Aust Stocks close slightly lower after positive day

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2000
Aust Stocks close slightly lower after positive day

By Blair Speedy

MELBOURNE, Aug 28 AAP - The Australian sharemarket closed marginally lower today, despite
several bullish company results pushing key indices into positive territory during the
session.

Mild gains in media, telco and retail stocks were wiped out by falls in financial and
resource stocks, leaving the all ordinaries index 3.6 points lower at 3322.7 points.

The S&P/ASX200 index lost 3.5 points to 3363.9.

The all industrials index dipped 2.6 points to 5781.2 while the all resources lost
7.1 points to 1392.1.

Wall Street provided a wishy-washy lead on Friday when the Dow Jones industrial average
rose 9.89 points to 11,192.63.

The Nasdaq composite index fell 10.60 points to 4,042.68.

On the Sydney Futures Exchange, the September share price index contract eased two
points to 3379.0 -- a 15.1 point premium to the S&P/ASX200 -- with 4932 lots changing
hands.

"We're getting some very good reports coming to the market, but looking ahead, there's
the Olympics just a couple of weeks away, and than there's October, which is traditionally
a poor trading period," D&D Tolhurst private lient adviser Carl Daffy said.

QCT Resources lifted after BHP and Mitsubishi Development announced a $1.20 per share
joint bid for the Queensland coal miner.

QCT rose 27 cents to $1.25 on turnover of 7.63 million.

BHP, which will also acquire a 4.95 per cent interest in the Genesis Field in the Gulf
of Mexico, tumbled 26 to $19.60.

Woolworths, whose 15 per cent jump in annual net profit to $292.5 million beat most
forecasts, gained 30 cents to $6.75 today.

Coles Myer and David Jones benefited from their rival's result, rising 24 to $7.49
and three to $1.39 respectively.

Smartcard group ERG posted a 73 per cent rise in full year net profit to $35.2 million
and announced a share split which was well received by the market.

ERG shares added 32.2 cents to $10.527.

Banks were all lower as ANZ fell seven to $13.18, Westpac dropped eight to $12.87 and
Macquarie dipped 13 to $27.70.

National Australia Bank was down 33 at $26.10 while Commonwealth Bank lost 19 to $29.65.

Mr Daffy said banks fell on profit-taking after recent strength.

Financial major AMP dropped 35.1 cents to $17.889, NRMA eased four to $2.29 and Axa
added three to $2.72.

Perpetual Trustees closed at a new record high of $32.00, up 47 cents. The stock has
risen strongly since reporting a 68 per cent rise in funds under management to $11.6 billion
over the past year.

Telecom NZ was 24 cents stronger at $5.16, second-string telco C&W Optus was down three
at $4.38 and AAPT closed one firmer at $7.10.

Telstra finished nine higher at $6.81, while the instalment receipts closed eight stronger
at $3.81.

Telstra is expected to report a net profit of about $3.9 billion for 1999/2000.

"The T2 instalment payment also has to be made on November 2 and the Vodafone float
is (expected to be) coming up, so there's a fair bit of money to come out of the market
and looking ahead there's expectations of some choppy water," Mr Daffy said.

News Corp finished 4.5 higher at $22.645, while the preferred shares dipped 8.3 to $19.117.

PBL fell 13.8 to $14.51, Seven dropped 10 to $7.80 and John Fairfax was down 0.7 cents at $5.113.

Among the techs, Melbourne IT fell 43 cents to $3.57, Computershare softened 20 cents
to $7.95 and Sausage dropped 18 cents to $1.80.

Shares in LookSmart gained 12 to $1.43 after confirming talks with Telstra over a possible
business alliance.

Mayne Nickless, which is expected to report a lower annual net profit on Wednesday,
was 4.2 cents stronger at $4.022.

Rio Tinto lost 56.3 to $27.95, MIM gained three to $1.19 on turnover of 16.2 million,
WMC dropped four to $8.31, Santos lifted 12 to $5.90 and Woodside added 9.5 to $14.10.

Spot gold in Sydney closed at $US274.45 per ounce, up from $US273.45 on Friday, while
the gold index closed 1.6 points lower at 742.6 points.

Normandy gained one cent to $1.01, Newcrest dipped 4.1 to $4.35 and Lihir was steady at 68 cents.

National turnover was 444.02 million securities changing hands for $1.20 billion.

Fall stocks outnumbered rises 790 to 657 while 549 were steady.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 stock average finished above the key 17,000 mark for the first
time since July 17, rising 269.79 points to 17,181.12, while in Hong kong, the Hang Seng
index was 139 points lower at 17,097.3 late in the session.

