COMPANIES

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

Motorola Solutions announced the launch of three new video solutions: Realtime Video Intelligence (RTVI), Optimized Video Security and ALT1000 Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Surveillance Trailer at the 2010 International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference.

Military vehicle manufacturer Thales Australia announced on Tuesday that it would have to let go a hundred workers before Christmas, blaming the job cuts to the high-flying Aussie dollar and reduced manufacturing contracts secured by the company.

Boosted by strong indications of investors support, Foster’s Group planned demerger of its wine businesses and brewery operations appeared to be picking up steam as the company declared that once shareholder gives the green light, the separation could be realised by the first half of 2010.

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.

Leighton Contractors, a wholly owned subsidiary of Australia's largest construction company Leighton Holdings Limited (ASX: LEI), has been awarded $670 million worth of new road work.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) has warned significantly higher funding costs will impact banks in the short to medium term underscoring the challenge ahead for the deposit deficient sector.

Australia must prepare as early as now for the end of the mining boom or else feel the wrath of internal and external pressures on the monetary and fiscal situation of the country, Reserve Bank Governor Mr. Glenn Stevens said today.

With the release of its first of a series of issues papers, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) today signalled it intends to shake up the Numbering Plan, which sets out the rules for the use and administration of telephone numbers in the country.

Russell Balding has announced his departure as CEO of Sydney Airport in early 2011 at the conclusion of his employment contract.

Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has reported that the limited train movement of the west line track near Wodonga has resumed its run this morning, 6am, Sydney time.

Leighton Holdings Limited (ASX: LEI) today said it will be making an application to the Takeovers Panel seeking a declaration of unacceptable circumstances and consequent orders in relation to the proposed takeover bid by Spanish company Actividades des Construcción y Servicios' (ACS) for Leighton's German parent Hochtief AG.

A sense of urgency to pay down home loans ahead of rate hikes combined with low personal savings is seeing many Australians embrace credit cards as a means of meeting everyday expenses, new data suggest.

Rio Tinto Ltd's (ASX:RIO) would still pursue its planned Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold project in Mongolia despite some strain with Canadian partner Ivanhoe Mines.

Chi-X Global Inc. is still set to work towards launching in March 2011, in spite the growing threat of a tougher competitive environment with the bid takeover of the Singaporean bourse of rival ASX Ltd.

Canadian Equinox Minerals Limited (TSX and ASX: EQN) ("Equinox") has announced that it has completed an agreement Australia's Resource Group Limited (ASX:CGG) ("Citadel"), under which Equinox proposes to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Citadel by way of a recommended takeover offer (the "Offer"). The Board of Citadel has recommended unanimously that Citadel shareholders accept the Offer, in the absence of a superior proposal.

The Singapore Stock Exchange is set to offer some A$8.4 billion deal to Australia's ASX that targets to build one of the biggest exchange trading hubs in the Asia-Pacific as competition stiffens in the local arena.

Toyota Australia decided on a recall after all, as the carmaker revealed on late Friday that it was going along with its parent company’s announcement in Japan of up to 1.5 million vehicle recalls across the globe.

Another player emerged in the ongoing Channel Ten share market swing drama as a note lodged to the Australian Securities Exchange on Friday showed that Birketu Pty Ltd moved to increased its stake on Ten Network Holdings Ltd (ASX: TEN)

Farmer-Shareholders of food producer SunRice are seriously considering the $600-million offer of Spanish firm Ebro Foods.

BHP Billiton Ltd chairman Jac Nasser is upbeat that, despite the heightening currency and global trade disputes, emerging markets from across the world have shown significant and exciting growth prospect.

Amazon Web Services LLC (AWS) announced that developers and businesses will be able to take advantage of a new free usage tier for a full year.

More stringent auditing requirements for self-managed super funds (SMSFs) foreshadowed in the Cooper Review will needlessly increase costs, the national accounting firm Chan & Naylor argued on Friday.

The chain of recall issues that Toyota has been facing this year appears yet to be broken as the world’s number one carmaker announced this week that up to 1.5 million car models need to be rechecked for possible brake system failure.

Nokia revealed to its employees that it plans to accelerate its transformation and increase effectiveness. Nokia's plans will directly result to the laying of an estimated 1, 800 employees globally.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will look into the recent purchase of billionaire Mr. James Packer's acquisition of an 18% stake in Ten Network Holdings Ltd. (ASX: TEN.AU).

comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) announced that it will offer free participation in Media Metrix 360 to online publishers in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Foreign and local pension funds are eyeing Australian infrastructure projects as safe investments that could create good rates of return, the Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc said.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) scored on Thursday a media report suggesting that the company’s declared Solomon Project cost overshot by almost $US2 billion, arguing that the news article was based on an incomplete and confidential document.