Business News

On this page you'll find the business news...

Crown ready to gamble on new casinos NEWS.com.au - 54 minutes ago By Fleur Leyden CROWN says it is still in the hunt for "compelling" US casino acquisitions despite slashing some of its existing US investments by $181 million. Local punters moderate losing streak at Crown Sydney Morning Herald Crown loses its shine with weaker profit The Australian The Age - Bloomberg - The West Australian - LIVENEWS.com.au all 50 news articles

Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank plan Babcock review Business Spectator - 1 hour ago The shakeup in the Babcock and Brown senior management has prompted Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Banks to accelerate their strategic review of the ailing investment firm, reports The Australian. Phil Green finally steps down from the top job at B&B The Australian Big four banks exposed to Babcock & Brown debt Melbourne Herald Sun Sydney Morning Herald - The Age - Daily Telegraph - Financial Times all 98 news articles

LIVENEWS.com.au

Labor increases pressure to pass Budget bills NEWS.com.au - 1 hour ago THE Federal Government is expected to increase pressure on the coalition not to block key Budget measures when parliament resumes next week with a new-look Senate. Senate drive for car tax exemptions in the bush The Australian Labor in late bid to save FuelWatch The Age ABC Online - Sydney Morning Herald - Melbourne Herald Sun - The Age all 387 news articles

AGL eyes long term gas assets Business Spectator - 3 hours ago Energy retailer AGL Energy is eyeing long-term gas assets to shore up its future supply after posting a 44.2 per cent fall in its annual reported profit. AGL Energy coming clean without Loy Yang The Australian Coal-fired stations too risky, says AGL Sydney Morning Herald The Age - Sky News Australia - Bloomberg - Reuters all 84 news articles

MoodieReport

Airport stakes for sale as Macquarie hits turbulence Melbourne Herald Sun - 4 hours ago MACQUARIE Airports will sell part interests worth $1.5 billion in Brussels and Copenhagen airports to turn around a dismal first half loss of $274.3 million. MAp ditches airport stakes The Age airport sales to fund buyback The Australian Sydney Morning Herald - NEWS.com.au - Business Spectator - ABC Online all 52 news articles

Mortgage Choice sees testing times ahead The Australian - 4 hours ago ONE of Australia's largest mortgage broking companies has defended a dip in annual profits as "solid" in the face of tighter credit markets and interest rates hikes. Mortgage Choice expects big bank to lift commission payments Melbourne Herald Sun Presentation and Media 30 June 2008 Sydney Morning Herald NEWS.com.au - Broker News Australia - LIVENEWS.com.au - WA Business News (subscription) all 24 news articles

Centro crisis after $345m US write-down The Australian - 4 hours ago CENTRO Properties Group has reported a $US299 million ($345 million) loss from one of its US companies for the June quarter, edging the debt-laden shopping centre owner even closer to the abyss. Centro walloped by slump in US retail sector Melbourne Herald Sun Joint venture's American loss a poor omen for Centro investors Sydney Morning Herald Business Spectator - Bloomberg all 7 news articles

AFP

Hip pocket gloom as Australia slides towards recession Melbourne Herald Sun - 4 hours ago THE doom and gloom consuming the economy is worsening with Australia sliding ever closer to a recession ahead of next month's expected cut of interest rates. Westpac pushes for half-point rate cut The Age Couple hoping for bank interest cut Examiner iTWire - ABC Online - NEWS.com.au - Courier Mail all 359 news articles

Perpetual cites worst profit year in a generation Sydney Morning Herald - 5 hours ago PERPETUAL has reported a 29 per cent annual profit dip and warned of uncertain times after experiencing what it said was the worst year for Australian investment markets in a generation. Perpetual endures generational downturn The Age Perpetual cuts adviser bonuses InvestorDaily The Australian - NEWS.com.au - Business Spectator - Reuters all 35 news articles

3 News NZ

James Hardie hit hard by US housing slump The Australian - 4 hours ago JAMES Hardie Industries has suffered a 96 per cent plunge in first-quarter earnings as demand for its housing products slumped in the US, the company's biggest market. US slump pulls Hardie down Sydney Morning Herald James Hardie Fall as Profit Plunges on US Housing (Update1) Bloomberg NEWS.com.au - Reuters - Business Spectator - LIVENEWS.com.au all 43 news articles

