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Business News

ATO ruling provides clarity for businesses on employee share schemes

Tuesday, 16 March 2010 10:49 Patrick Stafford

Executives can now defer the tax payable on their shares and options provided through corporate schemes after they have completed one year of service, new rulings from the Australian Taxation Office have outlined.

Super funds dragging their feet on climate change

Tuesday, 16 March 2010 10:15 James Thomson

Australia's big super funds will struggle to measure and make decisions about the risks posed by climate change, a new survey by the Climate Institute and Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees.

Twitter to spread feeds to third-party sites through new At Anywhere content program

Tuesday, 16 March 2010 09:52 Patrick Stafford

Social networking giant Twitter will soon introduce a new service which allows third-party sites to integrate their Twitter feeds, in an attempt to give users access to tweets without the need for visiting a separate site, co-founder Evan Williams has announced.

Woolworths steps up mobile push as Vodafone sells GRL Mobile to wholesaler

Tuesday, 16 March 2010 09:30 Patrick Stafford

Supermarket giant Woolworths is set to continue its exploration of the mobile market with the introduction of new pre-paid plans, following the launch of its Everyday Mobile service last year.

Costco names Australia as growth target but securing sites and planning approvals could slow growth

Tuesday, 16 March 2010 09:03 James Thomson

The chief financial officer of international retail giant Costco says the Asian region is a primary growth target for the company, and says he hopes Costco could open "five or six" stores over the next three years in Australia.

Why the world is nervous about trade tensions between China and the US: Maley

Tuesday, 16 March 2010 08:42 Karen Maley

Global share markets were shaken overnight by fears that simmering trade tensions between the United States and China could be about to boil over.

Businesses urged to take advantage of nine million Australians using social media

Monday, 15 March 2010 11:23 Patrick Stafford

Australian businesses must begin marketing through social media in order to reach the nine million Australians now interacting through online networks, a new Nielsen report has revealed.

House lending falls 5% in January, Henry tax review to be released before May: Economy Roundup

Monday, 15 March 2010 11:19 Patrick Stafford

The total value of owner occupied housing commitments, excluding alterations and additions, decreased by a seasonally adjusted 5% in January, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Government to change R&D tax credit plan after discussion with industry groups

Monday, 15 March 2010 10:53 Patrick Stafford

The Government will introduce changes to its draft legislation outlining the changes to the R&D tax credit within the next few weeks, with the goal of introducing the final legislation into Parliament before July 1.

Baby wear company Bay Bee Cino collapses

Monday, 15 March 2010 10:47 James Thomson

A Sydney-based baby wear company Bay Bee Cino has been placed in administration, just three years after undertaking a capital raising and unveiling plans to grow aggressively through franchising.

Financial services and consumer goods sectors tipped as prime targets for mergers and acquisitions in 2010

Monday, 15 March 2010 10:32 Patrick Stafford

Private businesses in the resources, financial services and consumer goods industries are the most likely targets of acquisitions in the next 12 months as the economy recovers and companies seek out growth, a new Ernst & Young report has revealed.