POLITICS & POLICY

Vietnam Eyes Coal Importation as 2012 Coal Exports to Drop

Vietnam will slash its coal exports by 18.2 per cent next year from this year's projected shipments to 13.5 million tonnes in order to save supplies for domestic consumption in anticipation of new thermal power plants going online in the next few months.

Australia Sets Precedent on Cigarette Plain Packaging Laws

Amidst protestations and applause, Australia is set to strictly rein in on tobacco marketing within its borders come next year as the country imposes its plain cigarette packaging laws that aim to strip the products of their sleek images, thus giving consumers straight-forward information on the substances they puff in to their system.
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Australian Lynas Delighted over Falling Rare Earths Prices

The current slump in the global prices of rare earth metals (REM) is a more than open indication the global market is now poised for a renewed growth demand in the sector, Nicholas Curtis, chairman of Lynas Corp., explained to shareholders at its annual meeting on Wednesday.

Australian Stock Market Report - Midday 12/01/2011

The Australian sharemarket is gaining for the fourth consecutive day with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) currently up around 2.2 pct. This makes it the fourth consecutive session of improvements locally and means that Australian shares have jumped by around 5 pct so far this week. All sectors are currently trading higher.

Australia's Manufacturing Activity Barely Improves in November

Manufacturing activity remained flat in November according to the latest Australian Industry Group - PwC Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®). The Australian PMI® was broadly unchanged, up just 0.4 points to 47.8, to remain below the 50 points level separating expansion from contraction.

Global Markets Overview - 12/01/2011

Three substantial economic developments announced in quick succession Wednesday morning, including efforts from several central banks to shore up the global financial system, prompted global stock markets to soar and sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average up by more than 400 points. Central banks around the globe announced a coordinated plan to make dollar funding cheaper for European banks.

Australian Stock Market Report - Morning - 12/01/2011

MORNING REPORT (7.30am AEDT) The world´s major central banks acted jointly on Wednesday to provide cheaper US dollar liquidity to European banks. The surprise emergency move included the US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, and the central banks of Canada, Britain, Japan and Switzerland.

French Court Voids Ban on Genetically Modified Corn

France's Council of State, which hears cases against decisions of the national government, has annulled the 2007 and 2008 rules of the agriculture ministry suspending the planting of genetically modified corn in the country.

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