Westpac beats gloom
August 8, 2008
WESTPAC yesterday ruled out any need to ration lending in the global credit crisis, revealing that it had so far escaped the worst of the domestic economic slowdown.
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.
Fairfax moves to unwind margin loan
THE Fairfax Media director John B. Fairfax has unwound a margin loan over 159 million of the publisher's shares, which was believed to have prompted short-sellers to target the stock over recent weeks.
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.
Babcock plunges further
Babcock & Brown, Australia's second-largest investment bank, plunged further, falling almost a third in early trading.
Westpac expect 8% cash earnings growth
Westpac Banking Corporation says it is on track to deliver 2008 cash earnings growth of between six and eight per cent.
ASX high at noon as Wall St soars
The Australian stock market was up at noon as News Corporation Ltd reported robust fourth-quarter and full-year results.
08/06/08
Similar news about ANZ Bank
Westpac's ray of light
Westpac has so far managed to avoid big problem credit exposures, and should it successfully swallow St George, will become Australia's biggest bank.
ASX marginally in the red
The ASX was marginally in the red at noon, with gold stocks heavily sold off for the second consecutive day on the back of a falling gold price.
Australian merchant bank Babcock and Brown faces lenders
Babcock & Brown Ltd., Australia's second-largest merchant bank that last week lost half its market value, is accelerating an examination of its listed funds as it faces its bankers over a potential review of its 2.8 billion Australian dollars (US$2.7 billion) corporate debt facility.
Red Wings reward Babcock for winning Stanley Cup (AP)
AP - Mike Babcock's new contract allows the oldest of his three children to graduate from the same high school she's attending. And if all goes well with the Detroit Red Wings over the next three years, Babcock's younger two kids likely will get the same opportunity. 
Woolworths may plunge into a retail...
If Steve Johnson wondered what he had let himself in for by agreeing to be the
new chief executive of Woolworths, it was laid bare yesterday. According to
one City analyst, he...
ASX lower led by financials, resources
The Australian share market closed more than two per cent lower, dragged down by the resource and financial sectors and a weak lead from Wall Street overnight.
ASX closes lower after financials fall
The Australian share market closed lower after falls from the financial sector, with Babcock & Brown suffering a heavy loss amid a drop in interim profit.
Babcock CEO, Chairman Step Down
Babcock & Brown unveiled a major overhaul of its board and management but failed to stem the drop in its share price due to continued concerns about its financial position.
Telstra to outdo profit guidance
Telstra is expected to do better than its guidance when it reveals its annual profit results this week, as it increases revenue from its Next G mobile services.
Qantas passenger revenues up 4.3%
Qantas says its May group passenger numbers increased by 3.9 per cent over the previous year.
Westpac may have to boost $17.6 billion St George bid (Reuters)
Reuters - Westpac Banking Corp Ltd , which has bid $17.6 billion for St George Bank in the biggest banking takeover ever in Australia, is bracing for rival offers to emerge that could push the price tag even higher.
New profit warning as Woolworths abandons 2entertain sale
Woolworths lurched deeper into crisis yesterday as it abandoned the planned sale of 2entertain, its DVD publishing business, and admitted that a recent collapse in sales meant that it would again miss its profit targets.
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.
Crown reports $370.1m in profit
Casinos operator Crown Ltd says its Australian casinos have been trading satisfactorily since the start of the 2008/09 financial year.
Transurban toll revenue jumps
Toll road operator Transurban has reported an increase in annual revenue from tolls and fees on its roads in Australia and the United States, helped by higher traffic volumes...
Wesfarmers expecting solid growth
Coles owner Wesfarmers has delivered a 33.6 per cent rise in annual profit and expects solid growth again this year despite a tougher economic environment.
Babcock's jig is up
The writedowns have begun, corporate finance has been axed, and a fire sale of assets is now on. Babcock's survival hinges on this.
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.