Sharon Olalia

Toyota unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show its Yaris HSD concept, which represents the first down-sizing of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive® technology.

The government of Western Australia has granted Murchison Metals Ltd (ASX: MMX) and its partner in the Oakajee project, Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd, an extension to the state development agreement (SDA).

A national study by the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) and National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC) will provide the first national data about the treatment received by women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Australia.

Internet giant Google has teamed up with business software vendor MYOB to launch Getting Aussie Business Online, a nationwide initiative to give small businesses a free website. Google and MYOB plan to sign up 50,000 businesses this year.

Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX: LEI), one of Australia’s leading contracting and project development groups, says its subsidiary Leighton Contractors has been awarded a three-year contract extension valued at approximately $225 million by BHP Mitsui Coal Pty Ltd (BMC) to continue contract mining services at the Poitrel mine.

Over 78 per cent of Australian employees would move overseas to pursue a new career opportunity, according to a recent Employee Insights Survey conducted by leading international recruitment consultancy Robert Walters.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) had completed the acquisition of the Integral Energy and Country Energy retail businesses from the NSW State-owned energy network businesses and entered into binding GenTrader arrangements with Eraring Energy.

The Reserve Bank of Australia board has decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 4.75 per cent at its monthly meeting today.

Manufacturing in Australia was back in growth territory in February with the seasonally adjusted Australian Industry Group -PwC Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index ( PMI) rising 4.4 points to 51.1.

Over half of working Australian women aspire to climb the corporate ladder but despite these ambitions, more than a quarter don’t think it will ever happen according to a new survey from Executive Women Australia.

Official figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed an improvement in retail trade in January. However, Australia's current account deficit has worsened.

Despite the impact of the severe weather conditions, Australia has positive prospects for agricultural production and exports, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

Australia’s telco giant Telstra and Hong Kong-based telecom service provider PCCW have completed their Reach restructure. The two announced in January that the international assets in their 50/50 Reach joint venture would be divided between both parties.

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has clarified the treatment of high‑quality liquid assets it will apply when implementing the new global liquidity standard announced by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (Basel Committee) in December 2010.

The Australian government will introduce higher superannuation concessional contribution caps for individuals aged 50 and over, following the release of a discussion paper by the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation Bill Shorten.

Australian company Wesfarmers Ltd (WES) has made a NZ$1 million donation to the Prime Minister’s New Zealand Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

The Australian Bankers' Association (ABA) said there was a low rate of complaints against banks in information released today from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

Mortgage brokers have an opportunity to capitalise on growing momentum within the investor community, according to the latest Mortgage and Finance Association (MFAA) / Bankwest, Home Finance Index.

Equinox Minerals Ltd (TSX and ASX: EQN) says it will make an offer to acquire Lundin Mining Corporation for approximately C$4.8 billion in cash and shares.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard joined Holden employees today to unveil a new generation of Australian-made cars at Holden's Vehicle Operations in Elizabeth, South Australia.

Victoria’s leading transport advocate, RACV, has called on the federal government to ensure that any carbon price for fuel is part of the existing fuel excise.

QBE Insurance, Australia's biggest insurer, reported a net profit after income tax of US$1,278 million, down from US$1,532 million last year.

In its first results since a $4.6 billion privatisation by the Queensland government in November, QR National said revenues in the six months to the end of December rose 18 per cent to $1.75bn from $1.48bn.

Legislation has been introduced to Parliament today to enable internal body scanning technology to be used to stop drug couriers.

Deutsche Bank has pledged NZ$250,000 to support victims in earthquake-affected Christchurch and the surrounding regions in New Zealand.

Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) wants Wesfarmers-owned Coles to explain why it has made a 5 cent a litre price increase as a one-off payment to Western Australian dairy farmers alone.

Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard admitted today that a carbon tax would send electricity prices soaring.

Australia and Switzerland will begin discussions next month to update the existing tax treaty.

The Australian government has introduced legislation to give shareholders unprecedented power over the pay of company directors and executives and strengthen the transparency of Australia's executive remuneration framework.