Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey talks up his country’s potential to be the “world’s number one energy exporter” within the decade but China’s ban on the sale and import of coal with high ash or sulfur content may impact forecast returns. The Chinese Government’s crackdown is in response to the heavy pollution in Shanghai and Beijing and social unrest in many …

The Australian is today reporting that Australia is on track to sign free-trade agreement with China at about the time of the November G20 meeting in Brisbane, after the latest round of negotiations left senior ministers believing the deal can be clinched by the end of the year. The Oz story hedges bets somewhat about where the expected signing will …

The New Zealand dollar may decline this week, weighed down by weaker local data and a more positive view of the greenback. The kiwi will probably trade between 79.60 US cents and 83.40 cents this week, according to a BusinessDesk survey of 10 currency traders and strategists. Five pick the local currency to decline, three say it will probably remain relatively …