BUSINESS

Leighton's Thiess wins $5.5b Indian coal project

Thiess, an Australian mining contractor wholly owned by Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX: LEI), announced today it has won a landmark $5.5 billion mine development and coal mining contract in India.

ESCO acquires Austcast, Newlcast

ESCO Corporation, a global provider of engineered consumable products, announced today the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Austcast Pty Ltd in Brisbane, Australia, and its subsidiary Newlcast in Dunedin, New Zealand.
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Australian Stock Market Report - Morning

The US ADP employment report showed that private sector payrolls expanded by 93,000 in November, the biggest rise since November 2007 and above expectations for a gain of 69,000.

Australian Stock Market Report - Closing

Australian stocks tracked sideways today, but the flat finish was a fairly impressive outcome given weaker than expected economic growth figures and a downbeat offshore lead.

Energy efficiency system to expand rating scale for offices

The New South Wales Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water is planning to expand the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) that rates an office building's energy efficiency from five star rating scale to six or seven stars.

NAB commences damage payments on thousands of its clients

Up to 5000 bank clients of National Australia Bank (NAB) flooded its official website to file damage claims arising from NAB’s computer system glitch that started on Wednesday morning last week and extended onto the early part of the current week.

NAB's MLC takes full ownership of Meritum

MLC, the wealth management division of the National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB), today announced the purchase of the remaining equity in financial advice business, Meritum Financial Group.

Qantas Airways reports of higher passenger traffic in October

Despite the recent scare episodes on a number of its flights in November, Qantas Airways Ltd still managed to raise its passenger traffic prior to the incidents as the Australian national carrier revealed that more domestic and international travellers took Qantas flights in the month of October.

Branson unveils new e-magazine for iPad, the Project

Flamboyant Virgin Group owner Richard Branson has decided to re-enter the media business via the glossy electronic magazine Project, which is exclusively intended for the iPad and purportedly targeting millions of audience currently owning the now ubiquitous Apple gadget.

World Market Overview

U.S. stocks wavered between small gains and losses Tuesday as investors tried to reconcile continued worries over the European sovereign debt crisis with encouraging data on U.S. manufacturing and consumer confidence.

Australian Stock Market Report - Morning

US consumer confidence rose from 49.9 to 54.1 in November - ahead of market expectations and its highest reading in five months. The expectations index also rose to a six month high.

Home prices pick up in October

National city home prices rose in the country by 0.3 percent after a 0.1 percent rise but growth is expected to slow down when the Reserve Bank's rate hike in November affects the market says RPData-Rismark.

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