Key indicators from the Australian economy in 2018
There is little doubt that 2018 was a year of ups and downs in many sectors as worldwide volatility attempted to undermine what could otherwise have been a year of gains in certain areas. With China and the US looking unstable in completely different ways, house prices falling in Australia and consumer confidence at a…
Canadian judge grants bail to Huawei exec
A Canadian judge granted bail Tuesday to a top Huawei executive after her arrest on a US warrant, in a case that has frayed relations between the North American allies and China.Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s chief financial officer, is wanted by US authorities for violating Iran sanctions but Beijing has expressed outrage over her detention and…
Brickworks lays new foundations in the US
Brickworks says it has laid the first paver in its ‘inevitable’ overseas expansion with the $151 million purchase of American brickmaker, Glen-Gery. Australia’s largest brick manufacturer announced on Friday it was putting its year-long international strategy into action with the acquisition of fourth biggest player in the $2.2 billion US brick industry, with the deal…
Aust market suffers broad-based losses
The Australian share market has lost more than one and a half per cent for the second consecutive day with commodity-related stocks suffering heavy losses on plunging oil prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed 101.4 points lower, or 1.74 per cent, at 5732.8 on Wednesday, while the broader All Ordinaries was down 1.69 per cent….
CommSec Daily Report Monday
Latest NewsIt has been a softer start to the week for the Aussie share market following a run of six straight gains. The ASX 200 is giving back 17 points or 0.3% to 5831 after a 3.25% rallylast week.It was a weak lead from Wall Street after stronger than expected US employment figures gave rise…
Medical crowdfunding raises millions for dubious cures
Online appeals to help sick people by raising money for unfounded and sometimes dangerous treatments and purported cures bring in millions of dollars each year, researchers warned Tuesday.The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) looked at crowdfunding activity from 2015 to 2017 and ‘identified more than 1,000 campaigns that raised nearly…
Uber drivers stage 24-hour strike in Britain
Drivers for taxi-sharing app Uber went on strike in Britain on Tuesday, demanding higher fares and improved workers’ rights and urging users not to cross the digital picket line by ordering rides.Around 50 protesters staged a noisy demonstration outside Uber’s offices in London, after a trade union called a 24-hour stoppage starting at 1pm (1200…
Hong Kong delivers first interest hike in 12 years
Hong Kong has bumped up its interest rates for the first time in over a decade as mortgage rates are set to increase in an already difficult property market. Real estate in Hong Kong has seen signs of stress from the prospect of a rate rise, which came in line with the recent interest rate…
EU clears Apple plan to buy music app Shazam
The EU on Thursday approved US tech giant Apple’s plan to buy leading song-recognition app Shazam, saying the move would not reduce choice for music streaming consumers.The bloc launched a detailed probe into the deal with London-based Shazam, worth a reported $400 million, in April, at the request of several EU states amid fears it…
Ansell shares slide on profit warning
Ansell shares have slid more than nine per cent after the protective gloves and clothing maker warned that its annual earnings guidance could fall, citing uncertainty over costs and tariffs on US imports. The company says its adjusted earnings per share could fall by five to six US cents from its guidance range of $US1.00…
