France urges world to turn to nuclear power
PARIS AFP - France urged international financial bodies to finance a new era of global nuclear power on Monday and pitched its own reactor technology as the model to follow. ...
Mitsubishi- Peugeot do electric car deal
Mitsubishi Motors says it has finalised a deal to supply electric vehicles to Peugeot Citroen. ...
Iron ore miners push on with port plans
A group of mid-tier iron ore miners is pressing ahead with plans to develop a $2.1 billion port development in Western Australia. ...
Wilson HTM appoints new CEO
Broker and investment manager Wilson HTM Investment Group Ltd has appointed a new CEO for its capital markets activities. ...
K2 Energy shares soar on renewables move
Shares in junior oil and gas producer K2 Energy Ltd more than doubled after announcing a move into the renewables market. ...
Greece can help itself- central bank head
BERLIN AFP - Greece will not require external aid to get out of its debt crisis- the countrys central bank governor said Monday- adding that the government would take -amp quotbrave steps -amp quot to combat further difficulties. ...
NZD-USD- Trading the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Interest Rate Decision
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is widely anticipated to keep the benchmark interest rate at 2.50 this week in an effort to balance the downside risks for the economy- and comments following the rate ...
Suncorp increase staff to process claims
Suncorp-Metway has increased the number of claims staff- assessors and support staff helping customers affected by severe weather in Victoria and Queensland. ...
Mining companies offer to buy Queensland Rail tracks
A consortium of 13 coal businesses says it is working on an offer to buy some Queensland Rail QR tracks from the State Government. ...
A sporty year for consumers in 2009
Spending on sports equipment and activities grew faster in 2009 than any other area of consumer spending. ...
CleanEquity Monaco 2010 - Awards
London- Mar 8- 2010 - ACN Newswire - CleanEquity Monaco 2010- Innovator Capitals cleantech conference for business leaders- closed Friday 5th March with an award ceremony. H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco- after addressing the audience presented awards to the winner in each category.Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannu presented the Stelios Award for the Young Cleantech Entrepreneur of 2010 to Epyon. ...
Suncorp increase staff to process claims
Suncorp-Metway has increased the number of claims staff- assessors and support staff helping customers affected by severe weather in Victoria and Queensland. ...
First home buyers run from rate rises
Potential first homebuyers are giving up their search each time lenders hike interest rates on home loans. ...
Arrow Energy takeover offer pushes market higher
The Australian share market has made a good start to the week- closing almost 1 per cent higher today- on the back of rising commodity prices and a multi-billion dollar takeover offer. ...
Shell- PetroChina see Arrow as a target
A takeover bid by energy giants Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina for Arrow Energy could eventually herald one of Australia's largest coal seam gas projects. ...
Bow Energy shares up on big reserve rise
Bow Energy has substantially increased its reserves but is unlikely to play a role in the sector's takeover action until it begins producing- an analyst says. ...
Vinda International Holdings Limited HKG-3331 Positive Profit Alert
Hong Kong- China- Mar 8- 2010 - ABN Newswire - The board of directors the -amp quotBoard -amp quot of Vinda International Holdings Limited HKG- ...
Warning for Campbell Bros shareholders
Chemicals manufacturer Campbell Brothers has warned its shareholders they may be targeted by a company making unsolicited offers to buy shares at a discount. ...
Western Areas' potential new nickel find
Western Areas and Troy Resources are accelerating drilling at their Sandstone joint venture in Western Australia after a potential new nickel sulphide find. ...
Australian shares up for 7th day Arrow surges on bid
SYDNEY- March 8 - Australian shares climbed for the seventh straight session on Monday- rising 0.85 percent- boosted by strong data from U.S that lifted hopes of a global recovery- and a major takeover in the Australian energy sector. ...
Mining companies offer to buy Queensland Rail tracks
A consortium of 13 coal businesses says it is working on an offer to buy central Queensland Rail QR tracks from the State Government. ...
Flood damage causes 24-hour Ghan delay
Passengers travelling on the Ghan train from Adelaide will have to spend an extra night in Alice Springs because the railway line is still under repair. ...
Mining companies offer to buy Queensland Rail tracks
A consortium of 13 coal businesses says it is working on an offer to buy central Queensland Rail QR tracks from the State Government. ...
BHP shakes up coking coal sales system
Sales of coking coal might be changed forever after BHP Billiton Ltd announced many of its customers had agreed to embrace short-term pricing. ...
