POLITICS & POLICY

Australian Stock Market Report - Midday 11/10/2011

Investor focus appears to have turned from Greece to Italy, with fear gripping offshore markets overnight. US and European share markets were heavily sold off after Italian borrowing costs (10 year bond yields) rose to 7.5pct, the highest level since the Euro was launched in 1999. Any figure above 7pct is psychological because that was the level which heightened worries about Greece, Ireland and Portugal and all three countries eventually needed a bailout. The Dow Jones Index closed down 3.2pct ...

Australia's Housing Finance Commitments Picks Up

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) housing finance figures for September 2011 show in trend terms that the number of finance commitments increased for the fifth consecutive month; the September increase was 1.2 percent.
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World Demand for Oil Seen to Peak Before 2020: Report

Triggered by a number of regulatory policies promoting energy efficiency, coupled with new technology, biofuel use and increasing concern for climate change, the world's demand for oil may peak before 2020, new research suggests.

Glamour Fest Celebrates Strong Women

Every year, Glamour looks to women of all ages who have accomplished something quite remarkable and honours them for their intelligence and spirit.

IAEA Report Links Iran Nuclear Program to Military Use, Iran Enraged

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released Tuesday a report containing information indicating Iran had conducted activities to develop a nuclear explosive device. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the report a fake and accused IAEA director general Yukiya Amano of being a U.S. puppet.

Gillard Claims Abbott has No Intention of Repealing Carbon Tax

Despite Opposition leader Tony Abbott's vow to repeal the carbon tax if he comes to power, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard claimed in a question-and-answer portion at the CarbonExpo conference in Melbourne on Wednesday that Mr Abbott will not repeal the tax.

Australian Stock Market Report - Midday 11/09/2011

The Australian sharemarket is improving for the second straight day thanks to news that Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has agreed to step down later this month. This resulted in strong gains from the American markets late in trade this morning, which has translated in an impressive performance from shares locally. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is up 1.4 pct or 60.5 pts to 4417.2.

Telstra Top Complaints Against Telcos

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman received for the year about 198,000 complaints against telecommunication firms in Australia. The complaints were up by almost 25,000 from the previous year's 168,000.

$23 per ton Carbon Tax to Raise Inflation Rate by Less Than 1%

Contrary to claims by the Opposition that the carbon tax passed Tuesday by the Australian Senate would cause economic slow down, a climate expert said that the impact of a $23 per tonne tax would be to increase inflation rate by less than 1 per cent.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 11/09/2011

From Bell FX Currency Outlook: The AUD has been steady since yesterday morning and is trading at USD 1.0375 as European politics dominated headlines and focus.

Global Markets Overview - 11/09/2011

From Morrison Securities Pty. LtdU.S. stocks jumped in afternoon trading after reports that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi plans to resign, seen as a breakthrough in the country's political impasse. Berlusconi was planning to resign after the country's 2012 budget vote is approved, according to several media reports. Few details were immediately available, but traders viewed the development as a positive one for stocks, which have been wracked by soaring Italian bond yields a...

Australian Stock Market - Morning - 11/09/2011

From: Craig James, Commsec Chief EconomistMORNING REPORT (8am AEDT - US close) -- US ICSC chain store sales rose by 2.7pct in the week to November 5 compared with a year ago. ICSC research expects comparable store sales to rise 3.5-4pct in November. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.3pts to 90.2 in October - improving for the second straight month.

Padma Lakshmi: Alone and Thriving

The host of U.S. reality cooking show, "Top Chef," is learning that juggling a television show, losing the baby weight and raising a toddler can be done if you have a little help, humility and a little bit of know-how.

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