Australia's Commonwealth Bank eyeing BankWest: report (Reuters)

Reuters - Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) , the country's No. 2 bank by assets, may offer over A$6 billion ($5.2 billion) to British bank HBOS for its Australian unit BankWest, the Australian newspaper reported on Monday.

National Australia Bank shares fall 10%

National Australia Bank shares have dropped 10 per cent after the bank announced an extra $830m loss on its exposure to US mortgage-backed debt securities.

National Australia Bank talking to Royal Bank of Scotland about buying local arm of ABN Amro

National Australia Bank Ltd., one of the country's biggest lenders, said Friday it is in consultations with the Royal Bank of Scotland about buying the local arm of investment bank ABN Amro.

EU widens antitrust probe into BHP Billiton's proposed acquisition of Rio Tinto

The European Commission on Friday widened its antitrust probe into the proposed acquisition of Rio Tinto Inc. by BHP Billiton Ltd., saying an initial investigation revealed concerns about higher prices and reduced choice for EU customers of the mining concerns.

CSL to acquire Talecris for $3.4b

Blood products and vaccine firm CSL will acquire Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings for $3.48 billion to boost its presence in the plasma therapeutics market.

Westpac beats gloom

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.