BUSINESS

In contrast to the lower result from Telstra, Singapore Telecommunications said yesterday that Optus' net profit was up...

Coca-Cola Amatil says it made a record net profit in the six months to June, thanks to price rises which helped offset...

Australian unemployment rose to 5.3% yesterday in something of a surprise, but the Australian Bureau of Statistics has r...

JetBlue shares are trading 4.35% lower at $6.15. This depite the 8.3 % rise in July Traffic, compared to the same month last year.

* Australia's beef industry has consistently reduced emissions intensity for producing beef since 1990* Continued R&D aims to find ways to further reduce emissions while increasing productivityMeat and Livestock Australia (MLA) this week announced that the Australian beef industry has achieved a...

According the recently released 2010 Wider Beverages Report by leading market information company Nielsen? the latest trends in the Australian beverage marketreflects a world where people are spending more on their favourite beverages but overall consuming less.The report reviews the wider beverage...

Danone has refuted claims from Russian grocery retailer Seventh Continent that it has increased its wholesale prices in the country by up to 31%.The French food giant confirmed there had been an increase but not to the extent claimed by Seventh Continent."Danone has increased prices for its products...

Rob Chapman chief executive of BankSA has been appointed by Westpac as a replacement for outgoing St. George chief executive Greg Bartlett.Westpac which acquired St. George in 2008 for $15 billion announced on Friday that Mr. Bartlett would be retiring from his position as chief executive of St. Geo...

Australian banking major, CBA may become the first lender to raise its interest rates independently of the Reserve Bank of Australia.In justifying its decision, the lender said that its net interest margin was under pressure from higher costs.CBA, which this week reported the highest ever profits fo...

Consumers in Australia expect a slight decline in inflation, according to survey results issued today by the Melbourne Institute.

Shares in building products maker James Hardie Industries (ASX:JHX) slumped to their lowest in a year after the company announced its outlook remained uncertain.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)