COMPANIES

Toyota has been confirmed as the best-selling automotive brand in Australia in 2010 as the local new-vehicle market cracked one million sales for only the third time.

The Queensland disaster has urged analysts to review Australian major insures as flood claims take its toll. The industry as a whole could face up to $1 billion in losses, according to preliminary estimates.

Australia's top soft drinks bottler Coca-Cola Amatil (ASX: CCL) said severe floods and lower consumer demand had hurt its second half earnings.

Resources sector service provider NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX:NWH) has been awarded a $35 million contract extension by a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO), Simfer SA.

Iron-ore miner Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX:FMG) has appointed Neville Power as its new chief operating officer.

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) has defended claims that it spent less on funding costs in 2010 than in 2009, and called an analysis by the Australian Institute "simplistic," The Australian Financial Review reported.

Australia's national carrier Qantas Airways is set to announce this week the resumption of its Airbus A380 flights to Los Angeles from January 17, The Australian Financial Review said on Wednesday in an unsourced report.

Macarthur Coal (ASX:MCC) has downgraded its profit guidance again as the flood crisis in Queensland continues to significantly impact mines in the state.

Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has completed the sale of a 61 per cent interest in Alcan Engineered Products (AEP) to a number of investment funds.

Coal to supermarkets conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) says full-year sales from its Curragh coal mine in Queensland may be as much as 11 percent lower than a previous forecast after heavy rains disrupted operations.

ANZ Banking Group Ltd's (ASX:ANZ) failed bid for Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) has broadened its outlook on the potential for expansion in northern Asia, The Australian has reported.

Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX:WPL) said it has suspended production at oil fields off the Western Australian coast after gale force winds on Saturday showed signs of developing into a cyclone.

Building and construction materials group Boral Ltd (ASX:BLD) remains bullish on the US market.

Eastland Medical Systems Ltd (ASX:EMS) says its non-executive director Michael Stewart remains committed to the company even after disposing 6.67 million shares in the medical products firm just before Christmas.

Resource giant Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) could find itself working with some new partners at its Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, according to the Australian Financial Review.

National carrier Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX:QAN) is looking to build a $300 million commercial jet biofuel plant in Sydney with US bioenergy company Solena.

Suncorp Group Ltd has reassured investors it has a reinsurance program to deal with the fallout from Queensland's flood.

Global miner BHP Billiton has confirmed a A$1 million donation to the Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal to assist with Queensland flood relief efforts.

Floods in Queensland have brought transportation of grains by rail and road to a halt, GrainCorp Ltd (ASX:GNC), the country's largest grain handler said on Monday.

Giant global resource firm BHP Billiton Ltd is aiming to sustain the remarkable growth seen on its petroleum division over the past year and prowling the market for possible acquisition target is its way of further ramping up production outlook for some years ahead.

Qantas Airways Ltd's (ASX: QAN) budget airline Jetstar has hinted it could further expand in Singapore and New Zealand this year as it forecasts opportunities in the region to grow, The Australian reported.

Investors jittery of the volatile equity markets appear to increasingly train their attention on an unlikely but viable investment vehicle.

Sara Lee Corp. (NYSE: SLE) said has agreed to sell its White King and Janola cleaning products business to Australia-based detergent maker Symex Holdings (ASX: SYM) for 37.9 million euros.

The heavy rains and flooding currently denuding much of Queensland would definitely impact on QR National Ltd’s earnings but the rail operator is holding back its estimates until actual assessments are checked in.

Mermaid Marine Australia Ltd (MMA) (ASX:MRM) has won a contract to provide supply base services to Chevron Australiain in support of the energy giant's exploration and production drilling activities off the North West Shelf and ongoing production facilities on Thevenard Island.

Retail Food Group Ltd (ASX:RFG) says it had reached a conditional agreement to acquire the New Zealand master franchise business for the Esquires Coffee Houses franchise system.

China’s decision to reduce its export quota of rare earths boosted Lynas Corp’s prospect in the international market for the priced minerals and pushed up the emerging producer’s shares value in Australian market by at least 13 percent.

Property firm Goodman Group Ltd (ASX:GMG) and partners, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, the All Pensions Group and the China Investment Corporation have made their formal bid for the ING Industrial Fund (ASX: IIF).

Indian firm Tata Steel is ready to work with any firm poised to acquire coal miner Riversdale Mining Ltd, where the giant South Asian steel company holds a 24 percent interest.