Private health care provider Healthscope Limited (ASX: HSP) faces another threat, but this time it is from competing hospitals.
Trading this morning opened lower on the Sydney Futures Exchange. The December share price index contract was 14 points lower at 4637.
The Australian and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) is set to face a $50 million class-action lawsuit filed by an estimated 27,000 ANZ account holders in the Melbourne Federal Court on Wednesday.
The Australian currency hit a fresh 25-month high on Wednesday noon, following talks the Federal Reserve might reinvigorate stimulus measures to aid the ailing US economy.
The Australian currency strengthened more than one US cent to a 25-month high on Wednesday after the US Federal Reserve signalled it might engage in another round of quantitative easing.
The Australian bourse ended slightly higher on Wednesday after a rollercoaster trade in which profit-taking impacted on gains led by offshore sentiment.
The Australian Parliament would likely change its tact on carbon emissions in the next three years.
BHP Billiton Ltd has acknowledged that the global economy is on its way to recovery but the giant resources company maintained that spots of fragility still exists as it added that encouraging economic prospects in Asia give the mining firm a positive outlook for more growth in the years to come.
Air New Zealand Ltd decried the recent decision of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to block the carrier’s proposed alliance with Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd, emphasising that the competition watchdog’s move is a threat to its existence.
National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) said on Wednesday it expects the Reserve Bank of Australia will lift official cash rate from 4.5 to 4.75 per cent in October, rather than early next year.
Utility investment firm Spark Infrastructure Group (ASX: SKI) said on Wednesday that it has launched capital raising of up to $295 million that the company would utilise in paying off debts of up to $200 million and fund its $85 million equity investments.
South Australia's Davenport Aboriginal community had to turnover its housing leases to the State Government.
Heritage conservation group National Trust lost in its court battle against the redevelopment of the historic Windsor Hotel of Melbourne.
Mineral and metal explorer Diatreme Resources Ltd (ASX: DRX) announced on Wednesday that it has entered into a joint partnership with fellow Aussie miner Image Resources NL (ASX: IMA) following the agreement that the company sealed last month with a Chinese firm to develop the Cyclone and Cyclone Extended heavy mineral sand deposit in Western Australia.
The Australian stock market was stronger at Wednesday noon, as news from the US buoyed banking stocks.
Australia's economic growth rate slowed in July, marking the fourth consecutive monthly fall in the pace of expansion.
Australia's third largest lender by market value, Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. was sued by 27,000 customers seeking to recoup about A$50 million ($48 million) of bank charges.
Mining firm Gindalbie Metals Ltd announced on Wednesday that a $120 million contract to construct a power transmission line on its $2 billion Karara iron ore exploration site in Western Australia has been awarded to resource contract specialist Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW).
The Australian currency is expected to continue its rally over the near term especially if the Reserve Bank of Australia decides to raise the interest rates.
Office spaces in prestigious Melbourne buildings are being filled up.
Fresh from its revelation that it garnered a total of $US12.47 billion of profit during the financial year 2009/10, BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX: BHP) rewarded its top honcho Marius Kloppers with a nine percent spike on his salary compensation, leading to a total pay of $US11.3 million or $A11.86 million last year.
The value of consumer debts elevated to record levels in the three months to June and may lead to an increase in the number of bankruptcies reported this year and next, new research from Dun & Bradstreet shows.
The Ivy owner, Justin Hemmes, was allowed to convert a performance bond in order to pay for numerous defects in his $66 million investment in Sydney.
High-end retailer David Jones Ltd (ASX: DJS) has withstood tough times this year as the company reported on Wednesday that despite consumers’ tentative shopping behaviour and the dwindling benefits from fiscal stimulus to households, it still managed to register record profit for fiscal 2010.
Inspite of a four percent drop in its annual profit, Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV) expects improvement in the retail environment.
Another night in the currency markets and another post GFC high for the Australian Dollar. The US Dollar weakened after the FOMC statement signalled a move to Quantitative Easing “QE”.
US housing starts rose by a sharper than expected 10.5pct in August to a four-month high. Despite the rise housing starts are still 12pct below the levels seen in April, when activity was being boosted by the homebuyer tax credit.
Blue chip stocks finished slightly higher for a fifth-straight session Tuesday, led by Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Intel, after the Federal Reserve hinted it could take additional measures to stimulate economic growth.
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) forecasts total commodity exports to rise 26 percent in 2011.
Wednesday trading at the Sydney Futures Exchange could see a drop in Australian shares due to a very slight change in US stocks and a drop in commodity prices.
