RETAIL/CONSUMER GOODS

The Westfield Group (ASX:WDC), Australia's largest shopping mall landlord, has taken the e-commerce plunge with the launch of Westfield.com.au - an online mall for Aussie consumers.

A jostle for stability and sustainable growth had been the direction of Australian businesses whether big or small in the last nine months, two separate research surveys conducted by the Westpac Banking Corp. and the National Australia Bank had shown.

Australia's logistics and supply chain management solutions provider Brambles (ASX: BXB) has announced its bid to acquire IFCO Systems NV for $US1.255 million ($1.27 million) to expand the company's supply chain business in the US and Europe.

Andrew Thomas, owner of the "XSport Games" trademark, lost his infringement case launched by media giant ESPN Inc against him and is now prohibited from organising and staging the sports spectacle anytime soon.

Continuing its expansion in Tasmania, grocery giant Woolworths Ltd (ASX: WOW) on Friday said it now has a new distribution centre in the state.

Fairfax Media intends to cash it on its popular news websites The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald to further propel revenues in the near term.

Krispy Kreme Australia will close down 21 stores across the country (15 stores in NSW, five in Victoria and one in Queensland) as part of restructuring efforts to meet financial obligations.

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission will carefully scrutinise the proposed takeover of ASX Ltd. by Singapore Exchange Ltd.

Two of Australia's major banks, Westpac Banking Corporation and the National Australia Bank (NAB) are seen following its two competitors in implementing higher interest rates after government authorities tighten up on exit fees.

Bega Cheese has bought a $22 million or equivalent to 15 percent stake in the Victorian dairy company Warrnambool Cheese and Butter (WCB).

Consumer confidence in Australia skidded to a five-month low as family finances became tighter due to rising mortgage fees, following the interest rate adjustments early this month.

Orica (ASX: ORI), the world's top maker of explosives for mines today announced a net profit after tax and individually material items of $1,319 million for the full year ended 30 September 2010, up $777 million on the previous year.

Paint, adhesives and garden care products supplier DuluxGroup Ltd (ASX:DLX) today posted $61.289 million net profit for the its first year as a standalone entity in fiscal 2010 and said it expects profit to grow further.

Travelers flying on Qantas Air will experience delays as the company shuffles its fleet to cover the grounded A380s, Qantas spokesman Simon Rushton said.

Qantas Airways Ltd. and engine makers Rolls-Royce Group Plc with Airbus SAS have started an investigation of the malfunctioning plane engine that put 459 people in danger yesterday.

A Qantas A380 plane has been forced to fly back to Singapore's Changi Airport after pilots found one of its engines malfunctioning and were forced to shut down.

Australian retailers are increasingly concerned of the sector's persistent weakness even during traditional shopping periods.

Strativity Group, a leading provider of customer experience services, today announced it has opened an office in Sydney to support growing interest from Australian and New Zealand organisations in adopting customer-centric approaches and proactively managing their customer experiences.

Mining firm Xstrata Plc has increased its offer price for iron ore developer Perth-based Sphere Minerals Ltd (SPH.AU) to $3 a share and declared the offer best and estimated at $514 million.

The Westfield Group has announced that a retail trust would separately be created and listed to raise A$3.5 billion in capital.

Westpac Banking Corp.'s second-half earnings hit a high of $3.47 billion ($3.47 billion) in the six months ending Sept. 30, as against the $1.27 billion a year earlier.

Network Ten (TEN.AU), has announced that it would restructure the composition of its Board of Directors as concerns of competitive disruptions arose recently with the entrance of James Packer and possible co-investor Mr. Lachlan Murdoch into the company.

The Australian stock market is gathering mixed leads in today's trading day as the last-minute decline in the Wall Street trading will have some influence, but analysts are more optimistic.

International fast-fashion brand Zara is among stores anticipated to arrive as the Westfield Group opened the first stage of the $1.2 billion Westfield Sydney development today with 130 fashion and food specialty stores.

Lachlan Murdoch is reported to be seeking half of James Packer's new stake in Network Ten (ASX: TEN.AU).

ANZ Banking Group plans to spend $250 million to increase its stake in Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank (SRCB).

Amazon.com launched Amazon Windowshop, an application specifically tailored to the iPad. It is a complete rewrite of Amazon.com.

A mixed performance of global stocks is seen to create a bearish mood in the Australian stock markets today.

The Australian Banana Growers' Council (ABGC) called on retailers to ensure consumers reap the benefits of an abundance of bananas from major production areas by cutting off price of the fruit.