EAFE stands for Europe, Australasia and the Far East and is usually talked about in relation to stock market index funds.  These funds aim to hold a basket of stocks which track the performance of a stock market index. The funds give investors the opport...
(Sep 21st, 09)

In the northern hemisphere as winter approaches, cities in Japan prepare light festivals to draw visitors and brighten up their streets as the days end earlier. Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, has four distinct seasons and the city of Sapporo, po...
(Sep 21st, 09)

The Federal Reserve has extended its consumer protection role over the banking sector by announcing increased supervision of non-bank subsidiaries of US and foreign banks. The new policy will tighten the bank’s regulation of the financial system by allo...
Finance (Sep 20th, 09)

Tthe English-speaking world has bed and breakfast places, guest houses and boutique hotels.  In Portuguese-speaking countries there are pousadas.  These are small hotels, sometimes luxury properties but also comfortable family-run places with a stron...
(Sep 20th, 09)

For 20 years Ireland was applauded as a model for how low tax rates can turn around a moribund economy.  Low personal and corporate taxes were acclaimed for creating the “celtic tiger” with low unemployment and rapid economic growth. But that...
Tax (Sep 16th, 09)

By Jan McCallum When you are approached to take up a foreign posting, the cost of education is not likely to feature as a priority, yet if you are moving with family you could be stung if you do not get school fees written into your salary package. There are...
Education (Sep 16th, 09)

China’s insurance industry only resumed business in 1980 but is already the second largest insurance market in Asia, after Japan. The industry is growing rapidly as more people seek to protect their property and family and domestic insurers gain experti...
Insurance (Sep 16th, 09)

Rumourtrage – trading based on rumours – can move markets, is often proven to be nonsense and allows market manipulation.  But it is hard to track and stop and share prices can be battered before companies get the chance to respond.Australia&r...
Investing (Sep 15th, 09)

The risk of poverty in old age is surprisingly high in Japan, which is not only a wealthy country but has a mandatory pension system designed to cover every adult.Japan’s baby boomers began retiring in 2007 and while other industrialized countries wrestl...
Retirement (Sep 15th, 09)

Hong Kong’s gross national product (GNP) fell 2.2 per cent year on year for the second quarter on lower economic activity and a fall in earnings from investment abroad. The Territory’s Census and Statistics Department said gross national product f...
(Sep 15th, 09)

The European Union is emerging from recession but gross domestic product (GDP) in the EU and the euro area is still expected to fall by 4 per cent this year according to an interim forecast released this week. The EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner...
(Sep 14th, 09)

Lending for construction in Australia slowed in July, raising concerns about the strength of the economic recovery and the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s economic stimulus in encouraging business activity. Figures released by the Australian B...
Construction (Sep 14th, 09)

The Indian telecom company Bharti Airtel Ltd. will be launching a "global wholesale service" in Singapore. Bharti Airtel has more than 100 million customers in India making it the largest mobile-service provider in India. By opening up to carriers around the ...
(Aug 16th, 09)

While Google Inc's quarterly profit did beat Wall Street expectations it was not as high as some investors had hoped. However it bodes well for internet advertising in general as there has not been a collapse in online advertising as some has suspected. Googl...
Internet (Jul 16th, 09)

Seeking further consolidation in the chinese airline industry, China Eastern Airlines Corp offers 9 billion yuan ($1.3 billion) for the Shanghai Airlines Co. Source: http://www.bloomberg.com.au/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=asFfRCYzEIac
(Jul 12th, 09)

The largest maker of recharchable batteries, Sanyo Electronic says it is aiming to quadruple sales by 2015 primarily due to the future production of gasline-electric powered cars. Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=a6Ebra7uQ3gg
Technology (Jul 5th, 09)

The Riksbank, Sweden's central bank has cut the deposit rate to -0.25%. Effectively the central bank is charging a negative rate of funds within the bank. Although it does not necessarily mean private banks will be charging a negative rates of return of deposi...
Investing (Jul 2nd, 09)

As the biggest initial public offering (IPO) this year,  VisaNet made its debut on the Bovespa stock exchange.  VisaNet is the company 'in charge of merchant relations for Visa System affiliates and for all Visa card transactions performed in Brazil...
(Jun 30th, 09)

Global Travel is down accross most of the world with many major airlines being affected by slowing ticket sales according to IATA (International Air Transport Association.) In summary Asia Pacific sales are down 14 per cent from May last year Mexico plane...
Airlines (Jun 28th, 09)

THE IMF foresees Australian GDP to only contract by .5% rather then by 1.4% it had forecast in April 2009. It has also increased its outlook for 2010 to 1.5% GDP growth compared to .6% in April The IMF also indicated government spending had an impact to boost...
Australia (Jun 24th, 09)