Sharon Olalia

Sydney-based Boral (ASX:BLD) is selling Boral Formwork and Scaffolding to Anchorage Capital Pty Ltd, for a consideration of A$35 million, in line with its strategy to concentrate on growing core assets.

Potash Corp of Saskatchewan Inc announced overnight it has rejected an unsolicited takeover bid from Australian diversified natural resources company BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP) worth about $US38.49 billion ($42.85 billion).

Australia-based medical centre operator and pathology provider Primary Health Care (ASX:PRY) has announced a 21.7 per cent increase in net profit but expects earnings in the current year to be at the lower end of earlier guidance.

Woodside Petroleum (ASX:WPL) reported another gas find in Western Australia's Carnarvon Basin.

The Australian currency opened in a better position today, thanks to news its primary trading partner, China, has overtaken Japan as the world's second-largest economy.

The Australian share market opened flat following mixed leads from offshore trade overnight.

UGL Ltd (ASX:UGL) an Australian diversified services company operating in maintenance, facilities management, engineering and construction, announced today its annual profit increased 1 percent, thanks to higher earnings from its infrastructure and resources units.

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX:ANZ) said it is reviewing the finances of Korea Exchange Bank, the lender put up for sale by Lone Star funds.

Woodside Petroleum (ASX:WPL) declared it has found more gas offshore Western Australia. The latest gas discovery could put Pluto's fast expansion plans back on track.

Investor confidence in Australian shares has increased by 4.9 per cent in March despite the ongoing federal election campaign and mounting international concerns about a slowdown in global economic growth, according to data released today.

Global diversified engineering services and project management group Ausenco Ltd (ASX: AAX) announced today it has won the contract for the US$100 million processing plant upgrade of Kingsgate Consolidated Limited's Chatree North Gold Project in Thailand.

Gold and copper producer Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX:NCM) said second-half profit increased more than threefold to the highest level since 2003 thanks to higher prices and production.

Macquarie Agricultural Funds Management, which is part of investment firm Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG), has launched a new crop fund focusing on grain and oilseed production in Brazil and Australia.

The Australian share market was down in intra-day trading by midday, but bounced off its lows of the session, buoyed by earnings results.

The Australian dollar was lower at midday after being dispirited by worse-than-expected Japanese economic growth news.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:SIP) has agreed to hand its pharmaceuticals division to South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd for $900 million.

Australia's construction giant Leighton Holdings (ASX:LEI) has announced a 39 per cent increase in annual profit and foresees further expansion as the economic environment improves.

Junior miners welcomed Tony Abbott's $418 million election pledge, saying the incentive will help lessen the damage to exploration investment confidence caused by Labor's resource tax.

The Australian stock market is set to decline on overall negative leads from offshore trading over the weekend. Wall Street indices were slightly weaker, and most metals and oil also were down.

The Australian currency opened weaker today after soft US and Italian economic data dampened investor sentiment for risk.

The present corporate legislation must be reformed to improve transparency and fairness in the capital raising system, a leading financial research firm has said.

Australian residential developer AVJennings (ASX:AVJ) is back in positive territory after offloading its loss-making contract building business.

David Ryan, the controversial chairman of Transurban (ASX:TCL), a leading international toll road developer in Australia, has stepped down. His resignation spared him a confrontation with furious shareholders at the annual meeting in October.

Shares in Australia's telecom giant Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) have plummeted to a record low, intensifying yesterday's loss of almost 10 per cent due to unsatisfactory full-year results.

The Australian stock market was higher at midday thanks to gains in the mining sector.

The Australian currency was slightly lower at midday after a lacklustre US lead.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals (ASX:SIP) has denied market rumours it has received a higher 65¢-a-share takeover bid from South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare Holdings.

Business leaders are claiming that Australia and New Zealand could both slash emission levels by at least 15 per cent and save cash in the process.

National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB) said small- and medium-size enterprises confidence has declined, two days after announcing a delay in its projected business banking growth.