Australian consumer confidence has gone up in response to the latest interest rate cut, jumping to its highest level in a year. According to the long-standing Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment, confidence grew by 8 percent in January to reach a new high of 100.7. While weak business confidence continues to threaten the Australian economy, low rates and cheaper […]
The gap between Australia’s property markets continues to widen, with prices in Sydney and Melbourne outpacing the rest of the country. According to figures from CoreLogic RP Data, while Sydney and Melbourne started the year strongly, three other capital cities recorded negative growth over the month. While the average value of homes in Australian capital cities grew by 7.9 percent […]
Technology continues to take over our homes, with a new range of appliances and gadgets released every month. The smart end of the household technology market was recently on display at CES 2015 in China, the biggest and most anticipated technology show of the year. From remote controlled lighting systems and Internet enabled appliances through to self-watering plant pots, the […]
A new international study is helping to map the brain, with research concentrating on seven key structures involved in learning and memory. By identifying variations in the human genome that influence the size of these structures, researchers have shed new light into a range of medical conditions including schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Tourette’s syndrome. The international meta-analysis involved almost 300 […]
Everyday holograms are one step closer to reality, with Microsoft unveiling its vision for the future of Windows. Among a myriad of other features, Windows 10 will include the new HoloLens headset, technology designed to overlay holographic images in the real world. With the hardware being refined as we speak and a range of holographic applications also in the pipeline, […]
The economic slowdown in China continues to threaten Australia. In its latest report on global economic prospects, the World Bank said any major shock from China, coupled with falling commodity prices, would be a double blow for exporters like Australia. However, positive signs are emerging for a managed slowdown as China opens new doors and the Australian economy continues to […]