Last Top Stories: Pair face charges over supermarket ram raids in Launceston

Pair face charges over supermarket ram raids in Launceston

A man and a teenager from northern Tasmania have been charged over supermarket ram raids in and around Launceston last month. Supermarkets in West Launceston, Norwood and Evandale were burgled and a supermarket in Youngtown was destroyed ... >> view original

UPDATE 2-Canada's Brookfield makes $6.8 bln play for Australian freight major ...

... * Asciano says talks are in early stages. * Shares surge 17 pct to A$7.77 but below bid price of A$9.05 Asciano's former parent, Toll Holdings, agreed to sale in Jan. * Asciano coming out of heavy capex period, dividends seen growing (Recasts, adds ... >> view original

Sharemarket kicks off new year on upbeat note

The Australian sharemarket has starting the new financial year in an upbeat mood, making substantial gains as energy and financial stocks shake off a Greek loan default. At the 4.15pm (AEST) official market close, the benchmark S & P/ASX200 index was ... >> view original

Canberra property values increase 2.4 per cent in year to June

"Housing is showing some bubble-like features, but it lacks a trigger to pop it near-term.": UBS senior economist George Tharenou. Photo: Rob Homer. Residential property values in the ACT mirrored a boost experienced by most Australian capital cities ... >> view original

Woodside progresses Browse FLNG project

Woodside Petroleum will advance preliminary work on the massive Browse gas field joint venture after striking a new agreement, and plans to make a final investment decision on the project in the second half of next year. The company said today it had ... >> view original

Uber's future in NSW to be considered by taxi taskforce

Popular private chauffeur services such as Uber will be reviewed by a New South Wales taskforce examining the rise of smartphone "ridesharing" applications. State Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the independent taskforce would also examine ... >> view original

Briscoe's Rod Duke to cut stake in company under Kathmandu offer

Briscoe Group managing director and major shareholder, Rod Duke, is prepared to slash his stake in the Kiwi retailer a $324 million takeover of ailing outdoor clothing and adventure wear retailer Kathmandu. Briscoe revealed on Wednesday it has offered ... >> view original

Apartment construction boom keeps building approvals near record highs

Official figures show Australia's housing construction sector remains one of the few economic bright spots, with the number of building approvals remaining near record highs. The Bureau of Statistics says 19,414 new dwellings were approved for ... >> view original

Drug companies grilled at tax avoidance inquiry

KIM LANDERS: The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is refusing to clearly explain its complex corporate structure during a hearing into tax avoidance in Sydney. Nine pharmaceutical companies that collectively turn over more than $8 billion a year in ... >> view original

China's official manufacturing PMI holds steady in June

China's manufacturing sector remained in contraction in June according to a private survey, once again contradicting an earlier official report which showed it had expanded. The HSBC China Manufacturing PMI improved slightly to 49.4, up from 49.2 in May. >> view original