Rates: RBA Sits, Worries About Europe
There’s been quite a change in the Reserve Bank’s view of the economy and the world since the August 6 board meeting.
Read MoreThere’s been quite a change in the Reserve Bank’s view of the economy and the world since the August 6 board meeting.
Read MoreHave Australian bank regulators jumped the gun with new capital and funding rules for Australian banks?
Read MoreOffsetting the recent strong flow of strong data was Tuesday’s current account figures.
Read MoreThe performance of car sales and overseas travel have been the two outliers in the almost chorus like call of gloom from economists and others about a two speed, recessed domestic economy.
Read MoreMacarthur Coal board has told shareholders to accept the takeover bid by ArcelorMittal and Peabody Energy (PEAMCoal), but has again hinted that a better alternative bid might happen.
Read MoreNew car sales, strong company profits and wages growth, easing inflation, but weak job ads yesterday painted a picture of an economy doing better than many think.
Read MoreWhile August was a rough month for stockmarkets, investors and governments in Europe, Japan and the US, the coming week is shaping up as a nasty replay and reminder of that instability with Australia, Europe and the US are each facing a major test of sentiment.
Read MoreA flood of important data, meetings, decisions and announcements this week, mostly political and economic in Australia, China, the US and Europe.
Read MoreThe week or so of calm and appetite for risk in financial markets across the world disappeared in a few minutes in the US on Friday night with another very depressing unemployment and jobs report.
Read MoreAs we once again approach a monthly Reserve Bank board meeting, the Australian economy is not providing any guidance for the central bank, or individuals.
Read MoreJapan’s latest Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda, reveals his new cabinet today in Tokyo after being sworn in as the country’s third leader in as many years and the 5th in the past six years.
Read MoreNo wonder Chinese companies are back in commodity markets, especially base metals and very especially the best indicator of all, copper.
Read MoreShares in magnetite iron ore pellet producer Grange Resources jumped more than 8% yesterday after the company revealed a maiden dividend and a $58.1 million first half profit.
Read MoreAugust is over, yippee!
Read MoreShares in Cash Converters, the Australian pawn shop and short term lending business, fell 3% yesterday after a deal by its largest shareholder to take control collapsed.
Read MoreTimes are really tough at Harvey Norman, despite a reported 9% rise in net profit, the company cut its dividend by 16% to 12 cents a share for the 2011 financial year from the 14c paid in 2010.
Read MoreIt seemed inevitable, despite the decision by the suitors to go "hostile" and approach shareholders direct, but in the end Peabody Energy and ArcelorMittal sweetened their offer for Macarthur Coal to $4.9 billion, and won the green light yesterday.
Read MoreEven though there was a small improvement in building approvals in July, it wasn’t convincing.
Read MoreGoodman Fielder has again confirmed why it is one of the great disappointments of Australian business.
Read MoreIn other business news, Macquarie Group is back in the takeover game in property.
Read MoreQR National has made a first up profit of $350 million in its first year as a public company.
Read MoreThe June 30 profit season comes to a head this week.
Read MoreOnce again it’s hard to see where the economic and business focus will fall this week; we are facing another heavy flow of data and reports, especially in Australia.
Read MoreMarkets had a far better week last week than in the previous four.
Read MoreTonight we get an update on the strength of the US economy and a much awaited speech from Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke which some in the market reckon will reveal a new move to stimulate the slowing economy.
Read MoreIt shouldn’t have been all that unexpected that the guidance for the current 2012 financial year from giant retailer Woolworths would not be up to its previous high levels of sales and profit growth.
Read MoreAmid all the talk and dire headlines about the decision by BlueScope Steel to close two plants and sack 1,000 people this week, there’s been very little examination of just what’s happening to steel demand.
Read MoreQantas has attempted to quash market rumours it is about to become the target of a $3.5 billion private-equity bid, describing the reports as "pure speculation".
Read MoreAs expected the long list of natural disasters in Australia and NZ in the past year have hit Suncorp Group Ltd’s full year profit hard, thanks to its heavy concentration on insurance through its GIO, Suncorp AAMI and other businesses.
Read MoreNo matter which way you look at it, 2010-11 was a record year for BHP Billiton, just as it was last year.
Read MoreShareholders in travel group Flight Centre have shared in the boom in Australian’s flying overseas in increasing numbers to take advantage of the higher Australian dollar.
Read MoreOrigin Energy said its 2011 profit dropped 70% after one-off items, but grew 15% on an underlying basis.
Read MoreAs forecast, Foster’s is backing its rejection of the $4.90 a share offer from SABMiller with a big share buyback and a solid final dividend of 13.25c.
Read MoreToday it’s the turn of the under siege Foster’s Group to report its maiden full year profit as a beer group.
Read MoreShares in Amcor rose in yesterday’s lacklustre market as the global packaging giant revealed that it is overcome the stronger Australian dollar and almost doubled full year profit to $356.7 million for the 12 months to June 30.
Read MoreIt was a telling contrast, the day BlueScope Steel cuts 1,000 jobs, closes two steel plants and reveals a loss, including write-downs totalling $1.05 billion, its smaller competitor, OneSteel reveals plans to spend another half a billion dollars expanding its iron ore export business.
Read MoreThe June half profit reporting season is about one third complete and really hits its peak this week with majors such as BHP Billiton and Woolworths reporting.
Read MoreDespite another fall in global markets on Friday, the Australian market looks like steadying today.
Read MoreOnce again it will be a very busy week here and offshore.
Read MoreAs good as Wesfarmer’s results were for the 2010-11 financial year, with a 23% lift in after tax earnings; let’s pause for a moment to put them in some perspective.
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