Australian shares up for 7th day Arrow surges on bid
SYDNEY- March 8 - Australian shares climbed for the seventh straight session- rising 0.85 percent on Monday- boosted by strong data from U.S that raised hopes of a global recovery- and a major takeover in the Australian energy sector. ...
Centrebet to gamble on S -amp P-ASX 200
Listed online gaming company Centrebet International Ltd says it will offer gambling on the S -amp P-ASX 200 index. ...
Business leaders urged to help the poor
The financial crisis has created more opportunities for Australian companies to take part in social business projects- Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus says. ...
Business leaders urged to help the poor
The financial crisis has created more opportunities for Australian companies to take part in social business projects- Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus says. ...
Australian shares rise on U.S. data Arrow surges
SYDNEY- March 8 - Australian shares rose 0.75 percent on Monday as strong jobs and consumer spending data out of the U.S raised optimism about a global economic recovery- while Arrow Energy AOE surged to a record high after a takeover offer. ...
Western Areas' potential new nickel find
Western Areas and Troy Resources are accelerating drilling at their Sandstone joint venture in Western Australia after a potential new nickel sulphide find. ...
GESB appoints Schroders as fund manager
Western Australian superannuation provider GESB has appointed Schroder Investment Management as a manager of its $2.7 billion international equity portfolio. ...
Virgin Blue to fly from Sydney to Uluru
Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd will commence flights from Sydney to Uluru from August- the Brisbane-based airline said on Monday. ...
NZ dollar firms at one-week highs as risk returns
Kiwi firmer at one-week highs on risk ...
Bad earnings sounds worse on a Friday
Thank God it's Friday is the popular workplace lament- but for companies releasing bad news on that day- it's a tactical mistake. ...
Virgin Blue to fly from Sydney to Uluru
Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd will commence flights from Sydney to Uluru from August- the Brisbane-based airline said on Monday. ...
Global Satellite Players Aiming for Bigger Slice of Asian Pie at CommunicAsia2010 and BroadcastAsia2010
Singapore- Mar 8- 2010 - ACN Newswire - Many of the worlds biggest satellite companies will congregate at CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia when the events return from 15 to 18 June 2010 to the Singapore Expo. These global players are eyeing the events as the choice business platform in Asiato help ramp up their presence and reach out to the regions resilient satellite markets. ...
Shell makes bid for Arrow Energy
Arrow Energy says it has received a non-binding takeover offer from a company jointly owned by the oil giant- Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina. ...
Coalspur Mines Limited ASX-CPL Half Yearly Accounts
Perth- Australia- Mar 8- 2010 - ABN Newswire - The Board of Directors of Coalspur Mines Limited ASX-CPL PINK-CSPZF present their report on Coalspur Mines Limited -amp quotCompany -amp quot or -amp quotCoalspur -amp quot and the entities it controlled during the half year ended 31 December 2009 -amp quotConsolidated Entity -amp quot. ...
Sundia MediTech Authorized ISO 9001-2008 Quality System Certificate
Shanghai- Mar 8- 2010 - ACN Newswire - Sundia MediTech Company- Ltd.- a leading pharmaceutical R -amp ampD outsourcing Service Company in China- announced that the company has obtained ISO 9001-2008 Quality System Certificate by SGS- an internationally-known certification company.Sundia has always taken providing high-quality products to customers as its central responsibility and continuously improves the quality of both products and services. ...
Affordable holidays on the agenda
The Treasurer- Troy Buswell- says the government will consider land tax concessions for caravan park owners as part of the budget process. More than 20 caravan parks have closed in WA in the last 15 y ...
Qld Government sticks with plan to float QR
The State Government is sticking by its plan to float parts of Queensland Rail QR on the stock exchange- despite mining company interest in buying the coal transport business. ...
Qld Government sticks with plan to float QR
The State Government is sticking by its plan to float parts of Queensland Rail QR on the stock exchange- despite mining company interest in buying the coal transport business. ...
Lay-offs at Sigma-Herron pharmaceutical plant
The National Union of Workers NUW says 20 people were made redundant this morning at a pharmaceutical plant on Brisbanes southside. ...
Catholic school teachers taking industrial action
Teachers at some Catholic Schools around Queensland are taking industrial action from today in a bid to win a better wages deal. ...
Acclaim $9m capital bid for gold project
Acclaim Exploration seeks to fund the completion of an acquisition through a $9.17 million capital raising underwritten and managed by Canada's Raptor Capital. ...
Acclaim $9m capital bid for gold project
Acclaim Exploration seeks to fund the completion of an acquisition through a $9.17 million capital raising underwritten and managed by Canada's Raptor Capital. ...
