IBT Staff Reporter

The Australian Dollar has opened lower this morning, falling back through USD0.8950 overnight following some disappointing US data releases.

A mental health crisis has hit regional South Australia as hundreds of patients had to be flown to Adelaide for treatment due to the lack of full-time psychiatrists in the state's regional public hospitals.

Parents are complaining that children and teachers at a Mt. Pleasant primary school had been exposed to asbestos fibre for two weeks before diggings at the school were stopped when a mother noticed the deadly substance in the soil.

The frail U.S. economy was dealt fresh setbacks as new U.S. jobless claims scaled a nine-month high last week and Mid-Atlantic factory activity contracted in August for the first time in more than a year.

As mortgage delinquencies climb near historic highs, Wall Street is finding new ways to make hay with the assets.

U.S. mortgage rates fell in the past week to the latest in a series of record lows amid concerns about the state of the U.S. economy, according to a survey released on Thursday by Freddie Mac, the second-largest U.S. mortgage finance company.

Homeowners were less confident about the value of their homes in the second quarter, with one-third believing home prices had not yet reached a bottom, real estate website Zillow.com said on Thursday.

More than a quarter of Americans currently renting houses and apartments have no intention to ever buy a home, according to a survey published on Wednesday.

For local governments in the United States, the housing crisis is far from over.

General Motors Co took a big step toward repaying a controversial taxpayer-funded bailout by declaring plans for a landmark stock offering that represents a critical test for the Obama administration.

Sterling interbank borrowing costs slid for the ninth successive session on Thursday, tracking falls in dollar and euro fund costs, as lenders took the view that the Bank of England will keep policy rates low. Three-month funds edged lower GBP3MFSR= to 0.72688 percent from 0.72744 percent the previous day.

Gold prices rose to a seven-week high at $1,234.55 an ounce on Thursday after data showed new U.S. claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly hit a nine-month high last week, pressuring the dollar.

Oil rose toward $76 on Thursday, boosted by a rally in equity markets in Asia and Europe on expectations of strong economic growth in China and Germany. Shares in Hong Kong and Shanghai climbed, with resources companies outperforming the broader market as news of mega-mergers also whetted risk appetite in the sector.

ETF Securities said ETFS Physical Swiss Gold Shares had a record day's trading volume on August 11 of 1.74 million shares, or $208 million. This represents the greatest one-day volume since its first US trading day on September 9, 2009.

Oil prices remained highly volatile in Asian trade Thursday as strong dollar and US crude inventories offset equity gains in the region. Light sweet crude for September delivery was seen trading at $75.54 a barrel at 12.00 noon Singapore while Brent crude was at $76.31 a barrel in London.

Russian grain imports are likely to soar after the country's worst drought in more than a century damaged its harvest and forced it to ban exports, analysts said on Thursday. Analysts estimate that Russia, usually a major grain exporter, may have to import 1.5-2.2 million tonnes this year after the worst drought in more than a century damaged its harvest, but a report in Vedomosti daily said Russia could import at least 5 million tonnes of grain this year.

Gold prices rose toward $1,230 an ounce in Europe on Thursday, close to the previous session's near seven-week high, as concerns over the outlook for economic growth supported investment demand for the precious metal.

Oil rose to over $76 on Thursday, boosted by a rally in Asian equities as investors focused on the prospects for accelerating Chinese demand for natural resources. U.S. September crude climbed 19 cents to $75.61 a barrel at 0822 GMT (4:22 a.m. EDT), having earlier risen as high as $76.08. ICE Brent rose 35 cents to $76.82.

The yen dipped against the dollar on Thursday as jitters about whether Japanese authorities would take new steps to rein in the yen's rise left investors reluctant to chase it higher. Investors are watching to see if the central bank will take more monetary easing steps -- such as expanding liquidity -- ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa expected on Monday.

Gold prices remained vulnerable in Asian trade Thursday despite advanced marginally in early trade. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $1229.02 an ounce at 12.00 noon Singapore time while US gold futures for December delivery was at $ 1231.45 an ounce on the comex division of Nymex.

The parenting hormones oxytocin and prolactin have been found to surge in men as much as in women during childbirth allowing new fathers to bond with their new child just like mothers do with their babies.

Gold edged up on Thursday, to just short of its highest since the start of July, as volatile equities and concerns about the global economy spurred buying from investors, but selling from jewelers capped gains.

Oil was under pressure on Thursday from a stronger dollar and brimming U.S. petroleum inventories, while modest gains in Asian equities provided support to a market focused on the prospects for economic growth.

The dollar edged up against the yen on Thursday with investors reluctant to chase the yen higher as they waited to see if the Bank of Japan or the government will take new steps to rein in the yen's rise. Earlier, rumours had circulated in the market that the BOJ would hold an emergency policy meeting at 2 p.m. (0500 GMT). That followed a media report that the central bank had started considering additional monetary easing steps.

American researchers have found that Vitamin D may treat or prevent allergy to a common mold that complicates asthma and cystic fibrosis.

The Northeast region of the U.S., represented by the New England and Central Atlantic regions shown in Figure 1, typically account for over 80 percent of U.S. heating oil sales. As shown in Figure 2, the top 5 consuming States, in rank order, are New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Heating oil is a distillate fuel, coming from the same boiling-range portion of crude oil as diesel fuel. However, unlike diesel fuel used in transportation, heating oil has no Federal...

Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) in Melbourne have discovered that macrophages or white blood cells inflame fat tissues in obese people and trigger their resistance to insulin, which leads to diabetes and heart disease.

SA Health authorities are unavailable for comments on the unexplained deaths of up to ten babies per year at home.

The winning party in Saturday's elections should offer regular heart checks for Australians over the age of 45, the National Heart Foundation and National Stroke Foundation have urged.