France hits Google with 150m euro fine
PARIS, RAW – France’s data privacy watchdog CNIL says it has fined Alphabet’s Google a record 150 million euros ($A234 million) for making it difficult for internet users to refuse online trackers known as cookies. Meta Platforms’ Facebook was also fined 60 million euros ($A94 million) for the same reason, the CNIL said. “The CNIL…
Australia, Japan sign hydrogen partnership
CANBERRA, AAP – Australia will begin exporting clean hydrogen to Japan as part of a multimillion dollar program to grow the renewable energy industry. Under a new agreement signed on Thursday, Japan will take part in the first round of Australia’s $150 million clean hydrogen trade program. The program will support projects to develop clean…
Farmers finding it tough to take a break
SYDNEY, AAP – The festive season is a time for many Aussies to take a break, but spare a thought for those who have helped put ham or haloumi on the Christmas table. Most farmers haven’t and won’t get time off this holiday period, according to the National Farmers Federation. “Sadly there is no such…
S&P 500 ends jumpy session nearly flat
NEW YORK CITY, RAW – The S&P 500 has ended a volatile session close to unchanged, with financials among sectors lending support a day after the market sold off on a hawkish slant in Federal Reserve minutes. The S&P 500 financials index rose, extending recent strong gains. Other economically sensitive sectors including energy were up…
ASX’s biggest one-day rout since Sept 2020
SYDNEY, AAP – Australian shares have had their biggest one-day fall since September 2020 as investors panicked about interest rates rising sooner than expected. The market lost 2.74 per cent on Thursday and all share categories dropped after minutes of the US Federal Reserve December meeting showed discussion about earlier rate hikes to slow inflation….
Australia’s vehicle market in 2021
The top-selling vehicles and vehicle companies in Australia in 2021. ADELAIDE, AAP – TOP SELLING COMPANIES: * Toyota 223,642 * Mazda 101,119 * Hyundai 72,872 * Ford 71,380 * Kia 67,964 * Mitsubishi 67,732 * Nissan 41,263 * Volkswagen 40,770 * MG 39,025 * Subaru 37,015 TOP SELLING VEHICLES: * Toyota HiLux 52,801 * Ford…
Fortescue ‘green team’ goes loco for ore
CANBERRA, AAP – “Green steel” is the ultimate prize for Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest and it could start with a train ride. Australia’s third-largest iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group says it is on track to cut emissions from transporting the ore to port with the purchase of two new battery powered locomotives. Australia currently produces…
Asia shares fall after hawkish Fed minutes
SHANGHAI, RAW – Asian shares have fallen, extending a global slump after Federal Reserve meeting minutes pointed to a faster-than-expected rise in US interest rates due to concerns about persistent inflation. Worries over higher US rates combined with growing concerns about the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 to weigh on riskier assets….
Asian shares rally ahead of US jobs data
HONG KONG, RAW – Asian shares have snapped two days of losses, climbing as investors wait to see whether jobs data will reinforce the need for faster US interest-rate hikes. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.3 per cent, boosted by a 1.2 per cent gain in the Australian benchmark where bank…
ASX in recovery mode, broad rally unfolds
SYDNEY, AAP – Banks and energy providers were leading the ASX higher in a semi-recovery from a disastrous Thursday. Financials and energy shares were each more than two per cent higher in a broad-based rally which defied US markets closing lower. The Commonwealth Bank, ANZ and Macquarie Group each gained a little more than two…
