The Aussie car market in January
ADELAIDE, AAP – TOP SELLING CAR COMPANIES IN JANUARY: * Toyota 15333 * Mazda 9805 * Mitsubishi 6533 * Kia 5520 * Hyundai 5128 * Ford 4528 * MG 3538 * Subaru 2722 * Isuzu Ute 2715 * Nissan 2334 TOP SELLING CARS IN JANUARY: * Toyota Hi-Lux 3591 * Ford Ranger 3245 * Mazda…
Finance providers punished for spam, calls
SYDNEY, AAP – Three financial services providers have broken spam and telemarketing laws and more are under scrutiny to prevent them offering quick loans to vulnerable people. The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found three companies called or sent emails and texts with unsolicited financial offers. The chief culprit was Phoenix Securities, which sent…
Construction activity slumps due Omicron
CANBERRA, AAP – Australia’s construction industry suffered a slump over December and January due to the impact of the Omicron variant, continuing the sector’s volatile run over the past six months. The Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association performance of construction index dropped 11.1 points to 45.9 over December and January, cutting short a recovery in…
Forget coal and gas for prosperity: poll
CANBERRA, AAP – Voters believe the future prosperity of NSW and Queensland won’t be found in coal or gas, a poll shows. Some 60 per cent see a future in clean industries, including renewable energy manufacturing and exports, and mining for battery minerals, the survey released on Thursday has found. Months out from a federal…
Wall St makes it four straight gains
NEW YORK CITY, RAW – All three Wall Street benchmarks closed higher on Wednesday, a fourth straight session of gains after a turbulent start to the year, aided by upbeat earnings from Google-parent Alphabet and chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices. Alphabet rose after reporting record quarterly sales on Tuesday, and said it plans to undertake a…
Forrest takes on Facebook over scam ads
SYDNEY, AAP – Fortescue Metals boss Andrew Forrest has launched criminal proceedings against Facebook claiming the social media giant failed to stop clickbait advertising scams using his image. The action alleges the tech giant breached federal anti-money laundering laws and is being taken in the Magistrates Court of Western Australia, Dr Forrest’s home state. It…
Worker scheme ‘rife with abuse’: Inquiry
CANBERRA, AAP – Supermarket shelves are filled with fruit and vegetables but the people who harvest them are sometimes being paid just $100 for a 64-hour work week. On Wednesday, seasonal workers detailed exploitation at the hands of employers approved to run migrant worker programs by the federal government. Yet the departments responsible for facilitating…
Aust shares not troubled by RBA rates talk
SYDNEY, AAP – The Australian share market has closed higher as investors overlooked the Reserve Bank governor’s comment that higher interest rates were plausible in 2022. The market opened higher on Wednesday and stayed that way after Philip Lowe told the National Press Club more about Tuesday’s decision not to forecast a rate hike. However,…
Emissions-busting aviation yet to take off
CANBERRA, AAP – Aviation will be one of the most difficult sectors to cut emissions unless governments support new technology, experts warn. Qantas was one of the first airlines to commit to net zero emissions by 2050, and capping net emissions at 2019 levels. Now 31 of 60 major passenger airlines have made the 2050…
No reason to raise rates like others: Lowe
CANBERRA, AAP – Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe says Australia is closer to full employment and achieving the inflation target then he had anticipated, but has reiterated the central bank will remain patient before lifting the cash rate. Dr Lowe addressed the National Press Club on Wednesday, the day after the RBA’s first board meeting…
