BUSINESS

The ASX 200 spent most of the day in an arm wrestle with 4400 before eventually closing right on that level.

Admin System Aug 12, 2010

Wine maker Australian Vintage Ltd (ASX: AVG) said on Thursday that it has returned to profit status as consumers shifted their preference for branded wines and a sustained cost-reduction scheme earlier implemented conspired to deliver impressive results for the company.

Erik Pineda Aug 12, 2010

Tollroad operator Transurban Group (ASX: TLC) announced on Thursday its return to profit for the full year 2009/10 as it reported that the company’s net profit as of June 30 reached $59 .605 million.

Erik Pineda Aug 12, 2010

The Australian share market was lower at midday following a poor performance on global markets overnight and a slight increase in the domestic unemployment rate.

Sharon Olalia Aug 12, 2010

Australian telecommunications carrier Optus has recorded its strongest growth in five years with its net profit in the three months to June showing steep increase.

Sharon Olalia Aug 12, 2010

Construction contract firm Leighton Contractors revealed on Thursday that it has been awarded a $290 million contract to build the planned AGL Energy-Meridian huge wind farm complex in Macarthur, Victoria.

Erik Pineda Aug 12, 2010

Australia's unemployment rate was a seasonally adjusted 5.3 per cent in July, compared with an unrevised 5.1 per cent in June, according to data issued today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). With the softer job figures, economists predict there will no more interest rate increases this year.

Sharon Olalia Aug 12, 2010

Pay TV operator Foxtel said on Thursday that its operations’ saw a double-digit jump in 2009/10 amidst slow downs in attracting new subscribers for Australia’s biggest cable network.

Erik Pineda Aug 12, 2010

The Westpac Group (ASX:WBC) today announced Greg Bartlett will be retiring as St.George's CEO effective December 2010 after a career of nearly 30 years with the bank.

Sharon Olalia Aug 12, 2010

Phosphagenics is trying to develop an anti-fat drug delivered via the skin, which if successful would offer significant upside according to Southern Cross Equities.

Admin System Aug 12, 2010

Australian department store chain Myer (ASX: MYR) today reported a 0.7 per cent increase in full-year sales and forecast earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to exceed previous guidance.

Sharon Olalia Aug 12, 2010

Power generator AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGK) sealed a deal with New Zealand’s Meridian Energy to build a $1 billion 420 MW wind farm in Victoria, set to commence operation by 2013, according to a Thursday statement furnished by the energy company.

Erik Pineda Aug 12, 2010

Gold futures bounced on demand as a reaction to the Federal Reserve's announcement that the U.S. economy's recovery is not as fast as earlier expected.

Christine Gaylican Aug 12, 2010

Australia's telecommunications giant Telstra (AZX: TLS) today announced a 4.7 per cent decline in full-year net profit and forecast lower earnings in the year ahead.

Sharon Olalia Aug 12, 2010

Giant beverage firm Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (ASX: CCL) announced on Thursday that it has netted high earnings from its first half operations this year, garnering some $212.7 million from the first six months leading to the end June and improving by 12.1 percent from the net profit posted in the previous corresponding year.

Erik Pineda Aug 12, 2010

The Australian bourse is set to dive today after receiving negative leads from offshore trading overnight. Key market indices all plunged, while oil slid and only gold gained among key metals.

Sharon Olalia Aug 12, 2010

Australian airline company Qantas Airways (ASX:QAN) today announced its net profit for the year to June 30 slid 4.3 per cent to $112 million from $117 million in the previous corresponding period.

Sharon Olalia Aug 12, 2010

A delayed reaction to the Fed. Weak Chinese data. Currency concerns in Japan. GDP downgrade in the UK. You name it. Dow down 265. (Locked for subscribers until 10:00 AEST)

Admin System Aug 12, 2010

No wonder the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) says it is cautious about its prospects for the 2011 financial year, despite po...

Admin System Aug 12, 2010

No wonder the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) says it is cautious about its prospects for the 2011 financial year, despite po...

Admin System Aug 12, 2010

More evidence yesterday that China's economy is cooling, despite a rise in consumer price inflation thanks to the surge ...

Admin System Aug 12, 2010

Stockland, Australia's biggest residential property trust, might have stormed back to full-year profit because of inc...

Admin System Aug 12, 2010

The slump in global markets in the June quarter, as well as in Australia, has cut the number of takeovers, global and lo...

Admin System Aug 12, 2010

Even as consumer confidence rises, business confidence and conditions remain weak.The NAB's business confidence and cond...

Admin System Aug 12, 2010

Domestic air fares have increased to their highest level in more than a year, with discount fares more than 5 per cent higher in August.

Sharon Olalia Aug 12, 2010

The World Trade Organisation has publicly released its final ruling, vetoing stringent Australian quarantine rules and allowing the widespread importation of New Zealand apples into Australia.The 598-page ruling was released on Monday, and found that the import risk analysis underpinning Australia's...

Admin System Aug 12, 2010

A New Zealand judge has ruled that shechita kosher slaughter practices in New Zealand can resume until a lawsuit filed against Agriculture Minister David Carter comes to trial, most likely next year.Justice Dennis Clifford of Wellington's High Court confirmed to the Jerusalem Post that the Crown Law...

Admin System Aug 12, 2010

UK grocery retailer Sainsbury's will roll out their "eco-friendly" milk bags and jugs across their milk range, after a successful trial of 2% fat milk bags, which sold at double the expected rate.Sainsbury's said that milk is one of their biggest selling lines. Shoppers are now buying 120,000 semi-s...

Admin System Aug 12, 2010

Fonterra has been forced to publicly defend the quality of its products amid allegations that Chinese customer and infant formula maker Synutra, whom Fonterra supplies, has sold milk powder that has caused premature breast development in three girls.The New Zealand dairy giant yesterday confirmed it...

Admin System Aug 12, 2010