Business News - Business news, business advice and information for Australian SMEs

Business News

Household finances deteriorate during March quarter: Economy Roundup

Thursday, 18 March 2010 11:24 Patrick Stafford

Australian household finances have continued to deteriorate during the three months to March, with four interest rate rises from the Reserve Bank of Australia increasing pressure on families, according to the latest figures from the Melbourne Institute Household Financial Conditions index.

How Facebook overtook Google in the US – and why your business needs to act

Thursday, 18 March 2010 10:59 Patrick Stafford

Businesses must take notice of recent figures showing Facebook overtook Google to become the most popular site in the US during the last week and establish marketing campaigns on the social networking giant, a social media expert has suggested.

Unions push for $27-a-week minimum pay rise, employer groups not impressed

Thursday, 18 March 2010 10:54 James Thomson

The Australian Industry Group says unions are putting jobs at risk by pushing for a $27-a-week increase in the minimum wage.

Google Maps introduces advertising, but SMEs ads restricted

Thursday, 18 March 2010 10:33 Patrick Stafford

Google Australia has introduced new advertising for its online maps application through which brands can provide a logo to display alongside local business listings, but it seems some SMEs may be cut out of the process.

Property prices up 0.4% in February, but growth tipped to moderate

Thursday, 18 March 2010 10:28 Patrick Stafford

Australian property prices grew by 0.4% in February despite falling by 0.2% in January, according to the latest figures from research firm Residex.

Companies face crackdown on unfair contract terms as consumer laws pass

Thursday, 18 March 2010 10:23 James Thomson

Companies will face tough penalties for the use of unfair terms in standard contracts, after the Senate passed what Federal Competition Minister Craig Emerson has described as the biggest change to consumer laws in 35 years.

Blockbuster on the edge of bankruptcy in the US, but Australian operations safe

Thursday, 18 March 2010 09:48 Patrick Stafford

United States movie rental chain Blockbuster has told investors it is on the brink of bankruptcy due to severe cashflow problem, but the owner of the brand in Australia says he is unaware of the latest developments.

Recruitment advertising firm TMP Worldwide collapses into administration

Thursday, 18 March 2010 09:27 James Thomson

Sydney-based recruitment advertising firm TMP Worldwide has collapsed just months after winning four gongs at Fairfax's Employment Marketing Awards.

Unfair dismissal case raises questions about what a casual worker really is

Thursday, 18 March 2010 08:48 Andrew Douglas

The latest case on the meaning of a 'casual employee' for the purposes of the unfair dismissal regime is likely to lead to more rather than less confusion over this important issue.

Australia’s looming power crisis: Gottliebsen

Thursday, 18 March 2010 08:09 Robert Gottliebsen

For the past 18 months, while we have been debating climate change and emissions trading, we have been largely ignoring the fact that with population and industrial growth Australia is rapidly losing its ability to supply reliable power.

David Jones profit up 10.2%, New data points to strong economic growth: Economy Roundup

Wednesday, 17 March 2010 11:11 Patrick Stafford

Department store giant David Jones has recorded a 10.2% jump in first half profit after tax to $100.5 million, up from $91.2 million, with its gross profit margin hitting an all time high of 40%.