Australia & New Zealand
Australian Central Bank Says Not Clear If More Competition Needed on Cards Regulators of Australia’s credit
card payment system say it isn’t clear yet whether more
competition or direct regulation is needed to cut fees, said
central bank Assistant Governor Malcolm Edey.
Aussie Touches Seven-Week High, Kiwi Advances Amid Greek Bailout Optimism The Australian dollar rose to its
highest in more than seven weeks as concerns eased that Greece
might default, boosting demand for riskier assets.
Centro Selling $185 Million Surfers Paradise Mall as Investors Exit Fund Centro Properties Group, the
Australian developer that posted a A$3.5 billion ($3.2 billion)
loss last year, is selling its Surfers Paradise mall after
failing to attract investors to replace those withdrawing funds.
Arrow May Reject $3 Billion Shell/Petrochina Offer, Financial Review Says Arrow Energy Ltd. may reject a
A$3.3 billion ($3.03 billion) takeover offer from Royal Dutch
Shell Plc and PetroChina Co., the Australian Financial Review
reported, without saying where it got the information.
Noble's Leiman Seeks to Add Coal Mines, Ports to Benefit From Asian Demand Noble Group Ltd., the commodity
supplier backed by China Investment Corp., wants to buy and
build coal mines, ports and plantations to benefit from rising
Asian demand, Chief Executive Officer Ricardo Leiman said.
Moelis & Co. Hires Andrew Pridham as Australian Head of Investment Banking Moelis & Co. said it hired Andrew
Pridham from JPMorgan Chase & Co. to become managing director
and head of investment banking for Australia.
Macquarie May Bid for $3.5 Billion AIG Aircraft Fleet Assets, Review Says Macquarie Group Ltd. may bid for
American International Group Inc.’s $3.5 billion of aircraft
assets, the Australian Financial Review reported, citing sources
close to the transaction. Macquarie and partner Och-Ziff Capital
Management Group are seeking assets from International Lease
Finance Corp., the report said.
China Clears Rio Tinto of Blame in Failure of Chinalco Deal, the Age Says China’s government accepted that
neither Australia nor Rio Tinto Group were responsible for the
failure of Chinalco’s plan to invest $19.5 billion in the
company, the Age newspaper said, citing a report sent to the
State Council.
Sunland Raises Its Full-Year Profit Forecast to as Much as $16.5 Million Sunland Group Ltd. raised its
fiscal 2010 net income forecast to between A$17 million and A$18
million from a previous target of A$15 million.
Air France, Qantas Enter `All-Out War' for Downgraded Business Passengers Qantas Airways Ltd. is scrapping
first-class cabins complete with sheepskin-covered mattresses,
while Air France-KLM Group is ripping out some of its cheapest
seats as airlines reconfigure planes to win downgraded business
travelers.
Australian, Afghan Forces Capture Taliban Commander, Government Says Australian and Afghan forces
captured Mullah Janan Andewahl, a key Taliban commander who co-
ordinated improvised bomb attacks, the Australian Defence Force
said in a statement. The commander, captured in southern Oruzgan
province, is now in custody, the statement said without giving a
date for the capture.
Tropical Cyclone Ului Near Vanuatu Strengthening as it Heads to the West Tropical cyclone Ului has developed
off the northwest of Vanuatu and is expected to intensify as it
moves westward, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said.
Obama Delays Trip to Australia, Indonesia as Health-Care Faces New Hurdle President Barack Obama is delaying
his trip to Asia to work on health-care legislation as
Republicans claimed a parliamentary victory in their effort to
derail the measure.