Grains: Forecast Wheat Harvest, Exports Near Record Highs
Rain in Western Australia has offset an emerging dry in eastern areas of the country, enabling the 2011-12 wheat crop estimate to be maintained at close to record levels.
Read MoreRain in Western Australia has offset an emerging dry in eastern areas of the country, enabling the 2011-12 wheat crop estimate to be maintained at close to record levels.
Read MoreThe NAB’s latest survey of monthly business confidence and conditions produced the expected outcome: confidence crashed, while business conditions hardly moved.
Read MoreMore evidence yesterday that the economy isn’t a straitjacket or under pressure.
Read MoreNow isn’t a good time to be announcing bad news, or news that the jittery investors take as being bad.
Read MoreCatch up was a bit of an understatement for the markets yesterday here and in Asia after the sharp sell-off in Europe and the US last Friday.
Read MoreWhile markets took a hit late last week from another upsurge in fears about the euro and especially Greece, the August economic report from China was reassuringly benign.
Read MoreReports that France’s three major banks are about to see their credit ratings cut this week will make for a rough volatile start to trading this week after the surprisingly nasty sell-off on Friday that saw markets across Europe and the US slump.
Read MoreWhat was looking to be a quieter week in business and finance will now be noisier and more fraught thanks to the outbreak of tension and volatility on Friday.
Read MoreIt’s been a week where the contrasts between the weak economies of Europe and the US have again been underlined (to Australia’s benefit) by confidence-sapping financial problems.
Read MoreGold prices hit a new high of more than $US1,921 an ounce this week, or rather a new 31 year peak, then fell by $US90 an ounce.
Read MoreSo Qantas shareholders had no dividend in the 2011 financial year, they have watched the share price fall 16% so far this calendar year, and now they will be told, if they can understand it, that CEO Alan Joyce received a 71% pay rise to $5 million.
Read MoreWe should not have been surprised.
Read MoreThe Australian economy isn’t dying in a ditch or sliding towards a recession; yesterday’s national accounts for the June quarter make that clear.
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 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 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 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 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 MoreA flood of important data, meetings, decisions and announcements this week, mostly political and economic in Australia, China, the US and Europe.
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 MoreAugust is over, yippee!
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 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 MoreMarkets had a far better week last week than in the previous four.
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 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.
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