Business - Top Stories
Mine shifts go to make way for redundant workers
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The mining company planning to close a central Queensland coal mine says it is being forced to stand down shifts at another site because it needs to transfer workers.
Alcoa job cuts 'won't affect Aust work force'
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Aluminium producer Alcoa says its Australian operations will not be affected by the company's global plans to cut more than 13,000 jobs.
Apple to sell copy protection-free songs
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Apple Inc has reached a deal with major record labels to sell digital songs without the copy protection software that had prevented fans from sharing music bought from its iTunes store, the maker of the iPod and iPhone said.
Qld taskforce still finalising urgent rail upgrade sites
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Queensland Transport Minister John Mickel says a taskforce set up to examine rail level crossings in the state's north is finalising a list of sites that need urgent improvements.
Industry figure unaware of ethanol excise rebate cut
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The chairman of the Manildra Ethanol Plant at Bomaderry, Dick Honan, says he is not aware of any intention by the Federal Government to cut the excise rebate for ethanol.
Home sales slump in Qld despite sweeteners
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Figures show there has been a dramatic drop in new home sales in Qld.
Gunns sues anti-logging protesters
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Conservationists say the timber company Gunns is suing 13 forest activists over a protest at the Triabunna woodchip mill last month.
Premier says Vic Alcoa jobs are safe
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Alcoa workers at Geelong and Portland are being assured their jobs are secure.
Minister tours flood-ravaged north-west Qld
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Qld minister Andrew Fraser has inspected the flood situation in the north-west.
Australian market powers ahead
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The Australian share market is powering ahead, boosted by mining companies and optimism that a government stimulus package in the US could speed up an economic recovery.
New home sales down 1pc in November: survey
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An industry survey of 100 residential builders has found that new home sales fell by more than 1 per cent in November last year.
Holden axes left-hand Pontiac G8 exports
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Holden says its export program to the United States will not be negatively affected by the axing of its left-hand drive utes.
Santos/Apache gas project resurrected
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An $800 million gas project in Western Australia will now go ahead, one month after it was mothballed.
Retail figures buck predicted fall
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There was a small rise in retail sales in November, despite predictions activity would fall.
Resource stocks, Wall Street gains push local markets higher
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The Australian share market is higher this morning, led by a rally in resources stocks and gains on Wall Street overnight.
Israel keeps ban on media entering Gaza
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Israel has maintained a ban on journalists entering the Gaza Strip to cover its war on Hamas, despite a Supreme Court ruling that foreign reporters should be let in.
Alcoa to cut 13,500 jobs worldwide
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US-based aluminium giant Alcoa says it will slash some 13,500 jobs, or 13 per cent or its global workforce, and reduce output to cope with the global economic downturn.
Tas Govt firm on no extra funds for mill proposal
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The Tasmanian Government has again ruled out spending more taxpayers' money to help Gunns further its proposed pulp mill.
Wall St rallies on back of recovery hopes
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Stocks on Wall Street have finished higher as investors absorbed the minutes of the last Federal Reserve policy meeting, which build the case for a second US Government stimulus package.
Truckies lose out after flooding cuts freight route
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The transport industry is counting the cost of major flooding in Qld's north-west.
Sanyo to cut 1,000 jobs
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Japanese electronics giant Sanyo has announced plans to slash 1,000 jobs.
75pc 'easily' making mortgage repayments: survey
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A survey has found Australian households are coping well with the effects of the global economic downturn.
Sacked Qld miners sweat on arbitration hearing outcome
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An arbitration hearing on mining job cuts in central Qld continues in Brisbane today.
German billionaire commits suicide after $750m loss
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German billionaire Adolf Merckle has committed suicide after his business empire ran into trouble in the global economic slowdown.
UK retail giant Marks and Spencer to slash jobs
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One of the UK's biggest retailers, Marks and Spencer, is set to slash its workforce as the recession takes hold.
