BUSINESS

Westfield face lifts its global properties for $1B

Shopping center Westfield will enter into an upgrade by developing a $1 billion on its global properties. The upgrade will involve US centers mirroring Australian centers once the retail issues are solved and improved in the US.

Power and Water remains afloat due to taxpayers’ money

Critics are accusing the Northern Territory government of using taxpayers’ money to keep the Power and Water Corporation afloat as budget papers showed that the government has agreed to series of debt equity swaps with the corporation amidst the major upgrades that the company is currently undertaking.

Westpac delivers half-year $3B profit

Westpac did not fail on its latest half-year net profit forecast as it rose to $3 billion but still worries over the effects of the global financial crisis that will continue over the years.

Rio troubled over resource tax grab

Mining company Rio Tinto expressed its worries on the Federal Government's move for a new resource tax stating that it would make the mineral industry as the highest taxed in the world.
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Court fines Qantas on fuel surcharge

The Federal Court ordered Qantas Airlines on Tuesday to pay commission years to travel agents after it was found out that fuel surcharge to passengers is part of the fare and not a tax.

RBA increases interest rates again

The Reserve Bank of Australia has hinted on Tuesday that inflation will hit Australia after it resumed its normalcy in the economy, as the central bank delivered its sixth interest rate today by 25 basic points to 4.5 per cent.

United and Continental forms giant airline in a merger pact

United Airlines and Continental Airlines have finalised a $US3 billion dollar deal that will transform the two carriers into the biggest airline in the aviation industry as both companies are looking to generate fresh revenues of up to $US1.2 billion or $A1.3 billion come 2013.

Lihir submits to Newcrest deal

Australian-based Newcrest Mining and rival Lihir Gold finally agreed on a partnership which values Lihir at $9.5 billion.

NT government reveals $5.1 billion budget for 2010/11

The Northern Territory government has announced on Tuesday a $5.1 billion for year 2010/11 with a cash deficit of $268 million with increased allocations for health, housing and education, even as mining industries and civil servants bear the brunt of the resulting deficit.

Queensland government says mining tax won’t hurt the state

The Queensland government has announced today that it is prepared to take action on the federal government’s new mining tax plan should it pose a threat to the state’s resource industry as central authorities gave assurance that the tax is necessary to keep mounting mineral incomes from leaving Australia.

Report says Australian market is healthy

Australian stocks are gaining for the first time in six years and further expansions by the local market will largely hinge on overseas factors as research group Lincoln Indicators released a new study showing listed companies that deemed financially healthy surge in the six months leading to December.

Aussie property prices are rising despite rate hikes

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has revealed Monday that property prices are still surging upwards as house price index jumped by 4.8 percent in the March quarter and seemingly discounting the expected impact of the successive interest rate hikes.

DSM Biologics completes preliminary deal with Australian government to build biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Brisbane

DSM Biologics, a unit of DSM Pharmaceutical Products, a global provider of manufacturing technology and services to the biopharmaceutical industry, announced finalizing preliminary agreement with the Queensland State Government and the Commonwealth of Australia to design, build and operate the first Australia-based mammalian biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility to be located in Brisbane.

Virgin Blue and Air NZ seeks service alliance

Air New Zealand and Virgin Blue has announced Monday that they are seeking regulatory approval for a trans-Tasman alliance that will bring the two airlines to share route services but still short of any merger possibility.

ANZ exits; NAB to bid again for AXA AP

After its first taste of rejection by the ACCC, the bank will have to seek another approval on its deal that focuses on the retail investment platforms used frequently by the wealth management industry, and its MLC businesses.

MAp reveals increased first quarter income

Airport operator MAp Airports Ltd, Sydney Airport’s majority owner, has reported on Friday that 31 percent spikes on its first quarter earnings with $100.71 million amassed in three months leading to end of March, as compared to posted income the same period last year.

Woolworths cuts sales forecast

Same-store food and liquor sales of Woolworths increased to 2.0 per cent during the third quarter, propelling the retailer to trim down its sales forecast for this year.

Atlas wins Wodgina ore project

Atlas Iron announced on Friday that the government approved its proposed Wodgina iron ore project in Western Australia.

Coffey sees revenue slips in 2009/10 fiscal year

Coffey International Ltd has announced Friday that it is projecting lower revenues in 2009-2010 following declines in monthly incomes since January as delays, slow-downs and cancellations marred the Sydney-based company’s pipeline of projects.

East Timor refuses Woodside's LNG platform

East Timor turned down Australian-based Woodside, an oil gas producer to export gas from the Timor Sea that would have become the world's first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) platforms and could have put the multibillion-dollar Greater Sunrise's LNG partnership in jeopardy.

Darwin loses grip of a $5 billion gas project

Darwin lost its chance of hosting a $5 billion gas plant and expanding its Sunrise fields, following announcement by Woodside Petroleum Ltd that its joint venture partnership with ConocoPhillips, Shell and Osaka Gas, have opted to build instead a floating platform in the Timor Sea.

Bonsoy soy milk to return in shelves after reformulation

Spiral Foods Pty Ltd., which manufactures Bonsoy soy milk, confirmed on Wednesday that the controversial soy product, which was banned from store shelves last December 24 after it was linked to a series of thyroid problems, will be sold again the market after undergoing reformulation.

ANZ believes the worst is over for Australia

An ANZ Banking Group Ltd executive has declared that the worst is pretty much over for the Australian economy as it has survived the downturn almost unscathed, though warning at the same time that the country must stay cautious on the worsening debt crisis in Europe which could restrict local banks’ access to credit facilities.

Fortescue loses court battle against Zodiac

Australian-based Fortescue Metals Group will be subjected to pay millions in compensation to shipping contractor Zodiac Maritime after losing a court trial in the United Kingdom.

ANZ achieves net half- profit of 36%

The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group improved its first-half profit to 36 per cent to almost $2 billion as it became the third biggest bank in the State to benefit from the recovery in Australia and in Asia.

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