The local market finishes the week back above the 5,0 mark, despite losing ground due to the lower oil price and falls on overseas markets. The beginning of major light rail construction work will coincide with the october act election, documents show. Fri 19 feb 2016, 1 pm aedt researchers who set out to prove the benefits of the paleo diet instead discover it could cause significant and rapid weight gain. Fri 19 feb 2016, 1 am aedt an investigation is underway into potentially flammable cladding being used on gold coast building sites.

Fri 19 feb 2016, 1 am aedt fairfax media reveals a half year profit of $27.4 million, with around two thirds of its earnings coming from real estate advertising. Fri 19 feb 2016, 1 am aedt the shenhua watermark coal mine clears its final legal hurdle after a court dismisses a challenge brought on by activists concerned about koala habitat. Fri 19 feb 2016, 1 am aedt struggling oil and gas producer santos dives deeper into the red, reporting a full year $2.7 billion loss, but mineral sands miner iluka swings to profit. Almost half of all australians fear they will not have enough money for a comfortable lifestyle when they retire, a survey finds. Medibank private increases its profit by almost 60 per cent, but its latest dividend is lower at 5 cents share.

A downsize of china's massive steel industry cannot come fast enough for australia, but it will take years before local steel producers see relief. Easing oil prices and a slump among retail stocks put pressure on wall street overnight, ending a three day rally for us markets. Prime minister malcolm turnbull should guarantee the future of the whyalla steelworks in south australia by using more australian steel in public projects, the opposition leader says. President barack obama announces an historic visit to cuba next month, speeding up the thaw in relations between the two cold war former foes but igniting opposition from republicans at home.

Conclusion for Death Penalty Essay

Australia's missing $100 bills could be being stockpiled by criminals or those seeking to avoid taxes, an expert says. Thu 18 feb 2016, 1 pm aedt a new $5 smartphone from indian phone maker ringing bells launches to huge customer demand, with the company's website crashing hours after the phone went on sale. The federal opposition demands the government reveal its superannuation plans, following a promise from treasurer that he is very, very close to making a decision. In its biggest day of gains this year, the share market joins a rally on markets across asia. Financial woes force venezuela's president to increase petrol prices from 2 cents to 85 cents a litre. Arrium's steelworks in whyalla are at risk of being mothballed if it cannot turn its financial situation around, jeopardising more than 1,100 jobs.

The reserve bank urges investors to remain calm, saying economic fundamentals do not justify recent financial market turmoil. Unemployment falls slightly in western australia, following a downward trend after hitting its highest point since the early 20s in november. Thu 18 feb 2016, 1 pm aedt taxpayers' money will have to be used to support troubled whyalla steelmaker arrium if the state government decides to help commsec chief economist craig james has identified his eight big issues for the australian economy in 2014. photo: louise kennerley the australian economy struggled to get out of third gear over much of 2013.

But we are hopeful that the economy will finally find fourth gear over the 2014 year. Businesses and consumers simply weren rsquo t prepared to ramp up spending, investment and employment until the election was out of the road. But the economy was also in the transition phase with mining investment topping out while home construction and mining exports were just starting to find their feet. There were also the budget problems in the us with enforced spending cuts serving to slow economic growth. But by the end of 2013, growth had picked up in the us and china, and it was looking more promising in europe.

In line with other forecasters such as the international monetary fund, we expect that global economic growth will return to near rdquo normal rdquo around 3.5 per cent in 2014. In australia, we expect that home building and mining exports will pick up the baton from mining construction in 2014 to drive economic growth. And with the election out of the road, home prices rising and a better tone in evidence in the global economy, we expect that consumers will open their wallets a little wider while businesses should respond by lifting hiring and investment. Unemployment could prove reasonably stable with upside risks earlier in 2014 giving way to downside risks as 2014 progresses. One of the main risks domestically is that the federal government is too aggressive in tightening budget spending, rather than relying on stronger economic growth to boost government revenues and thus reduce the size of the budget deficit. If fiscal or budget policy is too tight, the reserve bank may provide some offset by cutting interest rates. But while there is the risk that the reserve bank will cut rates one more time in the first half of 2014, in the second half of 2014 the risk will shift to higher interest rates as economic growth returns to normal.

Turning to the aussie dollar, over 2013 the currency tracked a us17.5 cent range. For 2014, our currency strategists warn about similar volatility and expect a similar range to 2013 and should see mid 0.90s and low 0.80s trade. There have been numerous column inches devoted to the us lsquo taper rsquo , that is the winding back of monetary stimulus or the lsquo tapering rsquo of bond purchases.

Everyone is agreed that the federal reserve needs to pull back stimulus at some point the hard part is in working out when is the lsquo right rsquo time to do it. As the reserve bank governor counsels, the lsquo taper rsquo will lead to short term volatility on financial markets but the longer term implications are more positive. Sharemarket investors may fret that the days of cheap money free money? are coming to an end, but if the federal reserve is toying with the idea of taking the foot off the throttle ndash even just modestly ndash that signifies that the economy is doing better. And in a better performing economy, spending grows and businesses invest and hire staff, and that clearly is positive for revenue and profits in many parts of the so called lsquo advanced rsquo world, interest rates are at or near zero. And in the us, japan and the uk, central banks have gone further to stimulate economies, buying securities from financial institutions in exchange for cash quantitative easing. But despite all their efforts, inflation rates in many parts of the western world are lower now than a year ago.