COMPANIES

The Australian Parliament would likely change its tact on carbon emissions in the next three years.

Air New Zealand Ltd decried the recent decision of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to block the carrier’s proposed alliance with Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd, emphasising that the competition watchdog’s move is a threat to its existence.

Utility investment firm Spark Infrastructure Group (ASX: SKI) said on Wednesday that it has launched capital raising of up to $295 million that the company would utilise in paying off debts of up to $200 million and fund its $85 million equity investments.

Australia's third largest lender by market value, Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. was sued by 27,000 customers seeking to recoup about A$50 million ($48 million) of bank charges.

High-end retailer David Jones Ltd (ASX: DJS) has withstood tough times this year as the company reported on Wednesday that despite consumers’ tentative shopping behaviour and the dwindling benefits from fiscal stimulus to households, it still managed to register record profit for fiscal 2010.

Inspite of a four percent drop in its annual profit, Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV) expects improvement in the retail environment.

BP Solar is partnering with Verve Energy as the lead contractor to build Australia's largest ever grid-connected solar power plant, a 10 megawatt (MW) utility scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Western Australia.

Oil and gas explorer Bow Energy Ltd (ASX: BOW) said on Tuesday that negotiations for strategic partnership with Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd has bogged down and so is the possibility that the two firms would collaborate on the planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Gladstone, Queensland.

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX:ANZ) announced today it will commence lending and banking operations in China on October 1 after its wholly owned subsidiary Australia and New Zealand Bank (China) Company Ltd received regulatory approval.

Forecasts of a rise in mango exports could be affected by the collapse of a company that owns a mango farm in Western Australia.

Power generator Alinta Energy Group (ASX: AEJ) said on Monday that it has struck a deal with its lenders that would see the company’s $3.5 billion debt being wiped out by sale of its assets to a company controlled by the lending consortium.

Investment bank Nomura Australia released a report showing the strong capability to face funding and liquidity issues.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Tasmania is mulling the possibility of re-consolidating the state’s power generators in hopes of rationalising the region’s energy business following the spiralling electricity costs seen in the state lately.

Australia's Future Fund expanded its portfolio by investing in U.S. hedge funds and developed markets in the 2009 – 2010 financial year.

Energy firm New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) said on Tuesday that it still netted significant profit despite the substantial earnings slide it saw during the past full year as coal productions and exports of the company reached new heights for the year while sale of a major asset ensured its profitability.

Insurance Australia Group Limited (ASX: IAG) may have posted a slump in its profits last year, but it was still able to give the chief executive a raise.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) proposal for telecommunications giant Telstra Corporation Limited (ASX: TLS) to lower its price will send ripples.

Retirement village Aevum Limited (ASX: AVE) seems to be close to hoisting up the white flag when its board of directors reluctantly recommended last night investors to accept offer from Stockland Corporation Limited (ASX: SGP).

Superannuation guardian Future Fund posted a 10.6 percent return for the financial year

Uranium explorer Toro Energy Ltd (ASX: TOE) said on Monday that it is nearing the realisation of its uranium mine site following the approval granted by Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on the company’s scoping document for its Wiluna project.

With more banks expressing willingness to settle the Storm Financial questions left behind by its collapse in 2008, a consumer group also expressed happiness that a resolution for investors affected by the meltdown may finally be in sight.

The lawyer for the families suing giant mining firm Xstrata over the alleged high-level of lead poisonings in Mount Isa, Queensland said over the weekend that the company’s pronouncements for a hasty resolution in the case last week were nothing but lip service.

Cost-conscious consumers are opening their wallets to items sold at charity clothing shop Saint Vincent de Paul.

The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) keeps options open on a possible equity issue even if it pushes through with the $4.3 billion purchase of a controlling stake in Korean Exchange Bank (KEB).

Firmly convinced that its planned alliances were crucial for growth, embattled Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX: VBA) said over the weekend that it is bent on arguing its case with government regulators to finally win their approval on the proposed partnerships with US and New Zealand airlines.

QUEENSLAND Treasurer Andrew Fraser gave the nod to the four to five billion dollar-plus Queensland Rail (QR) National float.

Customer care and special field services provider Service Stream Limited (ASX: SSM) is seen as a very likely participant in the National Broadband Network project.

The competition watchdog has blocked Sydney Airport Corporation Ltd's proposal to raise fees for regional airlines that operate from Australia's national gateway because it could not show that costs had increased enough to warrant the rise.

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) has announced on Friday that it has started talks on special resolution scheme with its depositors who were also clients of Storm Financial and saw their savings wiped out when the investment company went under.