Westside to take over gas fields
A Queensland mining company is to take over coal seam gas fields in the Bowen Basin in the states central region. ...
Westside to take over gas fields
A Queensland mining company is to take over coal seam gas fields in the Bowen Basin in the states central region. ...
Arrow shares jump after takeover bid
Shares in Arrow Energy Ltd jumped more than 40 per cent on news energy giants Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina have made a joint takeover bid for the company. ...
UK economy faces 'high' risk of relapse
Britain- which emerged from recession in the final quarter of 2009- faces a -amp quothigh -amp quot risk of relapse- the British Chamber of Commerce warned. ...
Labour shortages a key inhibitor to growth
WAs business lobby says the states economy is on the way up but it has warned labour shortages could stunt economic growth. ...
Wilson HTM appoints new CEO
Broker and investment manager Wilson HTM Investment has appointed a new chief executive of its capital markets activities after the resignation of Garry Lowrey. ...
Eurozone to help Greece 'if necessary'
European governments sharing the euro currency will help Greece out of financial crisis -amp quotif necessary -amp quot- French President Nicolas Sarkozy says. ...
Iceland votes for better Icesave deal
Iceland is under pressure to negotiate better terms after a referendum rejected a deal to pay the UK and Holland billions for losses in the Icesave bank demise. ...
Atlas Iron placed in trading halt
Ore producer Atlas Iron Ltd securities has been placed in a trading halt pending an announcement to the market regarding a potential material transaction. ...
More women joining mining ranks
The Queensland Government is encouraging more women to think about careers in the mining industry. ...
Iron Road Limited ASX-IRD Updates On Drilling At Central Eyre Iron Project
Perth- Australia- Mar 8- 2010 - ABN Newswire - Iron Road Limited ASX-IRD is pleased to advise that drilling at the Companys wholly owned Central Eyre Iron Project continues to proceed to plan. The Central Eyre Iron Project is a collection of three iron occurrences Warramboo- Kopi -amp amp Hambidge with an exploration potential of 2.8-5.7 billion tonnes magnetite gneiss. ...
Arrow Energy gets $3.3b takeover offer
Arrow Energy Ltd has received a conditional $3.3 billion takeover offer from a company jointly owned by Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina. ...
Shell makes bid for Arrow Energy
Arrow Energy says it has received a non-binding offer from a company jointly owned by the oil giant- Royal Dutch Shell and PetroChina. ...
Toyota ads move past apologies
New ads for troubled automaker Toyota Motor Corp are skipping the apologies and easing back into sales pitches - too soon- some say. ...
Labour shortages a key inhibitor to growth
WAs business lobby says the states economy is on the way up but it has warned labour shortages could stunt economic growth. ...
Labour shortages a key inhibitor to growth
WAs business lobby says the states economy is on the way up but it has warned labour shortages could stunt economic growth. ...
BHP reaches terms for coking coal
Mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd says it has reached terms for much of its coking coal sales for 2010- involving switching to -amp quotshorter term market based pricing -amp quot. ...
Labour shortages a key inhibitor to growth
WAs business lobby says the states economy is on the way up but it has warned labour shortages could stunt economic growth.The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has released an index of economic acti ...
BHP reaches terms for coking coal
Mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd says it has reached terms for much of its coking coal sales for 2010- involving switching to -amp quotshorter term market based pricing -amp quot. ...
