Press Releases

Distributed: Mar 23, 2009

Alerts Login

View in Other Languages 8034 7646 7402 7183 7163 

Sydney, Mar 23, 2009 (ABN Newswire) - US stocks slid on Friday as investors remained cautious after an unexpected boost by US Federal Reserve. Some investors started to believe that the gains in the past two weeks could be a sign of market recovery. The Obama administration is also expected to unveil a plan to cleanse up to $US1 trillion in toxic assets from troubled US banks.

The Australian share market closed marginally lower as financial stocks plunged. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 fell 14 points, or 0.4 per cent, to close at 3465.8, while the broader All Ordinaries was down 11.4 points, or 0.33 per cent, to 3405.0. Analysts said it will be difficult for the market to rally as good as the previous two weeks. The rise in the period took the S&P/ASX200 index up by more than 10%.

Key Economic Facts and Figures

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said it was now "virtually impossible" for Australia to avoid a recession given the global economic downturn, while the economy contracted 0.5% in the fourth quarter of 2008, the first time it has shrunk in eight years. Mr Rudd's was based on "very gloomy" International Monetary Fund forecasts for the global economy.

M&A News

The Foreign Investment Review Board has remained silent on its decision regarding Minmetals' A$2.6 billion takeover bid for OZ Minerals (ASX:OZL) amid expectation that the result will be unveiled this week.

It is reported that Santos Ltd. (ASX:STO) and Deutsche Bank are likely to buy stock in Eastern Star Gas Ltd. (ASX:ESG) ahead of a possible takeover of the New South Wales state-based coal seam gas producer, citing unnamed sources.

Important Corporate News

David Jones (ASX:DJS) says it has no intention to change the percentage of selling salaries staff in the business after the retailer last Wednesday posted a 2.4 per cent rise in first-half net profit to $91.16 million.

Qantas Airways (ASX:QAN) is expected to cut up to 100 senior executive jobs in a management structure. The company spokesman declined to comment on the airline's potential restructuring plan and said it is a speculative story in response to the report.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals (ASX:SIP) has reported a 3.9% rise in annual profit for the year ended January 31, 2009 to A$80.12 million, up from A$77.15 million in the previous year. The company says it expects to deliver modest earnings growth this fiscal year.

Linc Energy (ASX:LNC) announced that its negotiating team was formally notified on Friday, 20th March 2009 that, other than Australian governmental approvals, all necessary approvals have now been obtained by the parties with whom negotiations have been continuing since late 2008 for the proposed purchase of the Emerald (Teresa) coal tenements.

Australian Worldwide Exploration (ASX:AWE) has agreed to buy a stake in a Vietnamese oil permit for an undisclosed sum. The agreement will result in AWE taking a 23.33 per cent interest in the permit in the Nam Con Son Basin offshore Vietnam.

Contact

Michelle Liang
Asia Business News Asia Bureau
Tel: +61-2-9247-4344
Email: michelle.liang@abnnewswire.net

  Related Companies

>>>         AWE Limited
>>>         David Jones Limited
>>>         Eastern Star Gas Limited
>>>          Linc Energy Limited
>>>           Oz Minerals Limited
>>>          Qantas Airways Limited
>>>          Santos Limited
>>>         Sigma Pharmaceuticals Limited

  Related Industry Topics:

Airlines & Aerospace | Gas & Oil | Consumers General | Energy General | Financial General | Health & Pharm General | Mining | Australian Economy | 

  This Page Viewed:  (Last 7 Days: 110) (Last 30 Days: 480) (Since Published: 71630) 

80340 76460 74020 71830 71630  (374280)

Events & Exhibitions

Site Search

 
 ENGLISH   All Languages
AWE Limited
2011.12.12  12:00 Asian Activities Report for December 12, 2011: Skyworth Digital (HKG:0751) Reports Significant Sales Growth of LED LCD TV
2009.12.21  09:30 Australian Market Report of December 21: Investors Moved to Safe-Haven
2009.11.11  13:00 Australian Market Report of November 11: Sentiment Remained Strong
2009.06.03  13:00 Australian Market Report of June 3: In Recovery Mood
2005.11.21  08:34 New Zealand's First Stand Alone Offshore Oil "Tui Area Oil Project" to proceed
David Jones Limited
2011.07.28  12:02 Asian Activities Report for July 28, 2011: Novogen Limited (ASX:NRT) Announce Results of Pre-Clinical Studies in Chemotherapy-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells
2010.02.10  09:30 Australian Market Report of February 10: Investors Sentiment Weak
2009.09.24  13:00 Australian Market Report of September 24: Federal Reserve Cautiously Optimistic
2009.08.05  13:00 Australian Market Report of August 5: Correction Time Ahead
2009.06.30  13:00 Australian Market Report of June 30: Trade Remains Directionless
Eastern Star Gas Limited
2011.02.14  17:56 Eastern Star Gas Limited Video WebCast  VIDEO: Kerry Stevenson Announces Start of Symposium Resources Roadshows 2011
2010.06.16  11:05 Clean Global Energy Limited (ASX:CGV) Announce New Executive Appointments
2010.05.24  13:30 Australian Market Report of May 24, 2010: Eastern Star Gas (ASX:ESG) Signed MOU with Hitachi (TYO:6501)and Toyo Engineering (TYO:6330)
2009.09.09  13:00 Australian Market Report of September 9: Stronger Commodities Prices
2009.07.03  13:00 Australian Market Report of July 3: Surprised by US Unemployment Data
Webcast Your Annual General Meeting

ABN Newswire on iPhone/iPad

Download from Apple

Mobile Video TV

qrcode
Scan with your Mobile Phone to view ABN Newswire Video Channel on Mobile
 
City Index - A Better Way To Trade