Henderson Group posted a 54 per cent plunge in first half profit and says it & #39;s not optimistic about fund flows for the rest of the calendar year.

Agribusiness AWB says it has enlisted the support of ex-deputy PM and National Party leader John Anderson for the company & #39;s constitutional reform push.

The largest class action settlement in Australia has cost Aristocrat Leisure more than & #36;144 million in a payout to thousands of shareholders.

Residential property development and construction group Devine has reported a 49 per cent hike in annual profit and says it expects to see further growth.

Struggling fund manager Babcock & Brown Ltd will sell its management rights to listed satellite Babcock and Brown Communities Group.

Authorities in the US, Europe and Japan drew up an emergency plan in March to rescue the plunging dollar if the currency went into freefall, a report said.

ANZ Banking Group Ltd will lower its fixed home loan rates and residential investment loans rates by between 30 basis points and 50 basis points.

Queensland Gas Company says it will extend its & #36;47 million takeover offer for Roma Petroleum for 14 days, aiming to move to full ownership.

Village Roadshow has posted a lift in annual profit and said its businesses are resilient to difficult economic times as people escape to cinemas.

New private capital expenditure rose 5.7 per cent in real terms, seasonally adjusted, in the June quarter to & #36;22.587 billion, the ABS said.

The board of Manchester Unity Australia has thrown its unanimous support behind an unsolicited & #36;256 million cash offer by HCF to buy the mutual company.

Gaming firm Tatts Group Ltd says all its businesses have good prospects in the current financial year.

Coal seam gas producer Queensland Gas Co Ltd (QGC) has improved its annual earnings and says its outlook for the current year is strong.

Babcock & Brown Capital Ltd (BBC) has begun talks with Babcock & Brown Ltd about a potential internalisation of its management.

Origin Energy, the focus of a & #36;13.8 billion takeover from Britain & #39;s BG Group Plc, has forecast further earnings growth this year after delivering a profit rise.

Aristocrat Leisure has posted a 43.4 per cent fall in first half profit on challenging economic conditions.

AMP Ltd has reported a fall in first half earnings after the wealth manager and insurer battled volatile financial market conditions.

Chemicals maker Nuplex Industries has reported an annual profit up 84 per cent, reaping the benefits of a restructuring and the disposal of loss-making plants.

Macarthur Coal says normal production rates at its Coppabella mine in Queensland are not expected until January 2009 after delivering a rise in profit.

Shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rose for a third straight day, as investors appeared uncertain that a government bailout of the companies will happen soon.