BHP Wins Big Coal Price Rise
Hard on the heels of news of offers flying to and fro in the steel industry for 2010 iron ore pricing- BHP is reported to have struck an innovative new short term contract with a big Japanese steel mill that contains a 55 price rise for hard coking coal.Media reports over the week said BHP won the increase from the big Japanese steel group- -amp 160JFE Steel- which will pay $US200 a tonne for the three months starting April 1.The news came after China revealed that it would be aiming at a minimum growth target this year of 8- with consumer inflation held to around 3.That was expected what probably wasnt was the stronger than expected coal price settlement from BHP- to go with a high price rise for iron ore.The coal will come from the central Queensland mines of its 50 associate- BHP Mitsubishi Alliance.Thats up from the $US129 a tonne set in the contract which expires at the end of this month.Its the first time a three-month supply accord for the steelmaking ingredient has been agreed to in price talks.BHP has been pressing for the mills to accept shorter term pricing arrangements for iron ore and coalThe reports said that the contract arrangements from July have not been agreed to- but BHP is said to want some sort of rollover arrangement with the price linked to spot prices.The Japanese company told it wanted to move to a yearly contract arrangement from July.It is trying to shorten its contracts to link pricing and tonnages to the market.For the buyer- it allows them to take advantage of any short term dips in price- and to better manager volumes according to forward orders and production.Coking coal and iron-ore suppliers have traditionally -amp 160held annual talks with steelmakers to fix benchmark contract prices for the 12 months from April 1- which is the start of the Japanese financial year.The arrangements also cover pricing and tonnages for thermal coal from the power- cement and other consumers in Japan- Korea- Taiwan and China.Japan is the biggest coking coal buyer in the world and the second largest purchaser of iron ore after China.The deal for a 55 price rise is very bullish and a sign of just how -amp 160tight the coking coal market looks- especially in Asia.Spot coking coal prices have risen sharply to about $US220- $2US40 -amp 160a tonne after a drop in Chinas domestic production forced Chinese steelmakers to import more coal from Indonesia- Australia and North America.China imported about 30 million tonnes -amp 160of coking coal in 2009.Some analysts see that falling this year- but prices will be maintained by the countrys decision to continue a rapid pace of economic growth.Chinas now formal setting -amp 160of an 8 growth target for 2010 was always expected- along with commitments to set a low inflation rate this time 3- promise to investment in more productive assets and to do better for the less well off and vaguely promise some sort of political change.But it means little change in spending- although the rate of growth in outlays will fall as the year goes on.Bank lending will fall as well and will be aimed at productive projects whatever that means.In many respects its steady as she goes in China this year. ...
Markets- Up Solidly On US Jobs News
US stocks jumped and the Nasdaq hit an 18-month on Friday night after the February jobs numbers turned out to be a bit better than forecast.The US economy lost 36-000 jobs in February- better than -amp 160forecasts for 67-000 non-farm job losses.It -amp 160suggests the labour market might- finally- be stabilising after two years on the slide.Then news also sparked strong trading in Europe before the close there and some markets finished at 2010 highs- or at levels not seen since Lehman Brothers fell off the cliff in September 2008.Helping sentiment in the US was better news on consumer credit for January which moved into the black for the first time in a year.The Federal Reserve said -amp 160consumer credit rose $US4.96 billion in January- the first increase in a year and the largest for any month since mid-2008.Analysts had been looking for a fall.The reason was higher levels of car loans in many areas.The Dow jumped 122.06 points- or 1.2- to end at 10-566.20. The Standard -amp 38 Poors 500 Index added 15.73 points- or 1.4- to end at 1138.70.Nasdaq -amp 160Index rose 34.04 points- or 1.5- to 2326.35.The Dow and the S -amp 38P 500 closed at their highest levels for six weeks.The S -amp 38P 500 is now off only 1 from a 15-month closing high set on January 19- having clawed back from a drop of more than 8 up to -amp 160February 8.All three indexes are now positive for the year.For the week- the Dow rose 2.3 the Nasdaq added 3.9 and the S -amp 38P 500 climbed 3.1.Here in Australia we are looking to a strong start today after the gains on offshore markets and a slightly more positive tone at the end -amp 160here Friday.At the close- the ASX200 index had risen 16.7 points- or 0.4- to 4763.2 points- while the All Ords advanced 15.8 points- or 0.3- to 4773.4 points.For the week- the ASX 200 added 2.7- extending the weekly gains to four consecutive weeks.Friday night also saw some encouraging news for the world economy with the OECD saying the -amp 160worlds leading industrialised nations recorded continued economic growth in January.It said -amp 160that data in emerging market nations of Brazil and India also pointed to recovery and China and Russia were likely to continue expanding.The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said its composite leading indicators index for its 30 member economies rose 0.8 points in January from December and was up 11.3 points from January 2009.In the US- the index gained 0.9 points from December and 11 points from January 2009.The January index was up 0.6 points in the eurozone from December and 12.5 points on the year.In Europe markets rose in the wake of the economic news from the US.It was the biggest -amp 160weekly gain since last July as the Stoxx Europe 600 Index jumped 4.6 -amp 160and moved into positive territory- -amp 160erasing its loss for the year.London had its highest -amp 160finish in 18 months as fears about Greece faded.The -amp 160FTSE 100 index finished up 1.31 to 5-599.76 points- returning to levels last seen in September 2008 just before the collapse of Lehmans Brothers sparked a global financial and economic crisis.Thats despite those fears about the upcoming election ending inconclusively- worries about debt and the still weak level of activity in the UK economy.In Paris- the CAC 40 jumped 2.1 to 3910.42 points and in Frankfurt the DAX gained 1.4 to 5877.36 points.Indexes rose in all 18 western European markets- except Iceland. Germanys DAX advanced 5 over the week- Frances CAC 40 5.4 and -amp 160the Footsie jumped 4.6.Elsewhere in Europe- Amsterdam rose 1.87 on Friday- -amp 160Brussels 1.1- Madrid- 2.6 and Milan- 2.In Asia- shares rose strongly.Tokyos -amp 160Nikkei-225 index jumped 2.2- buoyed by a weaker yen and hopes that the Japanese central bank will ease monetary policy further.The Nikkei -amp 160rose 2.4- over the week- thanks to the big rise Friday to give it its best weekly performance for the year so far.Hong Kong added 1- and Shanghai 0.6 -amp 160as investors assessed the comments non Friday on the economy by -amp 160Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. -amp 160 ...
