Business

Punters backing no rate change in April

PUNTERS expect that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will leave the official cash rate unchanged when its board meets in April, bookmaker Centrebet says.

Fraser's sale of the century

THE FRASER Coast's sale of the century is on, with news that Kingfisher Bay Resort and Eurong Beach Resort are up for sale.

Google opens online store for business

GOOGLE will sell the online services of other business software makers in an effort to fill its own product gaps and push more companies to rely on web apps.

Housing supply challenges recovery

A GREATER share of the economy needs to be devoted to housing to deal with a population boom, otherwise property prices and rents will rise, the RBA says.

Africa a new frontier for oil

EAST Africa has become a promising new frontier for oil exploration and major multinationals are jostling for the rights to search for black gold.

Australia's youth bore brunt of crisis

AUSTRALIA'S youth bore the brunt of the financial crisis, while older workers experienced relative increases in salaries and job stability, a new survey shows.

Lawsuits could cost Toyota over $US3b

TOYOTA owners claiming that massive safety recalls are causing the value of their vehicles to plummet have filed at least 89 lawsuits against the auto giant.

SMEs most optimistic on profits

OPTIMISM among small and medium size firms about future profits is at its highest level since before the global financial crisis, a survey finds.

How to lead in the recovery

THE business landscape has changed. As the recovery kicks in, many companies are ramping up sales and marketing and putting on staff.

Triple whammy hits new home buyers

MANY new home buyers have given up the dream of home ownership, hit by rising interest rates, tougher loan conditions and cuts to a generous government grant.

Business confidence high: NAB

COMPANIES were caught unprepared for a surge in business confidence and conditions in February, which hit a three-month high.

Job ads surge 20 per cent in February

THE number of job ads placed in newspapers and on the internet surged by almost 20 per cent in February, reversing a fall of eight per cent in January.

DJs announces new director

DEPARTMENT store David Jones Ltd has appointed Philippa Stone as a non-executive director, effective on Tuesday.

Five money traps

HERE are five of the numerous money traps – with particular emphasis on the consequences for personal finances of SME owners:

The positives of property investment

THERE are many things to consider when investing in property and the first is what the objectives of your investment are.

Centrebet to gamble on S&P/ASX 200

CENTREBET will offer the chance to bet on movements in the local stock benchmark, as the company looks to further expand its financial betting business.

Our top female entrepreneurs

MEET Australia's top female entrepreneurs – they are smart, focused and generate more than $3.6 billion in sales.

US House panel seeks Toyota details

A HOUSE committee on Friday questioned the rigour of Toyota's sudden tests, challenging the automaker's commitment to finding the causes of safety problems.

Flooding rains to boost Qld economy

FLOODING rains across Queensland's southern inland are expected to deliver a $1 billion economic boost.
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Aussie exchange rates best for decades

IF low airfares haven't tempted you to book a ticket to Europe for the northern summer, then the record purchasing power of the Australian dollar just might.