Vittorio Hernandez

General Electric backed the Australian carbon tax, which the government will start to collect on July 1. GE said on Monday that it would allocate more funds to pursue carbon reduction technologies.

A panel set up by Treasurer Wayne Swan has recommended possible tax cuts for research and development by big business in the government's efforts to plug holes in the country's business tax system.

Despite a late attempt at a comeback this afternoon, the Australian sharemarket ended in the red for the third time this week. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) eased by 0.1 pct or 2.2 pts to 4364.7. The miners were a drag on trade despite slightly stronger commodity prices overnight

Education authorities in Australia rolled out on Friday an anti-bullying Web site that offers to children and parents fact on bullying and tips on how to deal with it.

Health campaign groups in Australia launched on Friday the independent Alcohol Advertising Review Board. The main task of the new board would be to name and shame alcohol firms with advertising campaigns that violate international alcohol advertising regulations.

The Macquarie group had its second credit downgrade in four days. The first was by Fitch on Tuesday and the second by Moody's Investors Service on Friday. Moody's cut Macquarie's credit rating by one notch to A3 from A2.

All Ordinaries Index (XAO) closed 9 points lower yesterday, but after another strong session in the U.S and with European markets hitting a fresh 8-month high, our market opened higher this morning. But it have already fallen into the red and by lunchtime The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) had lost ground and is currently off 0.23 pct or 10 points to 4356.7. Volumes are very light and are expected to stay that way throughout the day ahead of a raft of key economic data out in the U.S. tonight and ne...

The National Stock Exchange of Australia (NSX) announced on Friday that it will lower its trading fees to 0.1 basis points per buy and sell beginning April 2.

Jobs in Australia's retail sector appear to be in a worse situation compared to the banking sector. While a report in January warned of the loss of 7,500 banking jobs over the next two years, another study forecasts 118,000 retail jobs could be axed in the next three years across the country.

The Australian sharemarket lost ground today for the second time this week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) easing 0.2 pct or 8.7 pts to 4366.9. This follows on from two consecutive sessions of gains with the Aussie market rising by 2 pct on Tuesday and Wednesday combined.

Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG) announced on Thursday that it doubled its bond offerings to $2 billion from $1 billion. The amount raised will be used to pay for expansion plans.

Yesterday the Australian share market followed global markets higher, closing at a seven month high. So far today the market has been hit by falls in mining and energy stocks, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) off 0.27 pct or 11 points to 4363.9. Today is options expiry for ASX listed companies so the volumes this morning and opening prices were heavily impacted by this once a month event.

Queensland mining magnate Clive Palmer said that he would launch a legal challenge against the carbon tax before the Australian High Court. The basis of his planned challenge is a legal advice that the tax, slated to take effect July 1, is not constitutional.

Cabinet Minister Stephen Conroy has defended the choice of outgoing Australian Stock Exchange Chairman David Gonski as new head of the Australian Future Fund. He made the statement in response to the push by other Australian Labor Party members for Peter Costello to head the $77-billion fund.

The Australian sharemarket recorded its best daily improvement in three weeks yesterday and gained almost as impressively today. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rose 0.9 pct or 39.1 pts to 4375.6 and is close to hitting its highest level in seven months.

A new study released on Wednesday warned of the growing menace of diabetes among young Australians. The report by Diabetes Australia said one in three of young Aussies will likely acquire the chronic ailment, which has no known cure.

Treasurer Wayne Swan said on Wednesday that Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) Chairman David Gonski on Wednesday will head the $77-billion Australian Future Fund. He will also run the Nation-building funds that will invest in infrastructure projects.

Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG) is planning to issue the largest junk bond issue in Australia. The firm aims to raise $1 billion through the bond issue that will be made up of two tranches.

The three estranged Rinehart children have closed their door to a reconciliation or mediation with the family matriarch who holds control over the family trust. Documents released by the New South Wales Supreme Court showed that the reason behind the rejection of the kids of a reconciliation is their perception that their mother, Gina Rinehart, treats them with disdain and arrogance.

Australian stocks are once again posting solid gains, on the back of positive gains in the US and Europe overnight. Retail sales in the US came in higher than expected overnight boosting investor sentiment, while encouraging comments from the US Federal Reserve about moderate expansion in the American economy also helped. Results of the US Bank Stress tests were also revealed overnight, with only four of the 19 banks tested failing, although one of them was Citi. The overall banking sector rose ...

The Australian sharemarket more than made up for yesterday's disappointing start to the week, with the All Ordinaries up 1.1 pct or 48.3 pts to 4,336.5. This is the best daily performance from local shares in around three weeks.

The new ATM withdrawal fee is now $2.50 from $2, comparison Web site Mozo said, which would boost the income of ATM operators by $600 million.

Out of the $60 billion annual cost of workplace injuries across Australia, about half are due to overwork and stress.

Australian Finance Minister Penny Wong said on Tuesday that the federal government would not change its proposed carbon price of $23 per tonne despite a report that said the carbon tax would negatively impact the country's economy by $30 billion.

More details of the Rinehart family court battle are coming out following the decision by the High Court to deny the request of Australia and Asia's richest woman, Gina Rinehart, to suppress publication of the details of their feud.

The local share market is posting solid gains in early trade, despite a subdued night on global share markets after China posted its largest trade deficit in more than two decades. At lunchtime in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up 40.8pts or 1pct to 4329.

Fitch downgraded on Tuesday the credit rating of the Macquarie Group by two notches to A- from A. The cut was part of the rating agency's review of the largest financial institutions in the world.

The Australian sharemarket ended in similar fashion to Monday last week, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) easing by 0.3 pct or 12.3 pts to 4288.2. All sectors lost ground, with the exception of the consumer discretionary and I.T stocks.

Mining leaders in Australia want to distinguish the fine line between subsidising rents for medical personnel in hospitals mining firms open in far flung communities and other basic services needed by these areas.