AAP bws/jph

KEYWORD: STOCKS

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Diary for April 14, 2000

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2000
Diary for April 14, 2000
EVENTS ARE IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER AND IN LOCAL TIME UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE

ADELAIDE



0745 - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to launch website - the online information
centre for Australia's international aid program, followed by Access AusAid seminar, Ayers
House, 288 North Terrace, Adelaide. Contact: Innes Willox 02 6277 7500 or 0419 206 890.

0900 - Complementary Healthcare Consultative Forum. Parliament House, Room 2S3. Contact:
Peter McMahon (02) 6277 3436 or 0419 691 443.

0930 - First International Gambling Impact Conference. (Apr 14-15) Grosvenor Hotel,
North Terrace, Adelaide. Contact: Nick Xenophon 0411 626 677.1230 - 2000 Adelaide Biennial
of Australian Art `Beyond the Pale' contemporary Indigenous art exhibition opens to the
public (4 March - 16 April, Art Gallery of South Australia, North Tce. Info: Kate Jordan-Moore
8207 7021.

1530 - Port Adelaide Football Club Media Conference, Adelaide Airport. Contact: Hitaf
Rasheed 8447 9912.

2000 - SOCCER: NSL Soccer. Adelaide Force vs Northern Spirit. Hindmarsh Stadium.


BRISBANE



0830 - Travelsafe public hearings into south-east Queensland public transport, The
Conference Room Level 5 Parliamentary Annex, Alice Street. Contact: 4152 1476.

0900 - Australian Trucking Convention, Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson to address
the convention, Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre, South Brisbane. Contact: Mike
Edmonds 0418 426 497.


CANBERRA



0900 - Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee on Australian
Public Service Employment Matters, Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra. Contact:
Helen Donaldson 02 6277 3530.

1000 - Korean War Veteran Major General Digger James to be present at the War Memorial's
Special Exhibition Gallery for Out in the Cold: Australia's involvement in the Korean
War, Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Contact: Gillian Freeman 02 6243 4575 or 0412
675 434.

1030 - Governor-General Sir William Deane to hold investitures for honours and award
recipients, including Vice Admiral David Shackleton, Government House, Canberra. Contact:
Dianne Callahan 02 6283 3512.

1100 - RAAF's Martin Andrew to address Strategic & Defence Studies Centre and the Contemporary
China Centre joint seminar on The Influence of China Between the Wars on Western Military
Thought and Training, Contemporary China Centre, 9 Liversidge Street, Australian National
University, Canberra. Contact: Heli 02 6249 4150 or Karen 02 6279 9921.

1100 - Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Richard Smallwood, to launch the
Second Edition of A Social Health Atlas of Australia, National Convention Centre, Sutherland
Theatre, Constitution Avenue, Canberra. Contact: Kay McNiece 02 6289 6996.

1500 - Governor-General Sir William Deane to hold investitures for honours and award
recipients, including Frank Lowy, Government House, Canberra. Contact: Dianne Callahan
02 6283 3512.


MELBOURNE



0730 - National Party conference, Shadow Police Minister Peter Ryan and Trade Minister
Mark Vaile to address business breakfast, All Seasons International Hotel, Bendigo. Contact:
Brian O'Sullivan 5084 1335, 0419 533 806 or Malcolm Fearn 9654 6588, 0418 335 713.

0835 - Prime Minister John Howard will be interviewed by Terry Laidler on Melbourne
radio station 3LO, ABC Studios, Southbank Bvde, Southbank, Melbourne. No contact listed.

0845 - Premier Steve Bracks will be interviewd by Timbo, Bedders and Pauline on radio
station Triple M, MMM Studios, St Kilda Road, St Kilda. Contact: Philip Reed 9651 0957
or 0419 319 362.

0900 - Housing Minister Bronwyn Pike will announce a major public housing funding initiative
and detail a secret report by the former government outlining plans to sell off inner
city public housing high rise estates, Park Towers, Park St, South Melbourne. Contact:
Philip Reed 9651 0957 or 0419 319 362.

0905 - Prime Minister John Howard will be interviewed by Ben Knight on ABC regional
radio, ABC Studios, Southbank Bvde, Southbank, Melbourne. No contact listed.

0930 - The Liberal Party of Australia National Convention continues: Prime Minister
John Howard guest speaker at the Liberal Women's Conference, Life in Balance, Bellarine
2,3,4 & 5, Melbourne Convention Centre; 1230 - Information Technology Communications Minister
Richard Alston guest speaker at Internet Committee lunch, Corryong 2; 1430 - Victorian
Opposition Leader Denis Napthine welcome address, John Batman Theatre. Contact: Monique
Warnock 6273 2564.

1100 - Western Melbourne Regional Economic Development Organisation chairman Alan Castleman
media briefing on summit Making the Difference, Premier Steve Bracks address, Victoria
University Convention Centre, 460 Ballarat Road, Sunshine. Contact: Ron Smith 98185700.

