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2012_0907 - Healthy Australia or Dutch disease

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2011 Data sheet cybercrime report. 2012 PDF cybercrime report. 2012 Norton Study: Consumer Cybercrime Estimated at $110 Billion Annually. Mountain View, CA – Sept. 5, 2012 – Norton by Symantec (NASDAQ:SYMC) today released the findings of its annual Norton Cybercrime Report, one of the world’s largest consumer cybercrime studies.

2012 Norton Study: Consumer Cybercrime Estimated at $110 Billion Annually

The study is aimed at understanding how cybercrime affects consumers, and how the adoption and evolution of new technologies impacts people’s security. With findings based on self-reported experiences of more than 13,000 adults across 24 countries, the 2012 edition of the Norton Cybercrime Report calculates the direct costs1 associated with global consumer cybercrime at US $110 billion2 over the past twelve months. Internet Threat Trends 2011 (apr 12) Les prix alimentaires pourraient doubler d'ici 20 ans. Les prix des aliments de base pourraient doubler dans les 20 prochaines années - par rapport à 2010 - avec le changement climatique et la multiplication des événements extrêmes qui l'accompagnent (sécheresses, inondations et ouragans), prévient l'organisation Oxfam.

Les prix alimentaires pourraient doubler d'ici 20 ans

Dans un rapport publié mercredi, Oxfam juge que les effets du réchauffement sont "sous-estimés", car "les changements à évolution lente des températures moyennes et des schémas de précipitations", globalement défavorables à l'agriculture, se doubleront de "pertes de cultures causées par des événements météorologiques extrêmes, plus fréquents et plus intenses". En 2030, estime l'ONG, le risque accru de sécheresse, semblable à celle qui sévit depuis juin, notamment aux États-Unis - la plus grave depuis un demi-siècle - pourrait ainsi faire grimper le prix du maïs de "140% par rapport au prix moyen des denrées alimentaires" à cette date.

The U.S. drought is hitting harder than most realize. This is an important update on the U.S. drought of 2012, the combined record-setting July land temperatures, and their impact on food prices, water availability, energy, and even U.S.

The U.S. drought is hitting harder than most realize

The Global Business Cycle in Charts. We continue to see that industrial economic barometers like Copper and Crude Oil are failing to confirm the S&P 500′s new closing high this week.

The Global Business Cycle in Charts

Emerging Markets, the saviour of global growth in the post Lehman recovery also continue to lag other equity indices indicating that not all is well with the BRICs. Furthermore, the short term rise in the DAX 30, Commodity Currencies and Brent Crude (not shown here) has been almost vertical and most likely overdue for at least a pullback. This weeks economic update is not necessary due to the feature article. Michael Woodford Endorses NGDP Targeting. Five reasons the US economy may be about to boom. China's great investment transition. The Fed, the Stock Market, and Obama's Re-election Campaign.

How politics and policy are affecting long-established investment theories...

The Fed, the Stock Market, and Obama's Re-election Campaign

ONE OF the most respected analysts on Wall Street, during the Great Depression years and through the following decades, was Gerald Loeb, writes Gary Dorsch at SirChartsalot.com. Euro Zone's Slide Gathers Pace. Draghi shifts spotlight to Spain. If Interest Rates Go Negative . . . Or, Be Careful What You Wish For. Kenneth Garbade and Jamie McAndrews The United States has slid into eight recessions in the last fifty years.

If Interest Rates Go Negative . . . Or, Be Careful What You Wish For

Each time, the Federal Reserve sought to revive economic activity by reducing interest rates (see chart below). Labour market needs more flexibility: Hilmer. Foreign execs tell Australia: Try harder on labour and taxes. Jacob Greber Economics correspondent Australia has failed to improve its ranking in an influential global survey of competitiveness, with international business executives criticising the Gillard government’s Fair Work labour rules, bureaucratic inefficiency and taxes.

Foreign execs tell Australia: Try harder on labour and taxes

The Geneva-based World Economic Forum’s annual ranking of productivity across 144 economies shows Australia has stayed in 20th place after being leapfrogged by South Korea. While Australia has the world’s leading secondary education enrolment rates, the fifth-safest banks and strong domestic competition, its overall performance is being held back by its standing on labour market flexibility and business innovation. The WEF’s 2012-13 Global Competitiveness Index says Australia’s reliance on minerals resources “means that a large part of its economy depends on activities with little added value”.

