Sharon Olalia

Global miner Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has set a new quarterly production record at 65 million tonnes and a new annual record at 239 million tonnes.

National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB) has pledged $150,000 to the Red Cross Victorian Floods Appeal to assist Victorians affected by the floods.

Equinox Minerals Ltd (ASX:EQN) says it has successfully completed its $1.25 billion friendly takeover of Citadel Resource Group Ltd (ASX:CGG), which owns a copper mine in Saudi Arabia.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX:NHC) says its Queensland coal mines are back in operation, though the state's floods have inflicted significant damage to a major rail link.

Fortescue Metals (ASX: FMG), Australia's third-biggest iron ore miner, says ore shipments jumped 9 percent in the December quarter from a year earlier as it continues with its expansion plans in Australia.

Woolworths (ASX: WOW) has reached a current total donation of $10 million for the Salvation Army flood appeal, with three shopping days still to go.

Rafa Nadal begins his quest on Tuesday to equal a 42-year-old record and holding all four Slams at the same time. Nadal is currently world number one and holds the Wimbledon, Roland Garros and US Open titles.

Construction giant Leighton (ASX: LEI) says its subsidiary Thiess Pty Ltd has been awarded a major coal seam gas upstream infrastructure contract in Queensland.

The Australian TD Securities - Melbourne Institute monthly inflation gauge lifted 0.2 per cent in December, with price increases for fuel, fruit and vegetables, holiday travel and accommodation contributing the most to the rise, according to data released on Monday.

Agrichemicals company Nufarm Ltd (ASX:NUF) says it will fight legal proceedings vigorously after law firm Slater & Gordon Ltd (ASX:SGH) filed class action proceedings against it.

Spanish building giant ACS has secured regulatory clearance from the European Union to take control of Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX:LEI) parent, Hochtief.

Transfield Services (ASX:TSE) says it has secured two new defence industry contracts totaling A$68 million.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) has activated its special emergency assistance package to help Victorian residents and businesses affected by flooding from regional Victoria.

Resource giant BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) is refocusing on organic growth after a string of failed high-profile takeover attempts.

NBN Co has awarded three equipment contracts worth over $1.6 billion to Australian located companies to supply passive network infrastructure to build the national broadband network during the next five years.

Not a single Australian player made it through the Australian Open qualifying.

Australia's largest supermarket chain Woolworths Ltd (ASX:WOW) says delivery of food into Queensland supermarkets continues to be challenging and it could take weeks before stock levels return to normal in many stores.

Wesfarmers’ (ASX: WES) Coles supermarket says it is working to get food back on the shelves of its 150 Queensland branches affected by the devastating floods, especially the 50 stores isolated by flood waters.

Colonial First State Property Retail Pty Ltd, manager of CFS Retail Property Trust said none of its Queensland shopping centres has experienced material damage and each is fully insured for loss of rental income and flood damage.

Goodman Fielder Ltd (ASX:GFF), Australasia's largest food manufacturer, says its facilities have avoided damage from the floods in Queensland and New South Wales.

Australian national carrier Qantas Airways (ASX: QAN) says it had reached a settlement, subject to court approval, to resolve its liability under a class action in the United States.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:SIP), which is selling its generic drugs unit to South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare, says revenues will be negatively affected by changes in government pricing of generic medicines.

Australian banks are offering emergency relief packages to customers impacted by the floods in NSW and Queensland and other areas.

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has declared force majeure on supplies of aluminium from its Boyne smelting division in Australia's Queensland state due to severe flooding.

Westpac Banking Corp. (ASX: WBC) has set up a mobile banking centre at Brisbane's primary flood evacuation precinct to allow displaced victims of the devastating Queensland floods to perform basic banking transactions and cash emergency relief cheques.

Australia's unemployment rate in December has fallen to 5.0 per cent - the lowest level since January 2009, when the nation was dealing with the first impacts of the global financial crisis.

Mining and construction contractor Macmahon Holdings Ltd (ASX: MAH) says a number of its mining and construction projects in Queensland have been impacted by the ongoing severe weather conditions.

Conquest Mining (ASX:CQT) says its operations remain unaffected by the floods in southern Queensland with mining and processing continuing as normal.

Medicines Australia, on behalf of the Australian medicines industry, has donated $100,000 in cash to the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal to support those devastated by the floods in Queensland.