BUSINESS

Wesfarmers' (ASX:WES) disparate collection of businesses, including supermarkets, insurance, chemicals, hardware, office supplies and coal, has posted a smaller than expected rise in full-year profit.

Forestry contractors are surprised by news of Tasmanian timber company Gunns pulling out from logging operations. Reports in the financial media have led to speculations of a halt in logging Tasmania's native forests as early as December this year.

For Coles, the customer is always right. The supermarket chain now actively supports their customers' choice for fresh pork from farms which do not use sow stalls by 2014.

Using skills in a structured environment of fear, speed, and thrills will be the focus of theme park developers in Australia. The new combination is expected to put the continent on the tourism map.

The Australian stock market closed flat amid mixed company earnings reports and concern over BHP Billiton's credit rating in light of its takeover offer for Canada's PotashCorp.

In Asia, regional markets are mostly higher this Thursday following a solid set of leads from the US. Bargain hunting in Japan has lifted stocks, with the Nikkei 225 1% firmer. Elsewhere, The Hang Seng and Kospi are up 0.8% and 0.9% respectively while the Shanghai Composite is 0.4% stronger.

The Australian Bankers' Association (ABA) is warning of a telephone survey scam which is using the ABA's name in an attempt to de-fraud bank customers.

The Victorian Government remains silent on the route of the multi-billion dollar Regional Rail Link project. Affected residents near the Footscray Railway Station, therefore, could not decide yet on whether they want their land and other properties sold to the government.

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.

Online car marketing apparently picked up more traffic this year as Carsales.com Ltd (ASX: CRZ) reported on Thursday of soaring net profit for the 2009/10, gaining by as much as 41 percent to $43.2 million as of June 30.

Following its Tuesday announcement of a $US38.56 billion or $A42.89 billion takeover bid for Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, international rating agency Standard & Poor’s listed on Thursday BHP Billiton Ltd’s long term issuer credit ratings in CreditWatch.

The Australian stock market was flat at midday as company earnings results failed to inspire many investors and. with no market-moving data set for release

Diverse company Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) revealed on Thursday that the company gained a 2.8 percent improvement on its 2010 full-year profit, pushing further the Australian conglomerate’s businesses to promising heights for the second half of the year.

The Carlton group takes another piss out of beer advertising in its latest Carlton Draught advertisement. The new ad is expected to be a hit and a psychological stimulus for consumers to keep Carlton as Australia's top-selling beer.

Once again the Australian share market is trading flat, as weakness in blue-chip stocks offsets positive earnings results. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 2.6pts to 4501.3 at lunchtime in the east.

Sixteen to 49 year old men will have an exclusive channel for their age group. The new digital free-to-air channel 7mate's first broadcast on September 25 will be a live coverage of the AFL grand finals.

Pizza lovers in Australia will soon have a healthy alternative with Pizza Hut's latest less salt line of pizza products. Customers will enjoy 45 percent less sodium starting next year.

Australian healthcare service provider Healthscope Ltd (ASX:HSP) has announced a 37 per cent rise in annual profit and projects solid demand and growth in the year ahead.

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.

The proposed $70 million direct factory outlet near Hobart Airport would push through as planned despite looming possibility that its developer Austexx could be entering receivership soon.

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.

Japanese carmaker Mazda Motor Corp announced on Wednesday that a total of 315,000 Mazda3s and Mazda5s would be recalled in North America to fix the cars’ faulty power-steering system, which the company said could heighten the possibility of crashes.

The Australian currency opened weaker Thursday morning after ratings agency Moody's (NYSE:MCO) announced it would review the credit rating of global miner BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP).

US mortgage applications rose sharply last week, lifting 13.0pct in response to strong refinancing demand. The refinancing index soared by 17.1pct to 15-month highs although the purchase index actually fell by 3.4pct.

Retailers led U.S. stocks slightly higher Wednesday as better than expected earnings from Target lifted fellow department store chains Kohl's and J.C. Penney.

The Australian stock market is likely to open flat today following mixed to positive leads from offshore trading overnight.

Woodside Petroleum (ASX:WPL) is trying to reach gas supply agreements with BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP), ExxonMobil and US explorer Hess over the next months in support of a massive expansion of its $13 billion Pluto liquefied natural gas project in Western Australia, analysts say.

Small businesses maintain high hopes that retail activity will go back to normal after the national elections. A number of business operators noted trickling customers as August 21 approaches.

The Australian Dollar opens lower today against the greenback at 0.8980.