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Ignore anything you may read or hear about new policies, breakthroughs or agreements emanating from the Group of 20 nations in Canada.

GBG Looks To Use Iron Ore Income To Diversify

Gindalbie Metals Ltd says its flagship Karara iron ore project in Western Australia’s midwest region (near Geraldton) will generate about $1 billion in annual export revenues, and that will help it start looking off shore, and at other minerals to diversify from its dependence on iron ore..

Wattyl Says Yes To US Bid

Good bye Wattyl, hello Valspar.

Photon’s Depressing Update

Photon Group likes to describe itself as "Australia’s largest marketing and communications group"; yesterday it confirmed in an update on its trading performance and capital structure, that it is one of the weakest companies on the ASX, with debts significantly outweighing its $191 million market value, and over $160 million in deferred payments still owing.

Japan: Retail Sales Slow, As Does Deflation

Mixed economic news from Japan yesterday.

BP Dominates Oil Markets

Oil prices rose more than 3% on Friday, but it had nothing to do with the normal ebb and flow of the markets and daily and weekly trading strategies.

US Economic Growth Slides

Last week the US Federal Reserve surprised with a post meeting statement that weakened its previously confident stance about the strength of the US economic recovery.

DIARY: End Of Quarter, Half Year, Financial Year

A big week for markets here and offshore, and for investors large and small.

Economy, Banks To Dominate Equities, Bonds

Worries about bank regulation, the global economy, US economic growth and BP saw markets finish mostly lower on Friday.

Markets Outlook Goes Cloudy

World stocks, as measured by the MSCI, are down more than 7% since January, leaving many investors wondering where growth will come in the next six months.

Macquarie Surprises With Uncertain Outlook

Macquarie Group shares were hammered yesterday after it revealed that the increased volatility in financial markets since April has had an unquantified impact on its business.

Japan Exports Up, But Starting To Slow

Another hint that Japan’s strong export driven recovery may be losing steam, and with it, the surging growth in Australia’s export earnings.

NZ Economy Still Growing

Good news from New Zealand as the economy grew for a 4th straight quarter in the three months to March, thanks mostly to the strength of the economic recovery in Asia and Australia

Oil Outlook: Faster Growth, But Oversupply To 2015

Rising oil supplies will mostly offset higher demand expected over the next five years, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday in its latest medium term outlook.

Fed Survives US Shake Up

US Congressional leaders (mostly Democrats from the Senate and the House of Representatives) are working towards completing a new financial regulatory set up for the US that will see one big winner, the US Federal Reserve.

Seven’s Chinese Bank Deal

The discount in the share price of Seven Group Holdings continues to widen.

Fed Sits On Rates

The US Federal Reserve had no reason to lift interest rates from their current record low of 0% to 0.25%.

Suncorp Sells Its Life Insurance Appeal

A look at the Suncorp-Metway share price graph will tell us that the financial group is going nowhere as investors wait to see evidence that the new CEO, Patrick Snowball, can boost returns from a mix of business that has already disappointed.

Alinta Trails Its Coat

There is life after Babcock & Brown, just look at Alinta Energy (AKA Babcock & Brown Power)

Perpetual Loses CEO

Perpetual CEO, David Deverall, did the right thing by his employer yesterday in signalling his decision to stand down next March.

Elders’ Shock Downgrade

Rural services company Elders has downgraded earnings guidance and now expects a full year loss because of low prices for farm supplies, subdued real estate activity and the collapse of management investment schemes in the timber and forestry sector.

Exports Heading For 2011 Record

Surging iron ore and coal export revenues are expected to push the value of Australia’s commodity exports to a record $202.5 billion in the 2010-11 financial year.

Leighton Boss Adamant On 2010 Profit Guidance

Leighton Holdings CEO, Wal King, seems to going all out to make the market aware that the company is on track to make its guidance.

World Steel Output Still Growing

Sundance, Gindalbie Hit

Shares in Sundance Resources remained suspended again yesterday after confirmation that the company’s board and a number of advisers had died in a plane crash in West Africa.

China To Release The Yuan

China has decided to take the heat out of the exchange rate brawl with the US by again making its Yuan exchange rate more flexible.

Markets To Assess Move

Another up week, the second in a row for most stockmarkets around the world.

Will Commodities Get A Hit?

China’s decision to end its currency peg could have its biggest impact in the commodity markets.

Telstra Deal

Telstra has signed an $11 billion deal with the Federal Government’s National Broadband Network Co (NBN Co) that will set in train an Australia wide high speed broadband internet link.

DIARY: US Fed, Australian Car Sales, UK Budget Cuts

America is where the action is this week with the Fed holding a two-day meeting.

US Economy’s Half Speed Outlook

The US Federal Reserve meets next week for two days and already there’s a very confident expectation that there will be no change in interest rates or in its current indefinite timeline for leaving rates where they now are.

Fund Managers Cold On Europe

Big global investors are getting gloomier, according to the monthly BofA Merrill Lynch Survey of Fund Managers for June.

Double Dip Or Just A Slowdown We Have To Have?

Some indicators of global growth are showing a loss of momentum, fuelling talk of a double dip back into recession.

Leighton Talks Up Contracting Wins

Shares in Leighton Holdings rebounded solidly yesterday after the company delivered on a promise made in May to reveal some big contracts wins.

QBE’s Mixed Earnings Outlook

The market gave QBE Insurance Group a gentle thumbs down for delivering a modest downgrade for first half (June 20) earnings on Thursday night in London.

Sigma Finds A New CEO, But For How Long?

Struggling generic drug maker and distributor, Sigma Pharmaceuticals, has found a new CEO to lead the company while it waits to see if it will receive a bid from South African group, Aspen Pharmacare.

Corporates: Asciano, Atlas, Poseidon, Centennial

Ports and transport group, Asciano, says it won’t pay a final distribution for the 2010 financial year.

BP To Set Up $US20 Bn Fund, Won’t Pay Shareholders

BP has attempted to free itself from the mess it caused with the Gulf of Mexico oil well explosion and leak on April 20.

GPG Divorce On