Business

Fixed loans fall again

NEW data showing weak lending finance is evidence of an economy slowing after the government stimulus has worn off, experts says.

Aussie billionaire adds to fortune

AUSTRALIA'S secret billionaire has added $US500 million to her fortune in 12 months.

Woolworths pleased with telco

SUPERMARKET giant Woolworths Ltd says its foray into the telecommunications market is proving successful with parents and kids looking for non-nonsense plans.

Green light on Black & Decker deal

SHAREHOLDERS have approved a nearly $US3.5 billion ($A3.82 billion) stock buyout, clearing the final hurdle for Stanley Works to acquire Black m Decker.

BMW posts poor 2009 results

GERMAN luxury car maker BMW on reported a 36.4 per cent drop in 2009 net profit but also issued an upbeat 2010 forecast.

Obama spruiks Australia-US ties

US President Barack Obama is keen to push stronger business and economic ties between America and Australia during his visit Down Under.

Credit, debit card transaction fall 22%

THE total value of credit and charge card transactions, including advances, fell by 22 per cent in January, Reserve Bank of Australia figures released show.

iiNet confirms Netspace takeover talks

INTERNET service provider iiNet Ltd says it is discussing a takeover of rival Netspace but a decision to proceed with the transaction is yet to be made.

Media 'need multiple platforms'

MULTIPLE platforms and revenue streams are going to be key for media industry players hoping to survive and thrive in the fast-changing digital landscape.

Myer first-half profit falls 74%

MYER has downgraded its full year sales growth target to between one and two per cent, and expects a seven per cent rise in revenue in the following year.

Mexican is new world's richest man

THE world's new richest man, Mexican Carlos Slim, and a fresh crop of billionaires in Asia surged forward in wealth in 2010, Forbes magazine said on Wednesday.

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.