BUSINESS

Following almost a month of speculation, James Packer, along with a prominent hedge fund, has moved to pick up a massive stake in daily deals sites.

Agribusiness Elders (ASX:ELD) posted improved sales and earnings together with reduced debt in its 2011 interim profit announcement issued today. It however lowered its profit forecasts for full year underlying profit.

Shortages in affordable properties and regions are likely to drive capital gains over the deacde ahead, according to the federal government's housing czar.

The Federal Government's flagship National Broadband Network has had its grand opening on the mainland, in the NSW city of Armidale.

Shortages in affordable properties and regions are likely to drive capital gains over the deacde ahead, according to the federal government's housing czar.

Once the sun set and just before the start of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 21, the raceway's house lights dimmed and fans "flashed their brights," breaking the Guinness World Records achievement for most flashlights lit simultaneously. Energizer outfitted the 65,000 fans with LED headlights as they entered the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) has taken the pricing war among the big four banks to new heights by selling discounted mortgages online.

Woolworths has axed eight employees in three states for performing the potentially dangerous stunt of 'planking' on top of the store's meat grinders, display shelves, trolleys and stacks of milk crates.

Sustainability experts from across the globe were canvassed as part of the annual SustainAbility survey, with respondents asked to name the companies they consider sustainability leaders; why they think the firm is a leader in sustainable development; and which industries have done the most to advance sustainability in the past year.

Yesterday's release of several pieces of key economic data suggesting that the U.S. economy is growing at a sluggish pace, resulted in disappointed markets and investors.

Gold To Follow S&P 500 Lower Amid Broad-Based Risk Aversion- Gold Testing Key Trend Line Support, Poised to Break Lower- Correlation Studies Show AUD/USD a Proxy for Gold PricesBy Ilya Spivak, Currency StrategistFundamental Forecast for Gold: BearishGold prices rebounded last week, adding 1.

(This story was originally published on Wednesday, 18 June 2011. It has now been re-published to make it available to non-paying members at FNArena and to readers elsewhere).

Ratings agency Fitch cut Greece´s credit rating by three notches to B+. Fitch also issued a negative outlook and commented that ´´the ratings downgrade reflects the scale of the challenge facing Greece in implementing a radical fi

The Australian share market closed moderately weaker, dragged down by materials stocks as investors digested lower base metals prices and the West Australian government's iron ore royalty hike.

Ratings agency Fitch cut Greece´s credit rating by three notches to B+. Fitch also issued a negative outlook and commented that ´´the ratings downgrade reflects the scale of the challenge facing Greece in implementing a radical fiscal and structural reform programme...´´.

Major stock indexes staged their second straight gain Thursday as a doubling in LinkedIn's share price spurred hopes that initial public offerings can lure more investors into risk assets.

Woolworths Ltd is planning to roll out contactless payment facilities across all brands, to make the shopping experience quicker and more convenient and help reduce time spent waiting in checkout queues.

Environment group Greenpeace has warned consumers of the possible dangers pose by children's toys made in China because of the high percentage of a harmful chemical found in them.

The Environment Protection Agency or EPA has approved a new coal-fired power plant, which will use gas from brown coal and natural gas to produce electricity, in eastern Victoria.

A Qantas flight from Thailand to the UK has been forced to return to the Bangkok airport after one of its engines broke down after take-off.

Staff were fired for serious breaches of health and safety guidelines, and not for planking, Woolworth says.

Wesfarmers (ASX: WES) has denied a plea from a group of its shareholders to put an end to Coles’ cut-price milk and dairy campaign.

The vast majority of Australian exporters are considering a price cut, as the Australian dollar continues to trade at levels that are causing the sector to become uncompetitive.

Honda Motor Co. has announced it would recall more than 1,000 new Honda Civics in the U.S. because of defects found in the fuel line. The defect could cause fuel leak, the company said in a statement.

Daily update on share prices and consensus price targets.By Rudi Filapek-VandyckA profit warning followed by a gigantic sell-off has pushed shares in ATM services provider Customers ((CUS)) into the Bottom 50 of FNArena's Icarus Signal.

MF Global Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: MF), a broker-dealer providing trading and hedging solutions, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.

BlackRock, Inc. announces that it has agreed to repurchase Bank of America Corporation's remaining ownership interest in BlackRock totaling 13,562,878 of its Series B Convertible Preferred Shares for approximately $2.545 billion, or $187.65 per share.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed up 45 points or 0.4% while the S&P gained 0.2% to 1343 and the Nasdaq added 0.

A strong rally in Australian equities was enough to support the currency from the outset on Thursday pushing it towards 1.0680 where it spent most of the Asian session.