Business News

Construction materials company, Boral (ASX:BLD) reports its first half results for FY2012-13 to the Australian stock market to investors and stock traders.

• Boral made a net loss of $25.3 million in the first half to December. In the previous corresponding period the company made $152.7 million profit.

Mining conglomerate, Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) have released its full year results to the Australian stock market investors and share traders.

• Rio Tinto have posted its first loss in its history.
• Rio Tinto made a Net Loss of US$2.99 billion for the full financial year results for 2012, compared to the profit of $5.83 billion generate din 2011.
• The loss was largely attributed to impairments against its aluminium and Mozambique coal assets.

Chinese financial company CITIC has bought a 13 percent stake of aluminium producer Alumina (ASX:AWC) for $452 million.

• China based company Citic, will purchase more than 366 million new Alumina shares.
• Citic is a Chinese government owned investment company.

Australia's second largest telecommunications provider, SingTel (ASX:SGT) have released its third quarter results to the Australian stockmarket investors and traders.

• Optus Net profit for 3 months to December 31 was $160 million, down 8 percent from $177 million for the previous corresponding period.

Engineering contracting company, Downer EDI Limited (ASX:DOW) have released its half year results to December 31 to the Australian stockmarket.

• Downer EDI Net Profit of $94 million for the first half FY2012-13, up 10.8 percent on the previous corresponding period.
• Downer EDI forecast for full year to deliver $210 million net profit and underlying earnings of $370 million.

Premium department store retailer, David Jones (ASX:DJS) has released its first half results for FY2012-13.

• DJs Total sales for the 3 months to January 26 2013 (2nd quarter) fell to $590.1 million from $598.5 million from the previous corresponding period.
• On like-for-like basis, excluding store openings and closures, sales were down 1.4 percent.

Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers (ASX:WES), who owns retailers like Coles, Kmart, Target and Bunnings, mines, chemical companies, and insurance released their first half profit results for FY2012-13.

• Wesfarmers first half Net Profit was $1.285 billion, up 9.3 percent on the corresponding period.
• Coles earnings (EBIT) is $755 million, up from $656 million.

Real estate property group, GPT Group (ASX:GPT) have released its full year profit to the Australian sharemarket.

• GPT net profit at $594.5 million, up 141 percent on $246.2 million. Realised operating income at $456.4 million, 4 percent higher than 2011.
• GPT Property Group chief executive Michael Cameron said, "We are committed to advancing a proposal that’s going to be in the best interest of Australand and GPT security holders".

Copper and gold mining company, Oz Minerals (ASX:OZL), have released its full year profit results for FY 2012 to the Australian stockmarket.

• Oz Minerals Net Profit was $152 million, down 44 percent from $274.5 million.
• OZM revenue fell 11.7 percent to $985.7 million from $1.1 billion.

Australian engineering, procurement and construction management firm WorleyParsons (ASX:WOR), released its first half results for the FY 2012-13 to the share market. WPR has four business divisions servicing the oil and gas, power, mining and infrastructure industries.

• WorleyParsons Net Profit at $155.1 million for 6 months to December 31 2012, up 2.1 percent on the prior corresponding period ($151.9 million).