Australia and New Zealand Banking Group News

THE European Union expressed regret on Tuesday at a decision by Fiji's military leader to expel top envoys from Australia and New Zealand, and urged the Pacific Island nation not to isolate itself.

Fletcher Building, New Zealanda s biggest construction company, may report 2010 earnings at the lower end of analystsa forecasts unless there is a a sustainable recoverya in volumes, chairman Rod Deane told shareholders at their annual meeting today.

RATE rise in December is now a ''live'' possibility, say analysts, after new data showed businesses were more confident than at any time since 2002 and more keen to hire than before the global financial crisis.

Researchers from Australia and the UK are calling for a new approach to the debate over whether alcohol industry sponsorship of sports increases drinking among sports participants.

THE dollar was more than a cent higher at noon after breaking through the 92 cent barrier in early trade, buoyed by positive weekend sentiment and favourable domestic housing data.

Axa Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd. , the Australian unit of Francea s biggest insurer, rejected an unsolicited $10 billion bid from parent Axa SA and wealth manager AMP Ltd.

Cedenco Foods, the tomato, corn and apple processor, has been put into receivership by ANZ National Bank, which extended seasonal funding to allow the company to continue to trade.

SYDNEY : Fiji-born Australian academic Brij Lal says he was subjected to intense verbal abuse while in detention in Suva, prior to being sent back to Australia.

ING Real Estate was "definitely not" planning to leave Australia, said chief executive Denis Hickey two months after taking on one of the more difficult jobs in the industry.

The vice foreign minister on Thursday hailed Vice Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea as "very fruitful," calling it a major diplomatic activity of China with the South Pacific region.

A businessman takes an escalator as a stock quotation board is reflected on a window in Tokyo in this June 23, 2009 HONG KONG: Asian stocks rose ahead of the latest U.S. payrolls report on Friday, expected to show the fewest job losses since August 2008, while oil prices recovered after a sharp drop on high U.S. fuel inventories.

There's enough in the profit result Westpac handed down yesterday to confirm that last year's approval of the bank's $16 billion takeover of St George was good for Westpac, but bad for competition.

Nov 4 - Fiji's self-appointed Prime Minister orders Australia and New Zealand envoys to leave, accusing countries of judicial interference.

The Australian dollar opened lower today after the widely expected interest rate rise failed to entice investors into the domestic currency.

AUSTRALIA'S big four banks have moved quickly to hit home loan customers with another interest rate rise after yesterday's move by the Reserve Bank.

A significant drop in earnings from its institutional banking and New Zealand divisions and a huge rise in bad debts have seen annual net profits at the Westpac Group slide 11 per cent to $3.4 billion.

Statement by PM Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama on the Interference with Fiji Judiciary by Australia and New Zealand Governments Statement by PM Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama on the Interference with Fiji Judiciary by Australia and New Zealand Governments Ladies and Gentlemen The Chief Justice has already highlighted the interference into ...

Cheese supplier and educator Lynne Tietzel believes safety is an issue with raw-milk cheese production.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has lifted its key interest rate for a second month in a row as it attempts to keep Australia's economy on track for sustained growth.

Fiji has ordered envoys from New Zealand and Australia, its two biggest neighbours, to return home within 24 hours, accusing them of interfering in its internal affairs.