Australia & New Zealand
Australian, New Zealand Dollars Weaken as Global Equity Markets Decrease The Australian and New Zealand
dollars fell and posted their first weekly losses against the
U.S. currency in November as global investors sold shares to
reduce the chance of losses before year-end.
Woodside Says Pluto LNG Costs May Jump $1 Billion as Labor Expenses Rise Woodside Petroleum Ltd., Australia’s
second-biggest oil and gas producer, said the cost of its Pluto
project is set to jump by as much as A$1.1 billion ($1 billion)
partly because of higher-than-expected labor expenses.
Australia Should Increase Interest Rates as Growth Accelerates, OECD Says Australia’s central bank should
continue to lead the world in raising interest rates as its
economic growth outpaces most other countries, the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development said.
Resourcehouse, China Exim in $5 Billion Debt Talks for Mine in Australia Resourcehouse Ltd., planning a $3
billion initial share sale, is in talks with Export-Import Bank
of China for A$5.5 billion ($5 billion) in debt funding for its
Australian coal project, Chairman Clive Palmer said.
Cloud Peak Shares Fall After Reduction in IPO Price by Rio Tinto Coal Unit Rio Tinto Group’s Cloud Peak Energy
Inc. coal unit cut the price for its $459 million initial public
offering as buyers extracted concessions from underwriters for
two IPOs and rejected another company’s offering this week.
Tabcorp in Talks to Buy Wesfarmers' Pub Business, Financial Review Says Tabcorp Holdings Ltd. is in talks to
buy Wesfarmers Ltd.’s pub unit valued at more than A$200 million
($183 million) to diversify before losing its Victorian slot
machines license, the Australian Financial Review said.
Banknote-material Maker Asks Executives to Step Aside Amid Investigation Securency International Pty, a
banknote-material maker, said it asked its managing director and
company secretary to “stand aside” from their positions while
an investigation takes place into alleged bribery.
Sims Metal Selling $436 Million in Shares for Acquisitions, Debt Repayment Sims Metal Management Ltd., the
world’s biggest recycler of scrap metal, plans to sell A$475
million ($436 million) of shares to help fund acquisitions and
pay debt.
Macquarie Media Says American Consolidated Media Signs New Loan Pact Macquarie Media Group Ltd., the
owner of regional media assets in the U.S. and Australia, said
unit American Consolidated Media LLC entered into a forbearance
contract with its lenders after breaching loan covenants.
Sugar Price to Remain `Firm' Next Year, Australia's Biggest Exporter Says Prices for sugar, the second-best
performing commodity in the past year, will remain firm as
global production lags behind demand, said Queensland Sugar
Ltd., Australia’s biggest exporter.
Australia Shouldn't Rush `Flawed' Climate Laws, Opposition Senator Says Australia’s carbon-reduction plans
are “fatally flawed” and shouldn’t become legislation before
December’s global climate change summit, amid fading hopes for a
binding international accord, an opposition senator said.
Second Twin Wakes After 32-Hour Surgery in Australia to Separate Heads A second Bangladeshi twin began
waking up today and opened her eyes, three days after being
separated from her conjoined sister by surgeons in Australia.
Kidney Stones, Malaria, Lyme Disease Linked to Changing Climate in Study Kidney stones, malaria, Lyme
disease, depression and respiratory illness all may increase
with global warming, researchers at Harvard Medical School said.