BUSINESS

Demand rises for energy listed firm Santos

Shares of the S&P/ASX 200-listed company Santos rose significantly at 8.5 percent in Sydney trading after reports Royal Dutch Shell Plc may buy a stake in the venture.

Gloucester Coal still negotiating with Noble Group

Gloucester Coal of Australia intends to raise equity to buy shares in coal mines from its loading shareholder, Singaporean-owned Noble Group, the most recent on a series of deals in the growing coal industry.
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Skills shortages threaten Australia’s economic expansion

The latest Australian Industry (Ai) Group/Deloitte survey released on Friday showed that the shortage of skilled workers could hamper the country’s economic growth, with up to 34.7 percent of business executives affirming that the problem is indeed a high risk business issue.

Rio Tinto set to expand after tax revamp

Rio Tinto is looking to ramp up projects again after the Gillard government's switch from the resource super-profits tax (RSPT) to the minerals resource rent tax (MRRT).

Macquarie denies staff cuts

Macquarie Telecom, the hosting and telecommunications provider, denies retrenching 40 employees in customer support areas.

Ansell restructures for growth strategy

Healthcare and industrial products maker Ansell Ltd has created four global business units as a result of its company-wide review, and consequent efforts to grow through acquisitions.

Australia 200 To Catch Up

Michael McCarthy, Head of Dealing Asia Pacific at City Index suggests traders should consider buying into the share market for a catch up to the global return of risk appetite.

BHP quiet on MRRT impact

BHP Billiton Ltd has declined to reveal the total effective tax it will pay under the Gillard government's mineral resource rent tax, according to The Australian.

Shell, Santos nearing Gladstone deal

Santos Ltd is near to signing a $2 billion contract with Royal Dutch Shell involving the sale of a stake in its coal seam gas-to-liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, according to the Australian Financial Review.

Corporates: Boral, CSR, Orica

As expected, Boral shares fell sharply yesterday after trading resumed in the wake of the issue to institutional shareho...

Strikeforce of 400 to fight war on locusts

Incident control centres staffed by a rolling strikeforce of up to 400 specially trained staff will be established across Victoria under a $43.5 million Victorian Government strategy to tackle what experts predict could be the biggest locust plague in the last 75 years.At Epsom north of Bendigo toda...

Boral shares fall after rights issue

Shares in Australian building materials group Boral slumped 9.6 per cent, from $4.89 to $4.40, yesterday after the completion of the $274 million institutional part of its $490 million rights issue.

IG Markets Australian Market Wrap

The Australia 200 CFD Index closed 2.4% higher at 4356.1, with financial, consumer discretionary, energy and material names adding the bulk of the points.

Parts of Hay Point closed down for repairs

BHP Billiton-Mitsubishi Alliance and Prime Infrastructure Group shut berths at two terminals of the Hay Point port, the world's biggest export harbor for coal, to carry out planned maintenance.

Survey says Queensland producers carry $15 billion debt

Queensland farmers are collectively mired in $15 billion debt and most have no resort but to run to financial loans in order combat the effects of natural disasters, that according to the 2009 state rural debt survey data released today.

Dollar climbs on job surge news

The Australian dollar rose over half a cent while bill futures fell after surprisingly strong jobs report reawakened the risk of a further hike in interest rates.

Jobs market stronger than predicted

Australia's unemployment rate touched 5.1 per cent in June, the lowest since January 2009, as hopes for continuous economic improvement reinforced employer confidence.

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