Summary:
US Democratic Convention
SUMMARY: This week thousands of Democrat delegates from across America gathered in Denver Colorado to officially nominate Barack Obama as the Democratic Presidential nominee. The convention culminated in a celebration in Obama's acceptance speech delivered to a crowd of over 80-thousand peopleat an open air football stadium. After the euphoria attention has turned to his opponent John McCain and why he has picked Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Reporting season
SUMMARY: The reporting season for most of Australia´s listed companies has come to a close, and the final day proved pretty grim for many investors.
One time sharemarket darlings Centro Property and Allco Finance declared annual losses of 2 billion and 1.7 billion respectively and the immediate future of both companies remains in doubt.
ABC Learning was to have reported yesterday but didn´t, the missed deadline putting in breach of ASX rules.
But those results also served to highlight what a terrific year many other businesses have enjoyed - albeit in a pretty tough credit environment.
BHP, Commonwealth Bank and Woolworths all reported very strong figures - Infact Woolies posted a stellar 26% rise in annual profit to 1.63 billion dollars.
So what do we make of these contrasting fortunes?
To borrow from a new but already well worn phrase, it´s been something of a two speed reporting season.
Solar thermal
SUMMARY: Worley Parsons is acting as a central broker for a range of companies to work up plans to build the world's biggest solar thermal power plant.
They hope to have a definite plan by the end of the year.
Lessons from Russian History
SUMMARY: As the Russia government is making headlines over its lastest stoush with Georgia, the deteriorating political relations between these neighbours is leading some commentators to start thinking out loud about whether the West needs to pay more attention to history to try and make sense of the situation.
Battle for Australia
SUMMARY: Peter Stanley says there is no evidence to support the idea that the Japanese had a plan to invade Australia in 1942.
Yet many Australians believe the reverse and the Federal government recently announced that the first Wednesday of September will mark the Battle for Australia and `will commemorate the service of those who served in defence of Australia in 1942 and 1943'.
Film with Jason Di Rosso
SUMMARY: Jason reviews Not Quite Hollywood, a documentary about Australian genre cinema. And Hellboy II: The Golden Army; Mexican director Guillermo del Toro's comic book adaptation about a red demon who fights for good.
