News
After abandoning the Windows Mobile platform last month Skype has released a version of their software for Nokia mobile phones. Skype for Symbian will run on any Nokia smartphone using Symbian ^1, the latest version of the Symbian platform and is now available as a free download from the Ovi store. Skype for Symbian will […]
ASIC has reached a compensation agreement worth $13.5 million over failed property investment scheme run by Westpoint Group, the forth such settlement approved by the Federal Court. As a result of the settlement with trustee State Trustees of Melbourne approximately 525 investors in the failed property group will be able to to submit a proof […]
Australia’s services sector continues to struggle, contracting further in February with a fall in sales and further job losses. The Performance of Services Index by the Australian Industry Group and the Commonwealth Bank rose 0.9 points to 48.3 in February, with that still being below the key 50-point level separating growth and contraction. Finance and […]
Following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Board Meeting yesterday, National Australia Bank confirmed its variable home loan interest rates would increase by 0.25% per annum. NAB’s new standard variable rate will be 6.74% pa, effective Friday, 5 March 2010. Lisa Gray, Group Executive NAB Personal Banking, said: “In the last month we have seen a […]
Software AG has announced open beta availability for ARISalign, dubbed the ‘Facebook for enterprise’. ARISalign offers an open, global community for project participants dealing with business processes. The new solution is a platform where anyone with a stake in a business can participate in the process discovery phase to collaborate, gather information, share goals, and […]
Adult entertainment expo brand Sexpo is undertaking market research and exploring options to meet regulatory compliance before an initial public offering expected in November 2010. Sexpo has grown into a strong expo brand in Australian over the last 14 years. It is in the top 5 national shows alongside The Royal Show, Home Shows, Motor […]
The search for Australia’s leading entrepreneur is on again with nominations for the 10th anniversary Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year now open. Since 2001, nearly 900 businessmen and women across Australia have been recognised through the award, with 51 national category winners, and nine Australian Entrepreneur Of The Year winners flying the flag […]
Up to 2,000 jobs are under threat in South Australia and Victoria if a decision to lift anti-dumping duties on discounted toilet paper imported from Indonesia and China. In a letter to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, South Australian Premier Mike Rann has pleaded with the PM to reinstate anti-dumping duties that were lifted in January. […]
Retailer Kmart plans to withdraw its application to trade before 1pm on Anzac Day in NSW after the proposal sparked outrage across the country. Kmart managing director Guy Russo apologised for the companies decision to apply to trade during Anzac Day marches after receiving an overwhelming number of complaints and intense criticism from customers, politicians […]
War veterans have chastised an application by Kmart to open its stores before 1pm on Anzac Day, with some RSL’s threatening a boycott of the company. In an application to the State Government, Kmart, said there was “a desire within the community to see our stores open before 1pm on Anzac Day”. The company has […]
Australia has lifted its almost 10-year-ban on the importation of beef from countries that have experienced mad cow disease (or BSE, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy). Opening the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) Outlook 2010 conference in Canberra on Tuesday, Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said Australia’s import policies must be based on the best […]
The Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia decided today to raise the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.0 per cent, effective tomorrow. The global economy is growing, and world GDP is expected to rise at close to trend pace in 2010 and 2011. The expansion is still hesitant in the major countries, due […]
Australia’s current account deficit came in worse than expected at a seasonally adjusted $17.46 billion in figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Most economists had expected a deficit of $17.1 billion for the December quarter. The ABS says this could subtract 1.3 percent from Australia’s economic growth figures for the quarter. With GDP figures […]
New building approvals in Australia were down 7 percent in January, to 14,045 from 15,106 units in December, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said Today. Over the longer term, building approvals were up 47.6 percent in the year to January. This news comes as the RBA prepares to make another decision on whether to […]
Park Assist Pty Ltd, a global leader in parking guidance, bay sensing and parking enforcement, has secured its first contract with a US government authority with backing from Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC). The company was awarded a US$780,000 contract with the City of Seattle to provide an electronic parking guidance system (EPGS) for […]
CareerHub, a small Brisbane software development company has just signed a major deal to provide the software to run University of Warwick’s, UK career system. “CareerHub provides the software to integrate all of our activities for students, graduates and employers” said Thea Gibbs from the University of Warwick. “CareerHub will enable us to significantly improve […]
LinkedIn have opened for business in Sydney after surpassing one million members in Australia and more than 60 million members globally. LinkedIn have appointed Steve Barham from LinkedIn’s headquarters in Mount View, Calif. to take the role of director for recruitment solutions for LinkedIn Australia and New Zealand in their new Pitt St Sydney office. […]
The culture of banking executives bringing home big salaries and bonuses while taking excessive risks with investors money may be a thing of the past if the APRA’s chairman John Laker gets his way. In a speech today in Melbourne, the chairman the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has made clear that the current system of […]
The not for profit and industry funds have again dominated the Chant West 2010 superannuation fund ratings. This is despite master trusts performing well as the economy escapes from the effects of the GFC. “While investment is very important and accounts for 40% of our overall weighting, past performance only counts for 10% of that,” […]
New research has found that Australian employees are not planning on changing jobs in the future due to economic uncertainty due to the GFC. The research report, Hunting the (hidden) Hunter looked at the triggers that would cause employees to move from one job to another, with the number of people actively looking for alternate […]
