Latest Finance News



Consumer confidence weighing on Woolies

Retail giant Woolworths expects consumer confidence to remain weak for the next 12 months as Australians deal with cost of living pressures and a flat job market.But it hopes the end of the federal el..

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AGL may be interested NSW power sale

Australia's second largest energy retailer AGL has raised the prospect of buying a NSW government-owned coal fired power station.The comments surprised analysts, given the current weakness in wholesal..

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US stocks sink amid Syria worries

US stocks have plunged as the country moves closer to punitive military action against Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons in a devastating attack on civilians.Warnings stepped up from the U..

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Australian shares close higher

The Australian share market has closed slightly higher as the United States builds its case for a military response to the Syrian situation.At the close on Tuesday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was ..

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Builder Watpac posts another loss

Builder Watpac has made another annual loss as it overhauls its business to address the dwindling mining boom, but expects improvement in the current financial year.Watpac made a loss of $4.7 million ..

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Mining downturn to hit Seven Group

WesTrac owner Seven Group expects its earnings to fall by more than a third in the year ahead as a downturn in the mining sector causes a slump in machinery sales.The industrials and media group's glo..

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Election worries hit retailer Noni B

Fashion retailer Noni B's sales in the new financial year have been hit by nervous shoppers amid economic uncertainty ahead of the federal election.Noni B on Tuesday reported a $3.5 million loss in th..

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Whitehaven Coal falls to $82m loss

A court challenge by environmentalists has forced Whitehaven Coal to again delay planned first sales from a new coal mine, as lower prices forced the company into the red.Chief executive Paul Flynn in..

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Beach Energy forecasts growth

Beach Energy says it will boost spending and production this year after achieving a better than expected full year profit and lifting dividends.Net profit of $153.7 million in the 2012/13 financial ye..

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Billabong posts $860 million loss

Troubled surfwear company Billabong has made a net loss of $860 million with major writedowns and a drop in revenue. The 2012/13 result was affected by $867 million in significant items, including ..

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Australian share market opens lower

The Australian share market has opened lower after the United States' condemnation of chemical weapon attacks in Syria triggered sharp falls on Wall Street. After opening on Tuesday, the All Ordina..

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US stocks sink after US warns Syria

US stocks have closed sharply lower after Secretary of State John Kerry warned that the US will demand "accountability" after an "obscene" chemical weapons attack on Syrian civilians. The Dow Jones..

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Aussie shares higher on bank strength

Australian shares finished higher as investors bought banking stocks in the absence of local drivers. RBS Morgans client adviser Alistair McCorquodale said the local market was in a holding pattern..

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Dodo, Primus buys boost M2 profit

The owner of the Primus and Dodo telco businesses has increased its full year profit by 33 per cent and expects further growth in the year ahead. M2 Telecommunications made a net profit of $43.8 mi..

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Specialty Fashion returns to profit

Specialty Fashion Group has returned to profit but has given a cautious outlook because consumer confidence remains weak. The company, whose brands include Millers, Katies, Crossroads, Autograph an..

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Spark to increase dividends

Electricity network investor Spark Infrastructure's half year profit has fallen but it expects to pay its shareholders higher distributions in the coming two years. The company, which owns interest..

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Australian share market opens higher

The Australian share market has opened higher after Wall Street made solid gains on Friday. "It's really been a bit of a positive lift from the fact that the US dollar retreated on Friday," IG mark..

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Dollar movements challenge Caltex

Caltex remains committed to reducing its oil refinery operations despite better margins and a falling dollar throwing the move's economics into question.Australia's largest transport fuel supplier sai..

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US stocks climb, Microsoft soars

US stocks have scored solid gains with the market getting a jolt from Microsoft's announcement that chief executive Steve Ballmer will retire within the next 12 months. The computing giant's shares..

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Aussie shares gain as China recovers

Australian shares have outperformed Wall Street as the first positive Chinese manufacturing data in four months boosted the big banks and miners. RBS Morgans senior private client adviser Bill Chat..

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