POLITICS & POLICY

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...

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.

Lady Diana's Statue to be Erected in Front of Royal Couple's Kensington Apartment [PHOTOS]

Tennessee pastor Michael Pearl is being censured for his views on raising children by never "sparing the rod."

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.

The recent development in Herman Cain's alleged string of inappropriate behaviour towards female employees comes by the name of Sharon Bialek.

Newly listed Australian gold base metals and uranium miner Mining Group Limited announced it has bought an 80 per cent interest in the Philippines' Comval Project, effectively expanding its gold and base metal tenement overseas.

Despite pressure from other Labor leaders for a formal party position on gay marriage, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Tuesday that she would allow a conscience vote on the issue.

The original queen of pop is leaning towards enrolling her children, Rocco and David, at Marlborough College, the same school attended by both Kate and Pippa Middleton.

Scrambling to extend the life of its mines, four of which are set to conclude by 2020, China's Minmetals Resources Ltd. is on the prowl to acquire Australia-based miners Mirabela Nickel Ltd. and Alumina Ltd., with a $7 billion to boot to capture the two companies' nickel, bauxite and alumina output.

Prompted by global concerns pulling down valuations, Zijin Mining Group Co. of China has allotted some Yu10 billion (US$1.6 billion) to acquire deals targeting gold, copper and other metals that are in short supply in China.

The proverbial red tape prevalent in most governments has largely affected small businesses in Queensland, which have been thumped $7 billion in taxes, fees and other charges annually.

Prices of copper crept up on Tuesday as investor confidence rallied on Greece forming a new government that will push the necessary bailout package needed to control a looming default.

The Duchess was recently seen constantly touching her belly, and now, royal pregnancy rumors are really starting to escalate.

A security aide of slain Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi detained in Misrata has told CNN and BBC that the longest-serving leader of Africa was forced to scavenge for food and hide in abandoned homes in his hometown Sirte during his last days.

After a less than ideal start to the trading week yesterday, Australian shares are rising modestly. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is up 0.2 pct or 10.7 pts to 4346. Most of the larger sectors are currently improving with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials index up 0.4 pct while the S&P/ASX 200 Financials index is 0.3 pct or 12.1 pts higher to 4066.6.

As the Australian Senate votes on the carbon price on Tuesday, the Labor government said it will stick to its proposed $23 per tonne price.

BHP Billiton's indenture arrangement bill, a prerequisite to start the expansion plans of its $30 billion Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine project, has received ample backing from the Liberal MPs, guaranteeing its likely passage before Christmas.

Australian Prime Julia Gillard has the Qantas crisis and the G20 Summit to thank for lifting her sagging popularity. Latest survey made by Newspoll released on Tuesday shows that Labor got a 47 per cent rating, up by 1 per cent, while the coalition lost 1 per cent.

Bell FX Currency Outlook:The AUD has traded in a wide range in the last 24 hours as it continues to take direction, like just about all financial markets, from developments in Europe.

From Morrison Securities Pty. LtdU.S. stocks rose Monday, helped by late-session reports that detailed some of the options for Europe's bailout fund. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished with a gain of 85.15 points, or 0.71%, to 12068.39, after falling by more than 100 points midsession. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index added 7.89 points, or 0.63%, to 1261.12. The modest gains were enough to move the broad market measure back into the black for 2011, now up 0.28% year to date...

By Craig James, Commsec Chief EconomistMORNING REPORT (US close - 8am AEDT)Euro zone retail sales fell by 0.7pct in September - the first fall in four months and far weaker than forecasts centred on a 0.1pct decline. But August sales were revised up to +0.1pct from a decline of 0.3pct. And in the UK, the Halifax home price index lifted by 1.2pct in October. In the three months to October, prices were down 1.8pct on a year ago.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have sued SeaWorld marine parks arguing that the park was keeping whales as slaves and that the animals should be set free under America's 13th Amendment.

University of Michigan's community outreach coordinator, Carol Stephanchuck, didn't know what she found when she went through random boxes from storage.

Miss Venezuela, Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colmenares, was crowned Miss World 2011 in London Sunday evening. The 60th anniversary of the beauty pageant was marked at the Earls Court in west London.

The famous James Bond star and knighted celebrity has nothing but great words to say about the royal couple for their tireless efforts on helping different aids and charities.

The destructive floods in Bangkok and Thailand's northern provinces have disrupted global supply chains as major production hubs for electronic supplies and automotive parts are now submerged.

The Chinese are known for being thrifty in business. They hate high prices. And this temperament may overwhelm the boom in most commodities, as is the case now in the prices of copper and rare earth metals.

It seemed that investors stayed well away from the Australian sharemarket today ahead of further clarification on a number of topics from the Eurozone and particularly Greece over the next few days. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) fell by 0.2 pct or 7.2 pts to 4335.3.