RETAIL/CONSUMER GOODS

Australian retail unexpectedly drops, dollar follows

Australian retail sales slumped 0.5 per cent to a seasonally adjusted $20.46 billion in March from $20.55bn in February and rose from $20bn a year earlier, according to official national figures released today. Economists expected a 0.5 per cent rise in sales for March.
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NY-based KKR buys into leading Vietnam food firm

New York-based global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) has taken a 10 percent interest in Masan Consumer Corp., a leading producer and distributor of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) in Vietnam.

New Apple Store to open in historic Brisbane

An addition to Australia’s largest Apple stores is soon to open in the succeeding months in the city of Brisbane. This is a result of yesterday’s announcement of plans concerning the $10.5 million renovation of historic MacArthur Chambers.

Goodman Fielder knocks profits down on competition, floods

Bread giant Goodman Fielder has announced a reduction in its expected profits following a "soft" third quarter, with businesses affected by retailer competition between Coles and Woolworths, fallout from the floods, commodity costs and the high Australian dollar.

ABF interim results: George Weston ‘disappointing’

Shares in Associated British Foods tumbled in morning trade yesterday after the George Weston and Don/KR Castlemaine parent company cut its full-year profit outlook, despite an improved first-half performance from its sugar and grocery businesses.

SG's Olam Group Bids For Takeover of NZ Farming

Singapore commodities giant Olam International Limited has announced that it has notified NZ Farming Systems Uruguay Limited (NZFSU) of its intention to increase its equity in the company with the offer of NZ$0.70 per share for all of the shares in NZFSU totalling 22 percent.

Australia's KHC reaps key benefits

Staying focused on your daily work to meet deadlines is no mean feat for business owner Ms Kellie Hill, owner and principal consultant at Australia's KHC.

Jetstar to sue Sydney Airport

Australia's Jetstar is preparing to file legal action against the Sydney Airport for its security lapse and causing flight delays and thousands of passengers stranded.

Google's rising operational costs to erode earnings

Google Inc has to deal with the increasing salaries of employees and staff that could further erode strong financials if it does not make the most of advertising revenues from video and display advertising, analysts said.

Australia: Consumer confidence in rural parts high

Consumer confidence in Australia is far higher in the rural areas than those in the urban parts these past two to three months. This has been revealed in the the Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index published today.

How will Asian markets perform in the coming days?

Asian regional markets are mixed in the last hours of trading in Australia, Singapore, and Japan as investors kept a "wait and see" attitude and bearish sentiments spilled from European and U.S. markets.

Australia mulls tough smoking rules

Australia is closely watched by other countries in the Asia-Pacific as to how it will implement a very tough anti-smoking law that seeks to discourage the habit and promote a more healthy lifestyle.

Treasurer Swan not so keen of ASX-SGX merger

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX) has been informed that there is a big possibility that its proposal to $8.4-billion take over the local Australian bourse will be rejected by Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan.

Australia, Singapore: Least Tainted with Corruption--survey

Dealing with the government and private sector in countries Australia and Singapore were perceived to be the least tainted with corruption, a new survey made by Hong Kong-based Political & Economic Risk Consultancy, Ltd.'s (PERC) latest Asian Intelligence report indicated.

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