ASX slightly firmer with banks stronger
August 7, 2008
The Australian share closed marginally firmer, with the banking sector gaining ground and a slightly positive Wall Street adding to the buoyant local tone.
BHP Billiton abandons bid for Rio Tinto
BHP Billiton Ltd., the world's biggest mining company, abandoned a hostile $68 billion takeover bid for rival Rio Tinto Ltd., blaming the global economic downturn and plunging commodity prices.
Rio Tinto to invest 2.15 bln dlrs in Brazil iron ore mine (AFP)
AFP - Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto announced Wednesday that it will invest 2.15 billion US dollars in a major expansion of its iron ore mine in Corumba, Brazil.
Australia approves Chinalco's stake...
Australia has approved Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd.'s stake in miner and takeover target Rio Tinto Ltd., Treasurer Wayne Swan said Sunday.
Orica to demerge consumer products
Orica Ltd plans to demerge its consumer products business into a separate company and raise up to $900 million through an entitlement offer.
Rio Tinto ends Asian steel price talks
Rio Tinto has concluded price negotiations with its Asian customers for the steelmaking commodity.
Qantas reports strong fare sales in US
Qantas is reporting strong fare sales to US tourists and business travellers, despite a fortnight of bad press.
Australian regulator announces...
AFP - Australian civil aviation officials on Sunday announced an unprecedented special review of Qantas after three mid-air dramas in the space of two weeks threatened to...
Turmoil for Qantas as craft grounded
QANTAS yesterday grounded a 747 aircraft because a crucial piece of equipment needed urgent maintenance, leaving the plane's tail at risk of breaking away.
Rio Tinto to invest $2.15 bln in Brazil iron ore mine (AFP)
AFP - Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto announced Wednesday that it will invest 2.15 billion US dollars in a major expansion of its iron ore mine in Corumba, Brazil.
Rio Tinto says it is comfortable with debt level
Mining giant Rio Tinto on Wednesday sought to allay concerns about its debt levels a day after bigger rival BHP Billiton abandoned a takeover bid for that reason, sending Rio's share price plummeting.
Qantas jumbo to debut in October
Qantas has confirmed its new A380 super jumbo will make its debut flight for paying passengers on October 20.
Qantas CEO retires, replaced by...
Reuters - Qantas Airways Ltd Chief
Executive named Alan Joyce as its new chief executive on
Monday, with Geoff Dixon retiring after eight years heading
Australia's largest...
Qantas Probe Focuses on Cylinder
Investigators suspect that an oxygen bottle exploded and punched a 9-foot-long hole in the fuselage of a Qantas jet. Now, Boeing is considering stepped-up inspections of such...
Qantas names Jetstar's Joyce to...
Reuters - Qantas Airways Ltd said on
Monday Alan Joyce will take over as chief executive, taking the
baton from Geoff Dixon who steps down after a string of belt
tightenings...
Qantas names new chief
Qantas names Alan Joyce, the head of its Jetstar offshoot, as chief executive of the airline group.
Qantas jet lands with gaping hole in...
AP - The 346 passengers were cruising at 29,000 feet Friday when an explosive bang shook the Qantas jumbo jet. The plane descended rapidly. Oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling...
Babcock & Brown shares dive on fee flow fears
Babcock & Brown, the worst- performing stock on the MSCI Asia-Pacific Index, fell on concerns that credit market turmoil may cut proceeds from asset sales to reduce debt.
BHP Billiton and China's Baosteel agree on iron ore price rise of up to 96.5 percent
BHP Billiton said Friday it has reached agreement with China's Baosteel on prices for iron ore deliveries, securing increases of up to 96.5 percent after protracted negotiations.
Qantas jet lands with gaping hole in...
AP - The 346 passengers were cruising at 29,000 feet Friday when an explosive bang shook the Qantas jumbo jet. The plane descended rapidly. Oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling...
Qantas profit up but outlook uncertain
Qantas expects a 41 per cent fall in profit this financial year as the airline faces the headwinds of rising fuel costs and a slowing global economy.
Qantas full-year profit up 44%
Qantas has increased its full year profit by 44.1 per cent but says it is starting to feel the effect of higher fuel costs amid an uncertain economic outlook.
Qantas passenger revenues up 4.3%
Qantas says its May group passenger numbers increased by 3.9 per cent over the previous year.
Qantas gets more passengers
Qantas says its passenger numbers in May increased by 3.9% over the previous year.
Downgrade likely for Qantas profit as...
QANTAS'S profit next year is expected to be slightly less than the $558 million investors had expected after the airline revealed that promised growth in flights would not occur.