MANUFACTURING

Potash Corporation chief executive Bill Doyle could be richer by $US445.4 million if BHP Billiton's hostile bid succeeds.

The world's largest fertilizer company seeks alliances with national financial institutions in order to shake off BHP Billiton from its hostile bid. Potash Corporation is even considering Chinese Banks.

Australian pallet supplier Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) today reported sales revenue of US$4,146.8 million for the financial year ended 30 June 2010, an increase of 3 per cent on the previous equivalent period.

Dairy farmers in Queensland and New South Wales will continue collective bargaining with milk company Parmalat. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said the move will protect small farmers from being pushed over by multinational companies.

Close to 1,200 job vacancies are expected when mining company Billiton Mitzubishi Alliance (BMA) begins its $4 billion coal project. The jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase.

Australian mining leader BHP Billiton may just make a second bid for the Potash Corporation of Canada. The world's largest fertilizer producer earlier considered the BHP's unsolicited bid of $38 billion to be "grossly inadequate."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Commercial building activities are declining in favour of state-funded public projects, according to a survey.

Shares in building products maker James Hardie Industries (ASX:JHX) slumped to their lowest in a year after the company announced its outlook remained uncertain.

Programmed Maintenance Services Ltd (ASX:PRG), a provider of staffing, maintenance and project services, says it forecasts offshore oil and gas opportunities to improve its second half, after earlier predicting a moderate increase in annual profit.

Building products firm Boral Ltd (ASX:BLD) announced today the completion of the retail component of its accelerated renounceable entitlement offer.

Downer EDI (ASX:DOW) saw its shares rise upon finalising a $3 billion contract with Australian miner Fortescue Metals Group (ASX:FMG).

Australia's construction sector dived in July, with firms in the commercial and engineering sectors reporting particularly difficult conditions, according to data released today.

Patterson Cheney Toyota in Dandenong Victoria has become the first car dealership in Australia to achieve a 5 Star Toyota Environmental Dealership (TED) rating.

Rio Tinto has advanced to the next stage of developing its world-class Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, approving US$170 million of further funding for mine, rail and port infrastructure work.

Leighton Contractors, one of Australia's leading contracting and project development groups, has been selected by the Power and Water Corporation in the Northern Territory to install additional generation capacity at Darwin's Channel Island Power Station.

Activity in the manufacturing sector rose in July, entering its third quarter of expansion, because of stronger levels of production, new orders and deliveries, according to a survey.

Low-density dwellings still account for two thirds of all building approvals in the Perth metropolitan area, according to a report issued today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

In the latest indication of struggling with vehicle problems despite works to overhaul quality control, Toyota is recalling nearly half a million cars for problems that can cause the steering wheel to lock up.

Australian mining firm Rio Tinto and Chalco today signed a binding agreement to establish a joint venture (JV) covering the development and operation of the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea.

To help it sell five-year bonds, SPI (Australia) Assets Ltd., a unit of Singapore Power Ltd has acquired the services of Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Westpac Banking Corp.

Australia's major project development and contracting group Leighton Holdings (ASX: LEI) has secured a five-year $100m contract with Queensland's electricity provider, Ergon Energy.

Graeme Hunt, chief executive of Lihir Gold, says it is still possible to better the cash bid worth $9.7 billion by Newcrest Mining.

Graeme Hunt, chief executive of Lihir Gold, says it is still possible to better the cash bid worth $9.7 billion by Newcrest Mining.