MANUFACTURING

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX) has been informed that there is a big possibility that its proposal to $8.4-billion take over the local Australian bourse will be rejected by Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan.

The performance of Australia's services sector declined further in March, as both the retail and transport industries slackened for the fifth consecutive month.

Dealing with the government and private sector in countries Australia and Singapore were perceived to be the least tainted with corruption, a new survey made by Hong Kong-based Political & Economic Risk Consultancy, Ltd.'s (PERC) latest Asian Intelligence report indicated.

Australian logistics firm Brambles Ltd has announced that it has received final approval from the United States authorities to proceed with its A$1.24-billion acquisition of plastic container pooling service IFCO Systems NV.

The Australian Parliament has approved the Commonwealth Government's Flood and Cyclone Levy Bill, which has earmarked some $5.6 billion in funds for the reconstruction of severely damaged townships.

Australia's senator Nick Xenophon has filed a motion today seeking a parliamentary inquiry into the proposed takeover-merger of the ASX Ltd. (ASX) by the Asian bourse Singapore Exchange Ltd.

Mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd. (ASX: BHP) has announced dividends to be distributed to shareholders amounting to 45.935919 Australian cents.

Integrated forestry company Gunns Limited (ASX: GNS) today announced the Federal Government had granted the final environmental approvals for the proposed Bell Bay Pulp Mills, estimated to require some $2.5 billion in investments.

The Australian government is keeping its target date in implementing a carbon tax in July 2012 in spite a petition from industry sectors to postpone it.

Australian mining firm Cape Alumina (ASX: CBU) has announced the good results and drilling potential in its Bauxite Hills mines.

Australia's top mining resources firms Rio Tinto and Woodside Petroleum have criticised plans to put a fixed price on carbon emission, without a clear form of compensation or exemption for local businesses and industries.

Australian commuters' daily stress maybe prolonged as production of the commuter trains set to be launched in a month is still hounded by setbacks left and right.

Sales from Australia's commodity exports are seen growing to $255 billion in the next 12 months to be driven by growing world demand, a report of the Bureau of Agricultural & Resource Economics & Sciences (ABARES) said today.

The Australian stock market has indefinitely been derailed by its new system, prompting officers to close the market earlier today.

Australia's latest Bureau of Statistics report on wages showed workers in private companies have had pay increases in the last two quarters.

Australia's third largest mining firm Rio Tinto has announced that production at its coastal operations in the Pilbara region continue to be hampered by ongoing weather issues associated with Tropical Cyclones (TC) Dianne and Carlos, that are likely to impact on shipped tonnage for the first quarter of this year.

Australia's second biggest oil and gas producer Woodside Petroleum Ltd, has reported a 7 percent increase in profits to $1.58 billion in 2010 attributing it to high prices and record output at its North West Shelf natural gas project.

Australian businesses and households are urged to prepare for escalating electricity and gas prices beginning next year as the country struggles for environmental concerns.

The Australian Parliament is implored to veer away from its "populist approach on economic and other business policies especially on taxation that have been discouraging to both local businesses and foreign investors alike.

Energy and mining projects of Australian companies, including that of the Rio Tinto Group Group and Woodside Petroleum Ltd and Fortescue Mining, are threatened by two cyclones headed north of the country, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

The Australian Union Movement has thrown its support behind a campaign to improve wages, conditions and workplace rights at Rio Tinto's aluminium operations in Australia.

Today George Weston Foods Limited (GWF), a division of Associated British Foods (ABF), announced Andrew Reeves as its new Chief Executive, to lead the company's future growth.Andrew starts his new role with GWF in April 2011, following the departure of the company's previous Chief Executive, Geoff Starr. Over the past five years, Geoff led significant change at GWF and the broader industry through his board membership of the Australian Food and Grocery Council and Foodbank Australia.Andrew...

India's state-owned metal and energy firms will decide this week whether they would combine their arsenal to counter the bid to Rio Tinto's $3.9 billion offer for Riversdale Mining Ltd.

Leighton Holdings (ASX: LEI) said today its subsidiary John Holland has won the contract to deliver the enhanced land force (ELF) stage 2 works at the Singleton Army Base in NSW by the Australian Department of Defence. The construct only contract is valued at approximately $110 million.

The world's top explosives maker Orica Ltd (ASX:ORI) has confirmed it expects its profit in fiscal 2011 will rise from a year earlier.

Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX: LEI) says its consortium has been selected as preferred proponent for New Royal Adelaide Hospital PPP project .

Construction materials specialist James Hardie Industries SE (ASX: JHX) announced today its chief executive, Mr Louis Gries, sold 148,000 James Hardie shares on 9 December 2010.

Leighton Holdings Ltd subsidiary (ASX: LEI) John Holland has snared the contract to deliver works between Glenfield South and Leppington for the South West Rail Link project by the New South Wales Government's Transport Construction Authority (TCA).

Australian contractor John Holland, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX: LEI), today announced it has been selected as the preferred proponent for the management of the Country Regional Network (CRN) by the NSW Government's Country Rail Infrastructure Authority.