Lihir Quits Ballarat- At Last
Lihir Gold may have -amp 160finally freed itself from the very expensive mistake on the -amp 160Ballarat goldfield in Victoria that has cost it more than $400 million.The end of this expensive disaster will come when the would-be-buyer- Castlemaine Gold- raises around $20 million in a share issue which started Friday after the sale deal was revealed.Lihir said on Friday -amp 160it proposed to sell the project to Castlemaine Goldfields for just $4.5 million cash and royalties capped at a maximum $50 million.The sale is subject to conditions- including Castlemaine shareholders approving the issue of new equity to raise a minimum of $20 million.Lihir said on Friday the operation would be wound down and redundancies offered.Lihir said in its recent annual result that it had taken a one-off charge of $413 million after-tax- -amp quotbeing the impairment charge and operating losses from the discontinued Ballarat operation -amp quot. -amp quotCastlemaine has indicated it intends to take the Ballarat operation forward as an exploration project- and will therefore cease mining and processing for the immediate future- -amp quot Lihir said in its statement. -amp quotIn preparation for the transition to new ownership- the operation will be wound down and placed on care and maintenance from today. -amp quotRedundancies will be offered to affected employees. -amp quotLGL will provide full entitlements and support services to employees and their families- including outplacement assistance- -amp quot it said.Castlemaine Goldfields said the acquisition presents it -amp quotwith the opportunity to create significant value for shareholders through the consideration of operations to two historically prolific Victorian Goldfields -amp quot.The company said that following the completion of the sale- it would follow a defined strategy to target the northern compartments of the field.Castlemaine said on Friday that it was -amp quotannouncing its intention to raise between A $20m and A $40m in new equity by way of placement to institutions and sophisticated investors to complete the acquisition and provide additional funding. -amp quotCGT is aiming to identify sufficient resources to recommence development and production- targeting a 50-000 oz per annum operation. This would present an opportunity to re-employ local personnel and re-engage local contractors. -amp quotLihir Gold shares fell 3c to $2.91. Castlemaine CGT shares last traded at 40c before going into a trading halt on Friday. -amp 160 -amp 160 ...
Toyota ads move past apologies
New ads for troubled automaker Toyota Motor Corp are skipping the apologies and easing back into sales pitches - too soon- some say. ...
IMF sees faster African recovery from economic slump
NAIROBI AFP - African economies are recovering from the global downturn faster than the International Monetary Funds forecasts- director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Sunday. ...
Online job ads up again
The number of jobs advertised on the internet increased again last month. ...
NZ dollar climbs as U.S. data boosts risk appetite
Kiwi NZDD4 opens around $0.6940-50- nearly a cent above its late local level on Friday after the U.S. jobs data showed fewer than expected jobs were lost in February. ...
UK economy faces 'high' risk of relapse
Britain- which emerged from recession in the final quarter of 2009- faces a -amp quothigh -amp quot risk of relapse- the British Chamber of Commerce warned. ...
Greens to clamp down on coastal developments
The Tasmanian Greens are promising a new Coastal Protection Unit- to create and map protected areas. ...
Greens to clamp down on coastal developments
The Tasmanian Greens are promising a new Coastal Protection Unit- to create and map protected areas. ...
Eurozone to help Greece 'if necessary'
European governments sharing the euro currency will help Greece out of financial crisis -amp quotif necessary -amp quot- French President Nicolas Sarkozy says. ...
Flawed Three Capes plan panned
Tasmanias National Parks Association claims the State Governments Three Capes walk proposal is based on flawed figures. ...
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