3 News NZ

PacBrands builds its acquisition of Yakka The Australian - 4 hours ago CLOTHING, footwear and soft furnishings group Pacific Brands has reported a solid 10 per cent rise in annual profit on the back of earnings from newly-acquired workwear label Yakka. Pacific Brands looks to big names in tough times Melbourne Herald Sun It's hard yakka to stitch up a profit Sydney Morning Herald Sky News Australia - Sydney Morning Herald all 22 news articles

The Age

Melbourne to London for $1000 return with AirAsia X Melbourne Herald Sun - 4 hours ago MELBURNIANS could soon fly to London for less than $500 - or under $1000 return - on AirAsia X. Passengers will pay extra for meals, entertainment, checked-in luggage and blankets. AirAsia X launches flights to Melbourne NEWS.com.au New route ... AirAsia X will offer flights from Melbourne to Kuala ... The Age The Australian - ABC Online - New Straits Times - International Herald Tribune all 60 news articles

UPDATE 1-Freddie, Fannie debt protection costs fall Reuters - 50 minutes ago NEW YORK, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Debt protection costs on senior and subordinate debt of Fannie Mae (FNM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Freddie Mac (FRE. DJ Freddie, Fannie In 'Death Spiral'; Calls For Syron To Resign Onet.pl Fannie and Freddie hit on bailout fears Times Online Wall Street Journal - The Associated Press - guardian.co.uk - Forbes all 867 news articles

Sun shines for Queensland Gas boss The Australian - 4 hours ago QUEENSLAND Gas has made a lot of smart moves in recent years, but the smartest was early this month when it signed up its visionary managing director Richard Cottee for at least a further six years at the helm. QGC ignites $895m bid for Sunshine Gas The Age Queensland Gas Sees Sunshine In Its Future Forbes Bloomberg - Sydney Morning Herald - Business Spectator - Reuters all 53 news articles

MSN Money UK

HK consortium ups the ante in bid for Indophil The Australian - 4 hours ago HONG Kong merchant bank Crosby Capital has boosted its bid slightly for Indophil Resources, offering additional shares in an exploration company that would be floated out of Indophil's Philippines assets outside the massive Tampakan copper project. Rival trumps Xstrata bid for Indophil Financial Times Stanhill Resources Bidder`s Statement Sydney Morning Herald The Age - Bloomberg - Reuters UK - Trading Markets (press release) all 24 news articles

MYOB revises growth outlook as NZ slows The Age - 11 hours ago Business software firm MYOB Ltd has revised downwards its full year earnings expectations as revenue is affected from the slowing New Zealand economy. MYOB books 27% NPAT growth LIVENEWS.com.au Investor pack Half year to 30 June 2008 20 August 2008 Sydney Morning Herald Australian IT - ZDNet.com.au - The Inquisitr - Australian Techworld all 21 news articles

Centennial Coal upbeat on coal prices The Australian - 4 hours ago CENTENNIAL Coal is confident coal prices will remain high next year after the company's earnings rose significantly following successful asset sales. Exports boost for Centennial Sydney Morning Herald Centennial's 2nd-Half Profit Gains Almost Threefold on Prices Bloomberg LIVENEWS.com.au - Sydney Morning Herald - The Australian all 19 news articles

FoodBev.com

Coca-Cola Amatil caps big first half The Age - 5 hours ago COCA-COLA Amatil rose the most in four months after it posted first-half earnings that beat analysts' estimates. Coca-Cola Amatil, Australia's biggest soft drink maker, gained 5% to close at $8.34, its biggest climb since May 15. Coca-Cola foresees 7pc growth after $172m profit The Australian 2nd UPDATE: Coca-Cola Amatil 1st Half Net Profit Beats Expectations CNNMoney.com Bloomberg - Reuters - LIVENEWS.com.au - just-drinks.com (subscription) all 63 news articles

Factory Maintenance

Pioneer mill back in action earlier than expected ABC Online - 17 hours ago Pioneer sugar mill in north Queensland has started crushing cane again, several weeks ahead of schedule. The CSR mill was closed after a tank ruptured and fell over two months ago, pushing the cane harvest back a couple of weeks. CSR cane mill operational again LIVENEWS.com.au CSR Australia resumes cane-crushing at Pioneer mill Ninemsn Factory Maintenance - ABC Online all 7 news articles

BBC News

Virgin Blue falls short of profit forecast The Australian - 4 hours ago THE slide in Virgin Blue shares continued yesterday, as analysts reinforced the airline's bleak outlook and at least one downgraded the stock to a sell rating. Virgin Blue's Profit Falls 55% Wall Street Journal Virgin shares dive again The Age Melbourne Herald Sun - Bloomberg - Sydney Morning Herald - The Canberra Times all 139 news articles