COMPANIES

Insurance Australia Group (ASX:IAG), Australia's top home and car insurer, has revised its FY11 insurance margin guidance down to 8 to 10 per cent from 9 per cent to 11 per cent in the wake of the disastrous event in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Australia's latest Bureau of Statistics report on wages showed workers in private companies have had pay increases in the last two quarters.

Is the US economy really on the rise? Are American consumers becoming more gung-hoed and spending on lattes and other luxuries given up during the downturn?

Humanis Group Ltd (ASX: HUM) has entered into a binding share sale agreement with Springsure Mining Pty Ltd in which Humanis will acquire approximately 49 per cent of the issued capital of Springsure.

The Virgin Blue Group of Airlines (ASX: VBA) has ceased services to the New Zealand city of Christchurch today in the aftermath of the earthquake that has caused wide-spread damage.

Vix Technology, which manages the technology for metcard and numerous international transport ticketing systems, has offered the Victorian government a replacement for myki that will not cost taxpayers or government an extra cent.

Australia's third largest mining firm Rio Tinto has announced that production at its coastal operations in the Pilbara region continue to be hampered by ongoing weather issues associated with Tropical Cyclones (TC) Dianne and Carlos, that are likely to impact on shipped tonnage for the first quarter of this year.

Hundreds of people have gathered on the Sydney Harbour foreshore to welcome massive ocean liners as they arrived today. Cunard’s newest ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth, arrived in Sydney for the first time this morning, following her larger sister, Queen Mary 2.

Increasing energy prices are impacting on businesses and the community, according to an Australian Industry Group report released today.

Recovering Japanese visitor numbers are prompting Air New Zealand (NZE: AIR) to operate Boeing 747-400 aircraft on the Tokyo route following five years of absence.

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) boss Andrew Forrest will appeal the shock ruling on Friday by the Federal Court that could lead to him being banned as a company director for breaching the Corporations Act.

A 43-year-old Burleigh Waters man has been charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for importing 1.3 kilograms of gamma butyrolactone (GBL).

Caltex Australia Ltd (ASX:CTX), Australia’s only listed oil refiner, today announced an after tax profit of $318 million on a replacement cost of sales operating profit (RCOP) basis for the 2010 full year, excluding the impact of significant items of approximately $16 million after tax.

Australia's second biggest oil and gas producer Woodside Petroleum Ltd, has reported a 7 percent increase in profits to $1.58 billion in 2010 attributing it to high prices and record output at its North West Shelf natural gas project.

Australian businesses and households are urged to prepare for escalating electricity and gas prices beginning next year as the country struggles for environmental concerns.

Another US- based market operator BATS Global Markets has entered a definitive agreement to acquire another market trader Chi-X Europe to create the largest pan-European trading centre in terms of market share and notional value traded.

Passengers of Virgin Blue Airlines were distraught yesterday as about 150 flights were significantly delayed in key cities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, as a power outage caused its data centre to breakdown.

TELSTRA has announced it will shift its focus on online marketing and plans to open a new bath of 100 retail stores adding to the existing 300 allover the country.

Top global miner BHP Billiton is still keen on new mergers and acquisitions in the near term as changes tend to unwind in the world mining industry.

Businesses have continued to reap the benefits of an improvement in consumer spending, according to the latest Commonwealth Bank Business Sales Indicator (BSI) released today.

Milk price facts are not in line with claims of Wesfarmers-owned (ASX: WES) Coles, according to dairy farmers in Australia.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has joined in the fray of the escalating bank war in the country as it announced on Friday that customers switching from the National Bank of Australia (NAB) to them are poised to benefit from cash incentives and discounts.

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) has been cleared on 18 charges brought against the company and its subsidiary company, The Pilbara Infrastructure (TPI) by the WorkSafe WA.

Popular internet auction site eBay said on Friday that as more Australians turn on online shopping, the country’s web-based retailers are experiencing growth while delivering services required by consumers who have little time for traditional purchases.

With its prepaid credit recharge system experiencing a downtime much of the whole day on Thursday, Vodafone was forced to resort on providing free calls and text services to its prepaid customers yesterday.

Sony has brought its unlimited music streaming service in Australia and New Zealand, launching on Friday its Music Unlimited that opens the door for accessing more than six million songs from its wide-ranging catalogue.

The Australian Parliament is implored to veer away from its "populist approach on economic and other business policies especially on taxation that have been discouraging to both local businesses and foreign investors alike.

Energy and mining projects of Australian companies, including that of the Rio Tinto Group Group and Woodside Petroleum Ltd and Fortescue Mining, are threatened by two cyclones headed north of the country, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

The Australian Union Movement has thrown its support behind a campaign to improve wages, conditions and workplace rights at Rio Tinto's aluminium operations in Australia.