1100 - Small Business Minister Marsh Thomson will launch the streetLIFE initiative
which will unite retailers in Smith and Brunswick streets, Red Tongue Cafe, 275 Brunswick
St, Fitzroy. Contact: Philip Reed 9651 0957 or 0419 319 362.

1130 - WorkCover Minister Bob Cameron will unveil a new campaign to help reduce the
number of deaths and injuries on Victorian farms, Bendigo Regional Arts Centre, 50 View
St, Bendigo. Contact: Philip Reed 9651 0957 or 0419 319 362. 1230 - Bellarine Bayside
Foreshore Committee of Management to launch Landscape Management Plan The Reconnection
of Town to Beach. Portarlington foreshore (Pier entrance). Contact: Cheryl 5259 2764.

1200 - Premier Steve Bracks will attend the official Anzac Day lunch, ANZ Pavilion,
Theatres Building, Victorian Arts Centre. Contact: Philip Reed 9651 0957 or 0419 319 362.

1230 - Anti-racism protesters will demonstrate outside the Liberal Party's national
convention, Melbourne Convention Centre. Contact: Keren Adams or Miranda Smith 9344 4808
or Corey Oakley 9347 3692 or 0408 567 013.

1245 - APEC Study Centre chairman Alan Oxley to speak at CEDA seminar on Seize the
Future: How Australia Can Prosper in the New Century, CEDA boardroom, Level 1, 123 Lonsdale
Street. Contact: Tennille Paternott 9652 8412.

1300 - Timor Socialist Party leader Avelino da Silva and former political prisoner
Budiman Sujatmiko media conference, ETU, 2nd floor, 520 Swanston Street. Contact: Pip
Hinman 02 9690 1230, 02 9690 1240, 0412 139968.

1300 - The Municipal Association of Victoria regional visit as part of Working for
Local Government tour, Wellington Shire Council. Contact: Brad Matheson 0418 179 872,
9667 5521.

1500 - Attorney General Rob Hulls will announce major changes to the Children's Court
and open the new Children's Court, 477 Lonsdale St, Melbourne. Contact: Philip Reed 9651
0957 or 0419 319 362.


PERTH



0830 - An Austrade business seminar for WA exporters "Latin America - Expand Your Horizons",
Duxton Hotel, 1 St Georges Terrace. Contact: Elizabeth Matthews 0411 752 457 or (02) 9390
2730.


SYDNEY



0930 - Federal opposition leader Kim Beazley to visit the New Children's Hospital,
corner Hawkesbury Road and Hainsworth Road, Westmead. Contact: Greg Turnbull 0419 692
978

1000 - Legislative Council sitting

1000 - Basketball Australia media conference to address the matter in relation to a
banned anabolic agent and a national team player, Basketball Australia, level 1, 19-23
Hollywood Ave, Bondi Junction. Contact: 0411 640 252.

1100 - Film opportunity as international expert Dr Nathan Cherny challenges Australian
attitudes to pain, Conference Room, Level 6, Gloucester House, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital,
Camperdown. Contact: Libby Day 9241 3131

1200 - Newcastle residents to set power to an Olympic message board to Australian athletes,
Newcastle Garden City Shopping Centre, Centre Court, Northcott Drive, Kotara. Contact:
Eric Aubert 9269 4593

1230 - News conference to help a blind cyclist, Lindy Hou, qualify for the Paralympic
Games, Silver Spring Restaurant, 477 Pitt Street. Contact: Dr Tony Pun 0414 976 363

1300 - High school students to walk out of class to protest against Prime Minister
John Howard, Hyde Park North. Contact: 9690 1977
- Start of the 2000 Sydney Royal Easter Show. Contact: Alexis Lindsay 9704 1042 or 0411 725 591


SPORT


AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE -
Western Bulldogs v Essendon, Colonial Stadium (night)
RUGBY LEAGUE - NRL -
Sharks v Newcastle, Toyota Park 1930
RUGBY UNION - Super 12 -
Queensland Reds v Cape Town Stormers, Brisbane 1935
EQUESTRIAN -
Royal Sydney Show, round four selectors show jumping series

GOLF -
NSW Amateur Championships, Liverpool Golf Club

GYMNASTICS -
Aussie Gym Fest, Challenge Stadium, Perth

HOCKEY -
1900 - Women: Australia v Korea, Perth Hockey Stadium
Contact: Judith Coen (WHA Media Manager) 0419 425 406

NETBALL -
Commonwealth Bank Trophy Round 1
1930 - Queensland Firebirds v Melbourne Phoenix, The Arena
2000 - Adelaide Ravens v Sydney Swifts, ETSA Park
2000 - Perth Orioles v Melbourne Kestrels, Challenge Stadium
2000 - Sydney Sandpipers v Adelaide Thunderbirds, Penrith Sports Centre

ROWING -
National Selection Regatta, SIRC, Penrith

GALLOPS -
Seymour
Esk
Quirindi
Queanbeyan
TROTS -
Harold Park
Maryborough
Redcliffe
Port Pirie
Bendigo
Orange
GREYHOUNDS -
Richmond
Geelong
Ipswich
Casino
Cranbourne


ENTERTAINMENT


1130 - Humphrey B Bear to open an exhibition for children, Eye Spy with My Little Eye,
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Contact: Mark Van Veen 02 6240 6524.

