BUSINESS

Analysts are predicting that the economy would modestly grow in the second half of 2010 following the decline of a leading index, which predicts the possible pace of economic activity from three to nine months ahead.

Australian mining group Rio Tinto receives an environmental approval to develop its Kennecott Eagle nickel and copper mine project.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has successfully appointed Chris Rodwell as the Trade Commissioner to the Americas.

A stock analyst remarked today that Westfarmers' decision to raise their concerns to its shareholders about the resources super profits tax is a “political move.”

Australians are ignoring forecasts of the Reserve Bank that another interest rates may occur in the next few weeks as they continue to buy real estate properties.

The consumer regulator told media on Wednesday that the penalties thrown against Singapore Telecommunications Ltd's (SingTel) Australian subsidiary Optus for airing misleading advertising are insufficient.

Aquila Resources Ltd is fighting anew with its Brazilian partner, Vale and this time the two companies are in dispute over the approval of part of their proposed 2010/11 budget to start the construction of their Eagle Downs coal joint venture in Queensland.

The Australian bond market fired off with a steady pace on Tuesday following mixed signals from the US and as the market awaits the release of Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) minutes on the same day.

Mitsubishi Corporation forged an agreement with Buru Energy Ltd to farm-in on the company’s Canning Superbasin project in Western Australia and is set to invest up to $152.4 million in exploration and development expenditures.

House prices in Perth are expected to rise sharply over the next three years, faster than any other capital city in Australia, experts had predicted.

House prices in Perth are expected to rise sharply over the next three years, faster than any other capital city in Australia, experts had predicted.

Creditors of Australia's largest cotton farm, Cubbie Station, will vote today on the bids of two foreign groups to restructure the debt-ridden farm.

Transport operator Asciano Group announced it has secured a contract that will add more than $775 million in revenue over a period of ten years with Anglo American Metallurgical Coal Pty.

The Northern Territory Department of Resources said it is investigating an unleaded fuel leak at the Rio Tinto Alcan mine.

Majority of Australian homeowners are holding on to the idea that more rate hikes would come their way, brushing aside Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision this June to pause for any upward movements with comforting assurance that the cash rates have so far reached their ideal level for now.

AVJennings Ltd said on Friday that it is cooking up a deal to sell the company’s contract building division to Sekisui House Ltd of Japan for roughly $18.5 million but would retain ownership and continued use of its brandname for further development operations.

Environmental services company CO2 Group Ltd announced it will expand its operations into New Zealand in June of this year.

The receivers of the bankrupt retailer Clive Peeters will close six stores out of its 44 location sites as the company is in preparation for sale. The closure will affect at least 75 jobs.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd continues his quest on promoting the proposed resources super profits tax and heads to central Queensland to gain support.

A report from the National Water Commission about its water trading in the Murray-Darling Basin showed that the practice enabled farmers to survive the drought, however, certain restrictions have prevented irrigators from utilizing the full value of their water allocations.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd has announced Thursday that it has been granted tax concessions by the Thai government for its new processing plant at the company’s flagship Chatree gold mine in Thailand.

Power distributor Australian Power $ Gas said on Thursday that it has signed a three-year electricity supply deal with a major generator for its entry to the Queensland energy market as it increased forecast for customer growth and announced the availability of convertible note facility to be used for raising funds.

Orbital Corporation Ltd has announced Thursday that volatile situations in the global equity markets have prompted the company to back down from its planned capital raising, adding that the proposed acquisition of an alternative fuel system business would be withdrawn for now.

Receiver McGrathNicol Ltd has announced plans to sell the Great Southern Ltd's entire blue gum forestry estate, with initial bids expected in late July.

Australian banks have defended their penalty fees which are taken from late payments and overdue accounts of their customers.

Mineral sand developer Matilda Zircon will halts exploration on Cape York in Northern Queensland, following the Queensland Government's wild river legislation.

An Australian hedge fund manager will file a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Goldman Sachs for losing money in mortgage-linked securities sold by the investment bank.

Challenger Wine Trust (CWT) said today that the value of its vineyard properties would decline by up to nine percent, blaming an oversupply of wine flooding the market and consequently pulling down grape prices.

A Tasmanian mining firm disclosed on Thursday that talks with the Government over the 40 per cent mining profit tax were productive.