Vittorio Hernandez

A new report released on Wednesday said that despite the soaring costs of living, Australians today live better lives compared to the past 27 years.

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard questioned the too much premium given by Australia to China.

A day after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) unexpectedly cut the overnight cash rate by half a percentage point to 3.75 per cent. Treasurer Wayne Swan prodded on Wednesday Australian banks to pass to customers the rate cut in full.

The Australian sharemarket improved for the second straight day today, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) up 0.7 pct or 30.1 pts to 4497.3 and is now trading around nine month highs. The local market outperformed the majority of our peers last month and edged higher by 1 pct in April.

Unite, the union of finance sector employees in Britain, criticised on Tuesday a plan by the National Australia Bank (NAB) to shed 1,400 jobs in the lender's operations in the United Kingdom.

More Australians are going on international cruises. Data from the International Cruise Council of Australiasia (ICCA) released on Tuesday said 623,000 Aussies went on cruise holidays in 2011. It is a 34 per cent hike compared to the 466,000 who went on cruises in2010.

A Department of Treasury study found that mining companies continue their aggressive recruitment to meet labour shortages suffered by the sector. Among their measures are the downgrade of selection criteria and allocation of a large amount of money to train new recruits.

The Australian share market closed higher yesterday, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) up 33 points to 4,462 points. Overnight global markets closed lower after concerns mounted about how Spain could turn around its economy and create job growth. After news the Spanish economy had fallen back into recession in the first quarter of 2012. It was a very mixed market by lunch time today with investors awaiting the outcome of The Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) board meeting and interest rat...

Woodside Petroleum agreed on Tuesday to sell its 14.7 per cent stake in the Browse gas fields to its Japanese partners for $2 billion. However, the sale to Mitsubishi and Mitsui would likely place a question mark if Mitsubishi and Mitsui would build the liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at James Price Point.

The Australian sharemarket ended a little lower today for the second time this week. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) fell 0.3 pct or 11.6 pts to 4433.4 with almost all sectors losing ground. The market has remained largely unchanged over the shortened trading week (ANZAC Day public holiday on Wednesday).

Despite positive moves on US and European markets overnight, the Australian share market is showing no great signs of momentum at lunchtime in the East. Profit downgrades and a fall in earnings from Macquarie Group (MQG) has weighed on investor sentiment, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) flat at 4444.1.

The strike of West Australian farmers against Coles' pricing policy of a $1 reduction per litre of milk was averted by a meeting of the producers with the supermarket giant this week.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) expressed on Friday its opposition to plans for the relaxation of fatigue standards for train drivers in New South Wales from the current 12-hour maximum.

Although the influx of foreign visitors to Australia could slow down in financial year 2012, the tourism industry's value would climb by $100 billion by year-end, the Tourism Forecasting Committee said.

St George Bank assured on Friday its employees that no one would lose their jobs amid reports that the subsidiary of Westpac is planning to outsource 200 IT jobs to IBM.

The Australian sharemarket edged higher for the second time this week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) ending 0.3 pct or 11.1 pts stronger to 4445.0. In the first 15 minutes of trade this morning, the market hit a high of 4466.2 (0.75 pct rise) only to gradually give back most of those gains throughout the session.

Atlas Iron and QR National launched on Thursday the $3.5-billion Pilbara railway through the start of a feasibility study to build the 600-kilometre multi-user rail link to transport iron ore from the east and southeast Pilbara to shipment facilities at Port Hedland.

On Tuesday, afternoon before the Anzac Day public holiday, The Australian share market rose 3.6 points to 4,433 points. The Australian share market jumped on the back of the solid leads from the overseas markets over the last 2 days. US and European markets higher overnight, helped by positive earnings result from key European banks and consumer product companies and outstanding numbers from Apple and Boeing in the US.

While recent statistics indicate the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) would likely cut the overnight cash rate when it meets in May, any rate cut would hardly benefit Australian mortgage customers.

Justice finally caught up with the U.S. subsidiary of Lend Lease Construction, an Australian firm, over a 10-year overbilling fraud. A U.S. court in Brooklyn fined the company $58 million in fines and restitution to victims.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said on Wednesday that because of the values that Anzac Day represents, the day has become more significant than Australia Day.

The Australian sharemarket rose for the first time this week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) edging higher by 0.1 pct or 3.6 pts to 4433.9. Yesterday was the second quietest day for the Aussie market however today was a little busier. The Australian and New Zealand markets will be closed tomorrow due to the ANZAC day holiday.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loon committed in a dinner with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard to support Canberra's bid to gain a seat in the UN Security Council.

The Australian share market has managed to shrug off weak offshore leads and fears of a mass sell-down to start the trading day on a positive note. US and European markets slumped overnight, as uncertainty surrounds the future of the French and Dutch governments. The local share market started the trading day on a flat note, defying predictions of a 0.6pct fall and at lunchtime in the East is trading firmer by 903pts or 0.2pct to 4439.6.

While borrowing an average of $200 a month from family and friends, Australians at the same time have toned down their demand for various types of credit.

Flag carrier Qantas is on an apparent collision course with the New South Wales (NSW) government insofar as the construction of a second Sydney airport is concerned.

Victoria is launching on Tuesday the $1.2-billion Webb Dock container port project. The new port is the Australian state's first major venture under the administration of Premier Ted Baillieu.

There is sufficient room for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to reduce the overnight cash rate when the central bank's monetary board meets in May, economists and analysts said on Tuesday.

The Australian sharemarket ended in negative territory for the first time in four sessions today. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) fell 0.3 pct or 14.1 pts to 4430.3. Today was also one of the quietest starts to a new trading week this year. Local shares attempted a comeback at lunch, following a report in China showing a slight improvement in China's manufacturing sector.