Australian Markets

Australian agricultural, retail and mining conglomerate, Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) has seen a slow profit growth, releasing a reported net profit of $1.6 billion, up 2.8 percent form the previous year. Earnings in the company's resources dividsion fell by 81 percent from higher royalties and lower coal prices in the first three quarters.

Media company, APN News & Media (ASX:APN), owns Australian regional newspapers as well as radio stations and outdoor advertising have reported a $39 million profit for the first half of the year.

The company had $509 million in sales, down 0.2 percent, a profit of $39 million which is an improvement of 4.5 percent on the corresponding period, an EPS of 6.5 cents, down 9.7 percent and a dividend of 5 cents per share.

Australian pathology provider and medical centres operator, Primary Health Care (ASX:PRY) have announced a 21.7 percent increase in net profit however the company expects earnings to be on the lower end of the scale of the earlier profit guidance. Expected earnings in 2010/11 to be around $360 million, at the bottom of a range of earlier guidance of $360-380 million.

Mining company, Centennial Coal (ASX:CEY) have announced a 28 percent fall in company net profit to $51.5 million, down from $71.2 million. The company pinned the reason to lower export prices in US dollars and the appreciation of the Australian dollar.

Oil producer, Woodside Petroleum (ASX:WPL) have posted an increase of almost 40 percent in net profit after tax for the first six months to June 30 of $US 901 million or 39.5 percent.

Woodside Petroleum Dividends

WPL have declared a dividend for the first half. Interim dividend is 50 cents per share, fully franked, an increase of 4 cents on the corresponding period 1H 2009.

Australian entertainment company, Village Roadshow (ASX:VRL) released their profit report yesterday, posting an earnings growth to $117.2 million for the 12 months to June 30. Village Roadshow has sold its Greece and Czech Republic businesses, obtaining a $25.6 million profit.

Australia's largest steel maker, BlueScope Steel (ASX:BSL) have returned to profit and have resumed paying out dividends. BSL has posted a net profit of $126 million for FY2010 ending June30, compared to a net loss of $66 million for the previous corresponding period. BSL was one of the low performing stocks last week.

BlueScope Steel Dividends

Australia's largest property developer, Lend Lease (ASX:LLC) have released their profit results. Full year net profit is $345.6 million, reversing a net loss in the previous fiscal year of $653.6 million. For the FY09-10 fiscal year ending June 30 Lend Lease saw their revenue down from $14.79 billion to $10.57 billion. Operating profit after tax stood at $323.6 million.

Lend Lease Dividends

Australian telecommunications company, Telstra (ASX:TLS) have given a "flattish" outlook to its revenue for the 2011 financial year. The company also warned it expected a high single digit percentage fall in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. Company shares fell as much as 9 percent on the news.

Telstra Dividend

Telstra has declared a final dividend of 14 cents a share, fully franked.

Australian toll road operator Transurban (ASX:TCL), have reported a net profit of $59.4 million for the financial year. An improvement on a loss of $24.6 million from the previous year.

Transurban Dividends