Christine Gaylican

Australian farm chemicals manufacturer Nufarm (NUF.AX) is still confident it can record higher profits after its sales performance hit new lows in its key subsidiaries.

The commodities futures market has shown a strong, steady performance despite the existing global market volatilities, which analysts said were still part of the crisis aftershocks.

His entrepreneurial spirit will not be put down easily, not by a technical glitch or by any other trouble at hand. Billionaire Richard Branson launched his latest space tourism project amidst a flight technical glitch that grounded his airline company Virgin Blue.

After almost two days of a computer system glitch, Virgin Blue CEO Richard Branson had to personally apologise to customers/passengers for the chaotic delays.

A steadily growing Australian economy would likely call for tighter monetary policy entailing two interest rate increases in 2011, the futures market has anticipated based on the Reserve Bank of Australia's economic outlook.

Dark pool trading may see more light in the Australian trading floor as demand is seen to be picking up along side in Europe.

BHP Billiton has found new tough rival in China's Sinochem Group as it bids for Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc., reports said.

The New Zealand government has put some necessary brakes on its policy allowing foreigners to own tracts of farmlands in the country.

New Zealand's retail stores have a common reaction of a cautiously moderate spending in the forthcoming Fall 2010 shopping towards the Christmas season would further boost up sales.

Kathmandu Holdings Ltd., a clothing and outdoor equipment retailer listed in theAustralian and New Zealand Stock Exchanges (ASX/NSX:KMD) has reversed a slack in its shares performance and recorded an uptick of 1cent to NZ$1.78 as at the 5 p.m. market close in Wellington today and a 1.84 percent hike to A$1.385 earnings per share in Sydney.

Australia's second largest retail holdings firm Wesfarmers Ltd.reported a net profit after tax of $1,565 million for the full-year ended 30 June 2010. This was an increase of 2.8 percent compared to last year.

Leighton Contractors has been awarded a contract by Chevron Australia to deliver the civil and underground works package for the Gorgon Project valued at more than $800 million, the company said in an issued statement today.

The improving global economic environment is clearly shown in the renewed optimism of some 1,904 executives who are expecting to rake in higher profits in the near term, according to the latest results of the McKinsey survey released this month.

Children's wear retailer and exporter Pumpkin Patch Ltd said full-year profits rose 76 percent as the company cut expenditures to compensate for falling sales.

The wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is beginning to improve as the financial reforms have begun to take shape in the last six months.

New Zealand's domestic economic growth has been hampered by the low agricultural production in the second quarter, which could put more pressure on the central bank to keep borrowing rates unchanged.

Australia has raised its commodity exports target this fiscal year as larger demand for coal, iron ore, and wool are now at its record high assuring higher prices for domestic exporters.

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

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.

The Australian currency is expected to continue its rally over the near term especially if the Reserve Bank of Australia decides to raise the interest rates.

AGL Energy Ltd plans to spend A$10 billion ($9 billion) building renewable production capacity by 2020 in line with Australia's quest to source a fifth of its power needs from alternative sources.

The Australian and New Zealand currencies managed to pare losses in today's trading as investors thrived on confidence that the Japanese government will soon intervene to strengthen the yen.

New Zealand retail sales has risen four times more than analysts have estimated in the second quarter, which would give more room for central bank Governor Alan to keep raising interest rates.

Financial Services Minister Chris Bowen has put up a new challenge to the Coalition as the latter had been explicitly against the government's plan to increase the SG to bridge the foreseen $695 billion lacking funds.

Gold futures bounced on demand as a reaction to the Federal Reserve's announcement that the U.S. economy's recovery is not as fast as earlier expected.

S&P/ASX200-listed Aevum Ltd. rose in Sydney trading after the Australian retirement village operator turned down an A$266-million ($242 million) unsolicited buyout proposal from its biggest shareholder, Stockland.

Wages have accelerated in New Zealand as exports picked up at a faster and stronger pace.

Rio Tinto has advanced to the next stage of developing its world-class Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, approving US$170 million of further funding for mine, rail and port infrastructure work.

The Australian dollar responded positively to reports that the Asian economic growth is resilient enough.