1345 - ZZ Top press conference, Planet Hollywood, 600 George Street, Sydney. Contact:
Megan Heron 9332 2411
2000 - David Helfgott, Jane Rutter and Pot-Pourri take part in The Impossible Dream fundraising
concert for ROMAC (Rotary Overseas Medical Aid for Children) with master of ceremonies
Max Walker, Melbourne Concert Hall. Contact: Prue Bassett 9533 8136.


AAP Diary Contact: Nartira Carlson Phone: 02 9322 8673 Fax: 02 9322 8679



AAP RTV nac/sb/hu/smf

KEYWORD: DIARY FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2000

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Lawsuit to go ahead despite Mobil fuel offer

AAP General News (Australia)
01-19-2000
NSW: Lawsuit to go ahead despite Mobil fuel offer

A class action by aircraft operators affected by Australia's worst fuel contamination
crisis will proceed against Mobil Australia, despite the oil giant's promise of a $15
million aid package.

The class action was launched in the Federal Court yesterday by Sydney commercial law
firm Ebsworth and Ebsworth on behalf of a NSW flying school, with more aviators expected
to join when it goes to court on Friday.

The aircraft operators are suing Mobil for an undisclosed amount of compensation over
Mobil's avgas crisis, which has grounded 5,000 …

VIC: Political enemy pays tribute

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-1999
VIC: Political enemy pays tribute

Former Victorian Premier JOHN CAIN says NORM GALLAGHER was a stubborn adversary who gave
building workers decent working conditions for the first time.

The former secretary of the notorious Builders Labourers Federation has died in a Melbourne
hospital, aged 67.

Responsible for ruining Mr GALLAGHER's BLF with an act of parliament, Mr CAIN has paid a
mixed tribute to the man he helped destroy.

Mr CAIN says that at the time it seemed a harsh thing for a Labor government to destroy a
union, but he thinks it's now recognised by all unions as the right course.

In 1986, Mr CAIN'S government joined with those of New South Wales and the Commonwealth to
de-register the union, and in 1987 the CAIN government authorised a raid on the BLF's Lygon St
headquarters to seize assets.

Mr CAIN says before GALLAGHER went to work for the union, builders labourers had the worst
working conditions of all. But he says harsh action had to be taken union after the union went
outside the law.

AAP RTV ag/jlw/rg/rp

KEYWORD: GALLAGHER CAIN (MELBOURNE)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

QLD: Abbott trial begins

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-1999
QLD: Abbott trial begins

A jury is expected to be sworn in later today for the Queensland District Court trial of
the so-called postcard bandit BRENDAN ABBOTT in Brisbane.

The trial's first day yesterday was taken up with legal argument.

ABBOTT has been charged with the November 1997 armed robbery of a bank on the Gold Coast.

AAP RTV jfs/wz/am

KEYWORD: ABBOTT (BRISBANE)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

VIC: Gov Gen praises character and courage of firefighters

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-1998
VIC: Gov Gen praises character and courage of firefighters

MELBOURNE, Dec 19 AAP - Fighting bushfires had helped forge Australia's national character,
the Governor General, Sir William Deane, today told a memorial service for five volunteer
firemen killed in the Linton bushfire.

About 5000 people gathered at Kardinia Park in Geelong to attend the service along with the
Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett, Victorian Governor Sir James Gobbo and opposition leader John
Brumby.

Sir William told the mourners, who included hundreds of fire fighters from around Victoria,
that firefighting represented "all that was best in Australia, including mateship, courage,
selflessness and sacrifice".

"The tragic death of your five colleagues led us as a nation at the beginning of summer to
pause and take stock of the importance and danger of your work," he said.

The five firefighters were all from the Geelong West fire station.

They died when their truck became trapped in a wall of fire after a change in wind
direction at Linton, near Ballarat in western Victoria, in December 2.

AAP gf/jmr/kr

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRE VIC BENEFIT DAYLEAD

1998 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW:Trail bike rider run over after crash

AAP General News (Australia)
02-28-2011
NSW:Trail bike rider run over after crash

A trail bike rider is in a serious condition in hospital after hitting a parked car
and then being run over by another car on the NSW central coast.

Police say the 18-year-old Narara man was believed to have been riding an unregistered
mini trail bike in Wyoming at about 2am (AEDT) on Sunday when he hit a parked car .. throwing
him onto the road.

A short time later a white …