The Daily Reckoning Australia: A Rhyme of the Times

A Rhyme of the Times9.7107 And just like that at least some of the uncertainty hanging over the Australian market has dissipated. Or has it actually increased? It seems to us that by agreeing to a 30% Mineral Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) on iron ore and coal and a 40% tax on on-shore oil and [...]

Kids’ rooms: Hook it and hang it

[easybranches.com: unable to retrieve full-text content] The problem with most children is that if there isn’t an easy place to hang it – they don’t. Get a simple and educational solution.

Real Estate Blog: Real Estate Off the boil

Of the 827 auctions last weekend, 178 were passed in on a vendor’s bid – five times higher than the same weekend last year when 451 houses were auctioned and 37 properties were passed in on a vendor’s call – and it was a similar story the week before news.com.au

Let your kitchen sell your home

02 Jul 2010 If there’s one thing that everyone who visits your show house will definitely look at, it’s the kitchen, so it’s really worth “staging” this room to look its very best. “In fact, buyers all want a kitchen that’s better than the one they have, so a [...]

The Daily Reckoning Australia: We’re Going Broke

We’re Going Broke10.0101 Let’s see…what’s in the news today? Stocks went down again yesterday. The Dow got trimmed by 96 points. Gold, on the other hand, went up $3 to $1,245. The first half of the year came to a close with the S&P 500 down 6%, global stocks down 10%, oil down 5%, Chinese [...]

SWC not huge boon to hospitality sector

02 Jul 2010 With the World Cup now approaching its final phase, it is possible to assess its impact on the hospitality and property sector. Lanice Steward, MD of Anne Porter Knight Frank (APKF), says it has to be said that the likely benefits to these sectors were exaggerated, not only [...]

The Daily Reckoning Australia: The End of the Nominal Recovery

The End of the Nominal Recovery 10.0102 Monetary and fiscal stimulus can halt a deflation spiral, but central banks and governments can’t print purchasing power. In other words, one year after the official end of the recession, the economy shows no signs of booming. Emergency Keynesian policy measures taken to keep the debt crisis from [...]

Downsizing driving sales in Toti

02 Jul 2010 Downsizing seems to be the main reason for people selling in Amanzimtoti on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast. So says Schalk Pienaar, agent for Seeff in the area, who adds that this is mainly as a result of financial troubles. “Houses and apartments under R1m are selling [...]

Business Spectator PROPERTY: GEO Property expects $145.5m turnaround, $13-$14.5m profit

Source: News Bites GEO Property Group expects to report net profit of $13 million to $14.5 million for the year to June 30, 2010, a turnaround of up to $145.5 million after achieving record sales of 1,150 land lots and house and land packages. Last year the company reported a $131 million loss, including $174.1 [...]

Real Estate Blog: Westpac CEO sees a ‘turning point’ for banks

Westpac chief executive, Gail Kelly, says recent times have represented “a turning point” for the Australian banking system. In a letter to shareholders, released this morning, Kelly said the improved economic environment had led to “a stabilisation in asset quality” and a “material reduction” in impairment charges. “However we remain cautious,” she said. Here is [...]