Jim Stewart, runs search engine company StewArtMedia - Talking Business 2012 - Ep03

Summary: Chapter times: 0:38 - Talking Business News 37:07 - Interview with Jim Stewart, who runs search engine company StewArtMedia. eon and Garry discuss many topics including: - The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lowering its inflation and growth forecasts for the first half of 2012 as uncertainty about Europe's debt crisis weighs on domestic household and business spending. - All the banks raising interest rates independently of the RBA and the politicians attack but they are defended by the Reserve Bank of Australia. - ANZ is slashing 1000 jobs across Australia, just days after slugging homeowners with an interest rate hike independently of the Reserve Bank and the Commonwealth Bank posts a seven per cent profit increase while Westpac posts a lower profit of $1.5 billion. - Qantas says it will close more routes, terminate 500 jobs and slash spending over the next two years, as it reported a steep decline in first-half profit. - Unemployment in Australia fell in January, bucking expectations of a rise, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics - Business conditions improved a little in January, after the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) two interest rate cuts in late 2011 - The latest NAB business survey also shows an astonishing two-thirds of Australian businesses reported no need for finance in January, the highest since the survey began in 2008. - Personal finance commitments edged up in December, while commercial lending inched down, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. - Consumer confidence has risen following two interest rate cuts in late 2011, but remains well below its level a year ago, according to a private survey. - Wesfarmers, GrainCorp, Westfield, Alumina, Reject Shop, Dominos Pizza, Noni B, Carsales.com, Primary Healthcare, Fortescue and Brambles post increases in profits but Goodman Fielder, Paladin Energy, JB Hi Fi and OZ Minerals post lower profits. - The David Jones board has backed chief executive Paul Zahra after announcing the resignation of finance director Stephen Goddard just a week before the company is due to report sales for its second quarter. - Ten Network Holdings Ltd has appointed Lachlan Murdoch as non-executive chairman of the company's board, replacing incumbent chairman Brian Long. - Nine Entertainment Co advisors have met with executives from Seven West Media Ltd to discuss the potential sale of debt-laden Nine’s ACP magazines division. - Unions representing thousands of GM Holden employees have won a significant wage increase from the carmaker, one that could see some wages increase as much as 22 per cent by 2014. - Construction company Leighton Holdings says one of its subsidiaries may have made payments and possible bribes related to work in Iraq that potentially breached its code of ethics and broke Australian laws. - Cost of living pressures are rising and it's officially taking its toll as new research reveals five Australian cities are more expensive than New York.