight.

The Australian Stock Market is seen benefiting from overnight gains, with the commodities-related stocks taking on the limelight on Friday's trading.

U.S. stocks declined slightly Thursday, giving back early gains as a round of disappointing economic data offset strong earnings from blue-chips and the Federal Reserve's pledge to hold down interest rates. (Read on for Global Markets)

The Australian sharemarket ended higher today for the first time this week, with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) rising by 1 pct or 42.7 pts to 4329.1. The consumer discretionary and utility sectors lost a little ground but all other industries ended the day higher. As long as Australian shares do not lose ground on Friday, the XAO will likely have improved for the fourth consecutive week.

Australia and the United Kingdom signed on Tuesday a pact that would allow the two nations closer cooperation on information sharing and a host of other collaborative efforts, underscoring the two governments' improving relationship.

Gold reserves by the Republic of Belarus in the last month of 2011 have grown to 1.21 million ounces from 1.028 million ounces in November 2011, data from the Web site of the International Monetary Fund said.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will help the People's Republic of China (PRC) set up a pilot provincial emissions trading system that could pave the way for a national scheme and lower greenhouse gas emissions in the country.

Last January 23 is the first day of the Lunar Year. According to Chinese Astrology this is the Year of the Dragon, or also known as the Spring Festival.

Production is the key for the Australian automotive industry to improve its current situation, according to former Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Bernie Fraser.

Beleaguered Australian rare earths miner Lynas Corp., whose controversial LAMP advanced materials refinery plant continues to face hurdles among the locals in Malaysia, triggering a $40 million blowout in related construction costs and yet another start-up delay, has received a much needed financial boost of $US225 million ($215 million) from investors Mount Kellett Capital Management.

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) has criticised the poor quality of advice that Australian financial planners have given to clients.

It’s that day of the year again – Australia Day – when people come together and celebrate what makes Australia and being Australian great. Reflecting on what each and every Aussie has achieved and can be proud of, ultimately, it’s time to celebrate. And what better way of spending the day than to celebrate and have fun with loved ones safely?

Australia announced on Tuesday that it will support the new economic sanctions passed by the European Union against Iran, calling member nations and other countries to stop trading with Iran.

For every cause there is an effect. For every action there is typically a reaction. Such is India's dilemma over its steel making production which could be potentially disturbed by its iron ore supply shortage problem.

The Australian sharemarket is gaining for the first time this week, with the All Ordinaries index up 0.7 pct or 28.9 pts to 4315.3. The question remains if we can hold onto these gains for the whole session.

Former Australian Treasurer Peter Costello warned on Tuesday that because of four years of bad budget under a Labor government Australia is at the risk of taking the same road as Europe which has led to a sovereign debt crisis.

A week after the World Bank cut its global growth forecast for 2012 and 2013 due to the worsening eurozone sovereign debt crisis, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) followed and made its own downgrade.

The Australian Stock Market has recorded early morning gains as of 10: 16 AM, the benchmark The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index is up 22.6 points, or 0.5 per cent, at 4309, while the broader All Ordinaries index is up 23.5 points, or 0.6 per cent, at 4247.7. Analysts are optimistic of the day's trading, sharing new leads and market insights.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: Having reached a 3 month high the previous evening, the Australian Dollar has retraced 1 US cent overnight as the markets reacted to ongoing negotiations between Greece and its private creditors as well as IMF warnings on the European crisis.

Stocks declined, as investors eyed a standoff in Greece's debt-reduction talks and mixed quarterly earnings from a basket of major companies. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 39 points, or 0.3%, at 12669 in recent afternoon trading, on pace to post its second consecutive decline for the first time in nearly three weeks.