CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY

UK housing market rises at its fastest since 2012, says Halifax

House prices rose at their fastest pace since 2010 in the three months to January, as the Bank of England's flagship credit easing scheme made it easier for first time buyers to step on to the firs... Read More | View Original Article

Kuwaiti oil workers on strike over pay

More than 1,000 staff at Oil Sector Services gather at union building instead of turning up for work Read More | View Original Article

Annual U.S. Home Value Appreciation Exceeds 5 Percent for Sixth Straight Month in April

Home Values in California, Southwest Metros Continue to Sizzle; National Rents Cool, According to April Zillow Real Estate Market Reports Read More | View Original Article

Jeudan tror stadig på stærkt 2013

Ejendoms- og servicevirksomheden Jeudan kommer ud af første kvartal i fin stil og fastholder forventningerne til øget overskud i år. Foto: Linda Kastrup Read More | View Original Article

Dubai Holding's TECOM Investments announces new operational structure

UAE. Renewed focus on its core business of developing and operating business parks; Aims to capitalise on region's growth opportunities. Read More | View Original Article

Dubai's property agency Better Homes delivers world-first tool for end users

UAE. In a survey of 150 Dubai-based customers, 85% said they found the public review tool useful to navigate their way in their real estate search. Read More | View Original Article

Australia hits out over lengthy UAE court case

INTERNATIONAL. The Australian Foreign Minister has blasted as "indefensible" the length of time the legal process took in the UAE after an Australian was jailed for property fraud. Read More | View Original Article

Vodafone FY profit plunges 90%

Impairment charge on businesses in Italy and Spain hit bottom line. Read More | View Original Article

Apple saves billions through offshore tax havens: report

Senate investigation finds software giant avoids paying billions through affiliate companies based outside US. Read More | View Original Article

Left sour by Apple's global tax tricks

As Apple's supremo prepares to face Congress, a bipartisan committee has revealed the fantastic ways the multinational minimises its global tax liability. Read More | View Original Article

UK sold $874m of arms to Gulf in 2012 - report

Arms trade watchdog raises concerns over deals amid 'human rights abuse and lack of democracy' Read More | View Original Article

IMF says not worried by Dubai's debt obligations

Senior International Monetary Fund official unconcerned about debt estimated at $48bn Read More | View Original Article

Ditch tougher high frequency trading rules: ASX

Market operator says ASIC measures would not boost market confidence. Read More | View Original Article

Critiquing Seven West's strange Voelte show

Seven West has returned to normal programming, putting a TV executive in charge after an unusual but arguably successful stint under oil and gas executive Don Voelte. Read More | View Original Article

Job creation is No 1 priority for Arab world - Saidi

Ex-DIFC chief economist says gov'ts must create better business environment for private firms Read More | View Original Article

MARKETS SPECTATOR: Transfield slammed

The company’s stock has slumped as it joins a growing list of mining services groups, including WorleyParsons and Fleetwood, in cutting earnings forecasts. Read More | View Original Article

Aust stocks fall at close

Local market drops below 5200 barrier, pulled lower by financials as investors wait for Bernanke address. Read More | View Original Article

Parkinson backs budget forecasts

Treasury secretary says govt had no influence on his dept's number, which were 'best estimates'. Read More | View Original Article

Scrawling political calculus over Gonski's numbers

The Gonski education reforms are being tossed in the political wash, along with the premiers, as the Coalition seeks to unseat Labor's plan by focusing on the frugal front-end. Read More | View Original Article

Low cash rate to support shrinking mining investment: Parkinson

Treasury Secretary says increase in mining production not sufficient to offset declining investment. Read More | View Original Article

MARKETS SPECTATOR: Thorny credit crunch

John Hughes says Thorn Group is now targeting the middle class as the credit appetite of lower income consumers wanes. Read More | View Original Article

Price forecasts stumped us: Treasury boss

Martin Parkinson says his department was 'genuinely surprised' by weakness in prices over past year. Read More | View Original Article

IMF warns Saudi Arabia over inflation risk

International Monetary Fund says buoyant growth could lead to economy over-heating Read More | View Original Article

MARKETS SPECTATOR: Early 90s flashback

Morgan Stanley says 'sell the Aussie', predicting the currency will fall to about US93 cents. Read More | View Original Article

AGL fined $1.55m for sales tactics

ACCC penalises subsidiaries of energy giant over misleading practices by doorknockers. Read More | View Original Article

Australian dollar gains at noon

Local currency recovers from falls on profit taking in early trade ahead of Bernanke speech. Read More | View Original Article

Contractor collateral in mining's stark retreat

Transfield has joined its peers in painting an outlook worst than first thought. And the market's ferocious reaction reminds us mining investment is still yet to peak. Read More | View Original Article

Fantastic Holdings issues earnings downgrade

Furniture company cites soft retail sector and strategic costs in full-year earnings downgrade. Read More | View Original Article

Boart Longyear flags weaker earnings despite job cuts

Group cites industry conditions for trouble, has shed 1000 employees since January. Read More | View Original Article

GST increase would 'smash' poor, middle class: Swan

Treasurer says raising 10% rate would compromise health and education services. Read More | View Original Article