COMPANIES

Overseas business travel has bounced from the effects of the global financial crisis and is now leading the growth in Western Australia’s inbound tourism numbers in 2010.

Integrated forestry company Gunns Limited (ASX: GNS) today announced the Federal Government had granted the final environmental approvals for the proposed Bell Bay Pulp Mills, estimated to require some $2.5 billion in investments.

Fortune magazine has released their 14th annual World's Most Admired Companies (WMAC) list.

Gearing to expand its niche and establish a multi-brand strategy this year, Westpac Banking Corp has announced plans to revive the Bank of Melbourne in Victoria and spending some $90 million for this undertaking.

The Australian government is keeping its target date in implementing a carbon tax in July 2012 in spite a petition from industry sectors to postpone it.

Breaking up from the other banks appears to be driving a positive customer response and positive momentum in National Australia Bank’s (ASX: NAB) business.

Better trade training wages and conditions are needed to lift apprenticeship completion rates as part of an effective response to the future skills needs of the Australian economy and its workers, and to provide good, fulfilling jobs for young Australians.

National Australia Bank’s (ASX: NAB) direct asset management business, nabInvest, has acquired a 35 per cent interest in AREA Property Partners (AREA), a global real estate fund manager based in New York.

Wesfarmers’ (ASX: WES) Coles today cut the price of breakfast cereals, including some of Australia’s favourite brands. This comes after the supermarket giant sparked the discounting war last month by dropping prices for home brand milk to $1 a litre, and supermarkets, including Woolworths, matched it.

Australia's second largest bank Westpac Banking Corp Ltd (ASX:WBC) has estimated interest rates can go up by 5 percent in the third quarter.

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers had lodged claims with the Federal Magistrates Court in Brisbane on behalf of two former Virgin Blue public relations executives who were forced to take redundancies after confirming that they were pregnant or returning from maternity leave.

Australian mining firm Cape Alumina (ASX: CBU) has announced the good results and drilling potential in its Bauxite Hills mines.

Eight major airlines serving Australian consumers have improved the way they advertise airfares in response to concerns raised by the competition watchdog.

Increased competition in the home loan market, a wider range of variable loan special offers and extended cash rate stability look to be suppressing borrowers’ appetite for fixed rate loans.

Australia's top mining resources firms Rio Tinto and Woodside Petroleum have criticised plans to put a fixed price on carbon emission, without a clear form of compensation or exemption for local businesses and industries.

The Australian Bankers' Association (ABA) has consolidated efforts with the consumers group to protect the public against fraud and other cyber crimes.

Sandfire Resources NL (ASX: SFR) says its board has approved the development of its wholly-owned DeGrussa Copper-Gold Project in Western Australia, subject to completion of a definitive feasibility study and project funding package – both of which are on track to be finalised in Q2 of 2011 (all references in calendar quarters unless otherwise noted).

Abacus Property Group (Abacus) today updated the market on the impact of the recent natural disasters in Queensland and Christchurch, New Zealand.

The Australian Bankers' Association (ABA) said it is vital to the health of the Australian economy that banks apply risk-based pricing in relation to lending to small businesses.

Australia-based coal and minerals giant Rio Tinto says a process is underway to replenish its board, including recognising the desirability of appointing another Australian director after the retirement of two directors.

The bank plan presented to the Federal Government by consumer group Choice is largely a list of actions already undertaken or currently under review, Australian bankers said today.

IKEA stores in Australia have joined a worldwide recall of a glass coffee and tea maker over safety concerns.

Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX: LEI) subsidiary John Holland, in an alliance with GHD and the Public Transport Authority (PTA), has been appointed to deliver the $360 million Perth City Link rail project in the Perth CBD. John Holland expects revenues of $310 million from its share in the alliance.

Sales from Australia's commodity exports are seen growing to $255 billion in the next 12 months to be driven by growing world demand, a report of the Bureau of Agricultural & Resource Economics & Sciences (ABARES) said today.

Australian commuters' daily stress maybe prolonged as production of the commuter trains set to be launched in a month is still hounded by setbacks left and right.

Sales from Australia's commodity exports are seen growing to $255 billion in the next 12 months to be driven by growing world demand, a report of the Bureau of Agricultural & Resource Economics & Sciences (ABARES) said today.

The Australian stock market has indefinitely been derailed by its new system, prompting officers to close the market earlier today.

Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX: LEI), one of Australia’s leading contracting and project development groups, says its subsidiary Leighton Contractors has been awarded a three-year contract extension valued at approximately $225 million by BHP Mitsui Coal Pty Ltd (BMC) to continue contract mining services at the Poitrel mine.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) had completed the acquisition of the Integral Energy and Country Energy retail businesses from the NSW State-owned energy network businesses and entered into binding GenTrader arrangements with Eraring Energy.