Strike days lost hit an 8-year high. Surplus task has got tougher: Swan. Treasurer Wayne Swan ...

Surplus task has got tougher: Swan

“We have sustained a decline in commodity prices that will make our budget task harder but we are absolutely committed to delivering a surplus in 2012-13.” Gina Rinehart Is A Bubble. Last week she said: If you’re jealous of those with more money, don’t just sit there and complain.

Gina Rinehart Is A Bubble

Do something to make more money yourself — spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working. Burn on: PM's dirty power buyback plan up in smoke. Carbon plan goes up in smoke How did it happen?

Burn on: PM's dirty power buyback plan up in smoke

Carbon tax makes dirty power plants too expensive to close. Viewpoints - ‘Dutch Disease Lite’ in Australia’s Economy​ ​The term “Dutch disease” refers to the hollowing out of an economy’s manufacturing sector (and other non-mining-related sectors) following an increase in mining investment and income and a related increase in the value of the currency. The term derives from the decline in the Netherlands’ manufacturing sector in the 1960s after the discovery of a major natural gas field. Not only does the mining investment redirect labour and capital resources away from other sectors, but the export-driven currency strength also hinders demand within the non-mining sectors. That said, the diagnosis of full-blown Dutch disease also requires the higher demand for commodities and investment in mining to be temporary.

In the Australian economy, the investment pipeline and long-term demand for the country’s abundant natural resources are both robust; however, offshore demand likely will not continue to grow in a straight line, and the global supply response is already forthcoming. Why Australia is not an 'unlucky' country. Bernanke, Monetary Policy since the Onset of the Crisis. Chairman Ben S. Bernanke At the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Economic Symposium, Jackson Hole, Wyoming August 31, 2012 Monetary Policy since the Onset of the Crisis When we convened in Jackson Hole in August 2007, the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) target for the federal funds rate was 5-1/4 percent. Bernanke Jackson Hole Speech 2012: No QE3 Any Time Soon. Gold surged to a five-month high on Friday in the wake of comments by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in Jackson Hole, Wyoming that indicated the Fed is open to more monetary stimulus. Speaking at a symposium held by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Bernanke noted the slow pace of the recovery, saying that “the economic situation is far from satisfactory.”

He called the improvements in the unemployment figures “painfully slow,” and warned, “Unless the economy begins to grow more quickly than it has recently, the unemployment rate is likely to remain far above levels consistent with maximum employment for some time.” Bernanke very much left the door open for a third round of quantitative easing, concluding his remarks by noting that “Federal Reserve will provide additional policy accommodation as needed to promote a stronger economic recovery and sustained improvement in labor market conditions in a context of price stability.”

The big winners were gold and silver. At Jackson Hole, a growing fear for Fed independence. Bernanke at Jackson Hole: No More Easing, For Now - US Business News. "The market initially sold the Bernanke Jackson Hole speech news, but after going through the comments, I think Ben tipped his hand to the market," said Brian Sozzi, chief equities analyst at NBG Productions in New York. "At the next policy meeting (in September), with press conference and all, additional unconventional accommodation is probable.

" But the Fed is in somewhat of a political box with the presidential election drawing near. Consequently, it may have a choice either to act at the September FOMC meeting, or not at all until the November vote is cast, said Erik Davidson, deputy chief investment officer for Wells Fargo Private Bank. CBA launches $750m hybrid raising. Hybrids not without risk. Risks too great for ANZ Equities. ‘Unfair’ ANZ bank fees appeal allowed. ANZ ... Bank customers claim various fees, including late payment fees, dishonour fees and over limit fees, were unfair penalties. Insurers hit by falling bond yields. The dark side of bond investing. Insurers start taking the axe to smash repair industry.

AMA allomak. Super changes stop seniors working: IAG. Telstra Super aims to be retention centre. Ruth Liew One of Australia’s largest corporate superannuation funds, Telstra Super, is turning to business intelligence technology to map out strategies aimed at enticing more members to remain with the fund. As super funds seek to increase assets under management, member retention has become increasingly critical for growth. Bank of Tokyo seeks mortgage deal with AMP. ING pitches fee-free fund option. MySuper initiatives miss mark: survey. Political cowardice on ‘self-funded’ super. Westpac snares rising star. Seven-inch tablets will rule the world. Too much of a good thing? The man behind Facebook’s IPO debacle. After Verdict, Assessing the Samsung Strategy in South Korea.

Great divide between digital and traditional. Australian house prices stabilise in August. Real estate begins to bloom.