BUSINESS

Australian firm CSR assured on Monday it will continue to pursue its talks with China's Bright Food Group on the sale of its sugar operations, however, no final offer has been set.

The New Zealand Commerce Commission has granted clearance over AMP on its bid for AXA Asia Pacific on Monday.

There is a likelihood that the federal government’s fresh partnership with Telstra on the National Broadband Network project could be derailed as the telco giant announced today that it can scrap the deal once its demands embodied in the agreement do not materialise.

Australia's competition watchdog has announced on Monday the deadline on June 22 to decide on the proposed $16 billion ($A132.8 billion) iron ore joint venture between two iron ore miners.

Fortescue Metals Group will sign an agreement with a Chinese engineering group in hopes to increase iron ore productions at its Chichester Hub project mine in Western Australia.

Chinese Vice-President Xi Jingping's visit to Canberra yesterday was not welcomed with open arms.

The Business Council of Australia has urged the Federal Government to chuck its proposed resources super profits tax on the mining industry and provide a new one with a comprehensive public consultation.

Brierty Limited said on Friday that it has contracted four new deals reaching $25 million to deliver civil construction services in the northwest part of Western Australia.

Shares in Leighton Holdings made a solid performance in the market yesterday after it announced its big contracts yesterday.

The ANZ Banking Group has announced on Friday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Development Bank (CDB) to increase trade and investment between China and New Zealand.

David Jones chief executive Mark McInnes has tendered his resignation after admitting to inappropriate behavior that was “unbecoming of a chief executive to a female staff member” at two company functions.

The Australian property market is known as one of the world's best performers despite a 20 per cent rise in prices since last year.

MAp Group said on Friday that passenger numbers grew on all of its three Australian and European airports in May as normal operations resumed in the aftermath of the volcanic cloud that covered much of Europe in April.

Australian mining group BHP Billiton may be facing a more competitive tax rate – this time, in Liberia.

The National Australia Bank (NAB) confirmed on Friday it has plans to sell its adviser network and North investor platform.

AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd (AXA APH) chief executive Andrew Penn said on Thursday that the global financial crisis had sparked shifts in the world’s financial service industries which could lead to further merger and acquisition activities in the financial sector.

Trafford Resources Ltd said on Thursday that it plans to issue new renounceable shares amounting to $3.75 million in order to fast track its iron ore project in South Australia.

US-based companies have expressed their interests for a takeover bid to a Western Australian-based oil and gas producer.

The continued locust plague may become the biggest threat to the nation's grain farmers as it may possibily infest the areas from Birdsville to Bendigo.

Household savings have dramatically changed for the better in the June quarter, however, credit cards became the major cause of debt in Australia, according to a recent survey.

Leighton Holdings has signed $1.5 billion worth of contracts in Australia and Indonesia.

Mining group Xtrata brushed off claims that it is bluffing when it said it will suspend its multi-billion dollar project in the Surat Basin in central Queensland due to the Federal Government's proposed resources super profits tax.

Rio Tinto Ltd said on Wednesday that the company is re-assessing its existing Australian projects for a worst-case tax scenario possibility as it studies the effect of the proposed resources super profits tax on future growth projections.

The Tasmanian Government will interfere with the regulations regarding its State power prices.

Brazil’s mining giant Vale said on Wednesday that Aquila Resources Ltd’s latest moves could eventually lead to delays and frustrations on their joint coal project in Queensland as managing director Decio Amaral emphasised that the company merely wants to proceed with the feasibility study it is proposing.

New Zealand-based SBS Bank, formerly the Southland Building Society, has reported Wednesday an operating surplus of $NZ19.4 million or $A15.67 million in the year leading to March 31, coming from the $NZ18.5 million or $A14.94 million surplus it posted last year.

Qantas Airlines has appointed 11-year company veteran Gareth Evans to assume the position of chief financial officer.

Coalspur Mines Ltd said today that it is set to acquire new coal leases next to its existing Hinton project in Canada as the company revealed that the new acquisition would be funded by current cash reserves plus some project funding facility from the Highland Park Group.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is optimistic that the European crisis will not affect Australia's resources boom while it focuses on the next inflation rate since interest rate increase is looming.