News

Shares in Havilah Resources resume trading

Shares in Adelaide mining company Havilah Resources have resumed trading on the ASX following a voluntary suspension so the company could retract statements on social media about an iron ore find. Havilah had asked for the trading halt on Monday after Havilah’s technical director gave optimistic interviews about the size of its recent iron ore…

Intelligence boss defends 5G security step

The head of Australia’s foreign intelligence and cyber security agency says it was a ‘foundational issue’ to get the security settings right for the nation’s 5G network and exclude high-risk vendors. A global debate has been sparked over the role of Chinese technology company Huawei’s expansion. In August, the Australian government informed Huawei and ZTE…

Labor energy policy divides opinion

With Australia’s elections already looming on the horizon for next year, both parties are setting the stage to begin their campaigns. This week has seen Labor surprise many in the country with the release of its official energy policy, which it hopes will gain support from those across the political spectrum who favor a stable…

Consumer sentiment lifts as petrol falls

Happy consumers; Good business conditionsConsumer sentiment; Lending Finance; NAB survey Consumer sentiment: The ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence rating rose by 2.6 per cent to 119.8 in the past week. The index equals a 4-month high and is above both the average of 114.2 held since 2014 and the longer-term average of 113.0 held since 1990. Business conditions:…

Stocks to watch

Stocks of interest at the close of trade on the ASX on Tuesday, October 30: ANZ – ANZ – up 46 cents, or 1.8 per cent, at $25.66 CBA – COMMONWEALTH BANK – up $1.52, or 2.3 per cent, at $68.16 NAB – NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK – up 15 cents, or 0.6 per cent, at…

Judge slashes award but upholds verdict in Monsanto cancer trial

A San Francisco judge on Monday upheld a jury verdict that found Monsanto liable for not warning a groundskeeper that its weed killer product Roundup might cause cancer, but slashed the damages award.Judge Suzanne Bolanos denied Monsanto’s request for a new trial but cut the $289 million damages award to $78 million to comply with…

Vic premier makes new hospital pledge

A new $1.5 billion hospital in Melbourne’s west could become a major health hub for its booming population. Premier Daniel Andrews said, if re-elected in November, the new 504-bed Footscray Hospital could allow an extra 15,000 patients to be treated each year,. It would also see an additional 20,000 emergency department admissions. The new hospital…

Facebook unveils upgraded wireless Oculus headset in VR push

Facebook on Wednesday unveiled an upgraded Oculus virtual reality headset with power to handle the intensive graphics of digital worlds in a wire-free experience.The new Oculus Quest headset showcased at the Facebook unit’s developer conference is being aimed at gamers seeking immersion in virtual worlds, with other potential applications likely in the future.‘This is the…

CommSec Daily Report Wednesday

Latest newsLosses from the banks and miners are pushing the Australian sharemarket lower for a fifth day, with the ASX 200 index slipping by 0.75 per cent. The Australian dollar strengthened following better than anticipated quarterly economic growth data.Concerns relating to trade tensions between the US, Canada and China together with stronger US data contributed…

Tesla sues Ontario over scrapped electric car rebate

US electric automaker Tesla has sued the government of Ontario, Canada, after the province scrapped a rebate initiative for purchases of electric cars, Canadian media reported Thursday.Upon assuming power last July, Premier Doug Ford’s conservative government announced the end of several green energy programs, including several thousands of dollars in rebates for electric car buyers.Customers…