Christine Gaylican

A new study by the APRA (Australian Prudential Regulation Authority) has identified a huge discrepancy between the paid fees by superannuation retail funds and those paid for funds not-for-profit, indicating that retail fees show generation of revenues rather than actual expenses.

The Townsville port is on the cusp of experiencing growth in its iron ore shipments, with the first shipment of two trial batches set to leave the port tomorrow bound for China’s Beilun Port, near Shanghai.

NQBP Corp (North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation), the government owned construction firm, has announced plans of exploring the viability of building a new Dudgeon Point export terminal, granting rights to Adani Group, an Indian construction firm, to head the project.

The government of West Australia has approved the firing up of three coal-based power stations, prompting the antagonism of environment groups.

Due to large amounts of rainfall this May, farmers of New South Wales are expecting some record-breaking harvest amounts for this winter, the NSW government has said.

A sluggish morning trading affected Australia's stock market S&P/ASX 200 Index as it declined 0.3 percent to 4,397.50 as of 12:48 p.m. in Sydney. New Zealand's NZX 50 Index shed off 0.3 percent to 3,004.56 in Wellington.

DuluxGroup Limited has performed solidly on its own in its ASX (Australian Securities Exchange) debut on Monday.

The total value of charge and credit card transactions, plus advances, posted at $19.631 billion last May, according to figures released by the RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia) on Monday.

Morgan Stanley has foreseen that Australia's four largest bank institutions are about to flood the market with bond sales as they seek to refinance notes and fund lending initiatives, which in turn will push costs for the most indebted.

India's biggest coal importer, the Adani Group, was picked to develop an export fuel facility in Australia, reports said.

The first day of the week has not been well for the Australian currency because it traded lower from its three-week high. The Australian dollar and NZ currency faltered as speculations of economic recovery again spooked the market.

Asian stocks rose, led by Japanese exporters and commodity producers. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.2 percent at 116.46 as of 1:03 p.m. in Tokyo, extending a two-day, 2.6 percent rally.

The ARA (Australian Retailers Association) has given out a warning to retailers to speed up the new award salary payments, as the Fair Work Ombudsman starts its rounds on randomly picked stores across Australia.

Australian pharmaceutical firm, Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd., that has lost more than half its market value this year, said it is willing to work a better deal with Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd. to have a better offer.

Australia's S&P/ASX200 was little changed at 4,396.40 as of 10:41 a.m. in Sydney. New Zealand's NZX 50 Index was little changed at 3,005.38 in Wellington.

Macquarie Bank has announced the release of a new mortgage-based plan intended for borrowers that plan to make use of mortgage as a part of wealth development strategy.

Australia’s surfing RTW retailer, Billabong has announced plans of acquiring a California-based “progressive” clothing label, RVCA, for an amount yet to be disclosed.

Tony Abbott, leader of the Australian opposition, has vowed to establish an Ombudsman for small businesses and family enterprises if he wins the coming National Elections.

The Opposition has called for an official inquiry regarding the administration’s dumped Green Loans plan, which was intended to make Australian homes more energy efficient.

Shares of the S&P/ASX 200-listed company Santos rose significantly at 8.5 percent in Sydney trading after reports Royal Dutch Shell Plc may buy a stake in the venture.

The first ever coal-seam project for Gladstone may only be fictitious, but Santos claims it’s already put in consolidation.

Gloucester Coal of Australia intends to raise equity to buy shares in coal mines from its loading shareholder, Singaporean-owned Noble Group, the most recent on a series of deals in the growing coal industry.

The Australian dollar is likely headed to its biggest gain in nine months as the global economic recovery gradually picks up and investors gobble up higher-yielding assets.

Coal India Ltd., the world's largest producer, is now more keen in using a proposed sovereign fund to buy mines abroad that can supply the equivalent of 8 percent of domestic output as energy demand rises, a government official said.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she is amenable to discuss a disputed natural gas project in East Timor to gain support for asylum seekers.

BHP Billiton-Mitsubishi Alliance and Prime Infrastructure Group shut berths at two terminals of the Hay Point port, the world's biggest export harbor for coal, to carry out planned maintenance.

National Australia Ltd.'s bid for AXA Asia Pacific Holdings faces a new setback as the regulator shelved its decision until September.

Auckland International Airport Ltd. will invest NZ$27.7 million ($19 million) buying a 25 percent stake in Queenstown Airport, which has the nation's fourth-largest number of international visitors.

A renewed optimism from U.S.-based consumers provided a boost to the trading of Australian and New Zealand dollars in New York at the day's closing.