Latest Finance News



Australian stocks open higher

Australian stocks have opened slightly higher following positive leads from European markets. CMC chief market analyst Ric Spooner said the market had taken its cue from official figures which show..

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AMP and China Life set up new fund

AMP Capital and China's biggest insurer China Life will establish a new funds management company in China with the hope of handling some of the $800 billion on offer.AMP will hold a 15 per cent stake ..

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China manufacturing data boosts market

The Australian stock market has closed one per cent higher due to stronger than expected Chinese manufacturing data.Official manufacturing numbers number released over the weekend and figures from HSB..

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Data points to sluggish economy

The latest round of figures tell a familiar story - the economy's growing, but not quite as fast as we'd all prefer. We haven't yet seen the full picture for the June quarter. That will come on ..

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Rio launches expanded WA operations

Mining giant Rio Tinto has loaded the first shipment of iron ore from its expanded Pilbara operations in Western Australia. Rio says the milestone begins the commissioning of its expanded port, rai..

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Weak company profits to weigh on hiring

Company profits were weaker than expected in the June quarter but they shouldn't be a drag on economic growth figures due out on Wednesday. June quarter business indicators data showed an 0.8 per c..

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Billabong shares surge on spill push

Billabong shares have surged after an American shareholder group called for a spill of the embattled surfwear company's board.The company on Monday morning said New York-based hedge fund Coastal Capit..

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Inflation barely moves in August: TD

The rate of inflation slowed to a crawl in August, leaving the door open for the central bank to stimulate the economy if need be. The TD Securities/Melbourne Institute Monthly Inflation Gauge was ..

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Australian share market opens higher

The Australian share market has opened higher as manufacturing figures out of China lift investor sentiment. IG market strategist Stan Shamu said the local market had opened positively on the data...

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CBA executive to leave company

The Commonwealth Bank's head of institutional banking and markets, Ian Saines, will leave the company at the end of the year. Mr Saines has been with CBA since 2004 and has been group executive, in..

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Scary September looms for investors

August was tough on the stock market. Now, investors face an even scarier September. Disappointing news on consumer spending helped pull stocks lower on Friday in a quiet end to the market's worst ..

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US stocks drop on Syria concerns

US stocks closed out a mostly downcast week on a sour note following fresh indications the Obama administration plans military action against Syria.At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Averag..

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Market rises as Syria worries ease

The Australian share market is higher as investor caution caused by possible military action against Syria eased. Shares were buoyed by a strong lead from Wall Street, which was boosted by better t..

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Nufarm fined over death of worker

Farming chemicals supplier Nufarm has been fined $300,000 after a worker died at one of its Melbourne facilities. Steve Turnbull died in May 2011 after being exposed to a toxic chemical used to mak..

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Market higher amid subdued activity

The Australian market is higher amid subdued activity as weary investors await news on whether the West will launch military action against Syria. The All Ordinaries was 0.3 per cent higher in midd..

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Leighton wins $246m project in India

An Indian building company owned by construction giant Leighton has won a $246 million contract to build a luxury apartment building south of New Delhi. Leighton Welspun Contractors is part of the ..

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Ship builder Austal triples profit

Ship building and maintenance company Austal has more than tripled its annual profit due partly to its growing work with the United States Navy.Austal made a net profit of $35.9 million in the 2012/13..

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Harvey Norman optimistic as sales rise

After years of sales and profit declines in his Harvey Norman retail chain, Gerry Harvey finally has a reason to smile.Sales in Harvey Norman stores have lifted in the past six months and Mr Harvey, t..

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Virgin Australia records $98.1m loss

The global airlines that own more than half of Virgin Australia have lent the company $90 million as it fell to a $98.1 million full year loss.The move by the companies to become Virgin's lenders has ..

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Market rallies despite Syria concerns

The Australian share market has finished higher, but activity remains overshadowed by concerns about the Syrian conflict. The S&P ASX 200 was 0.1 per cent higher when trade ended on Thursday af..

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Perpetual boosts profit

Wealth manager Perpetual's aggressive cost cutting, and a stronger share market, have contributed to a strong rise in its full year profit. Perpetual made a profit of $61 million in the 2012/13 fin..

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$A bounces off its three week low

The Australian dollar has bounced off its three week lows as currency traders go bargain hunting. At 1200 AEST on Thursday, the local unit was trading at 89.54 US cents, up from 89.14 cents on Wedn..

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