Business and City in Brief .TX.- Westpac questioned
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Australian Stock Exchange said it disagreed with Westpac's treatment of a Adollars 700m (pounds 250m) provision for bad and doubtful debts for the year to September 1991.
The exchange said it was concerned that the bank's accounts could have led to the belief that the increased provision was only a matter of prudence and not of necessity.
Car sales stall
August car sales figures, due out today, could be as low as 365,000, down slightly on 1991 and 35,000 below the more optimistic expectations.
Suspension lifted
Fimbra has lifted the suspension of Oldham Mortgage Consultants of Newick, East Sussex, as it has obtained adequate professional indemnity insurance and paid its annual fees.
Bulmer buy
The cider maker Bulmer has acquired Belgium's main cider producer, Cidrerie Stassen, which produces about 7 million litres a year against Bulmer's 170 million. Cidrerie Stassen said Bulmer would keep the Stassen family management.
Pizza to go
Whitbread is selling its Pizza Hut business in Belgium and the Netherlands, for cash, to Pizza Hut International.
Debenture delay
Inntrepreneur Estates has postponed a pounds 250m debenture until next spring.
Less Liffe
The number of futures and options contracts traded on Liffe in August fell 21 per cent to 5.8m.
Adviser banned
Fimbra has suspended Thomas Robert Oliver, who traded from Northland Row, Dungannon, Northern Ireland. Mr Oliver faces charges in relation to an application for a Department of Economic Development grant.
Bus stop
Sir brian Carsberg, director-general of the Office of Fair Trading, has referred Southdown Motor Services - Now Sussex Coastline Buses - to the MMC because of certain conduct in the course of operating services.
World markets
New York: Worries about today's employment figures all but erased sharp gains by blue chips. By close the Dow Jones was up 1.98 points at 3,292.20.
Frankfurt: Short-covering helped shares claw back most of the previous two days' losses. The 30-share DAX index rose 24.08 points to 1,530.75.
Milan: The MIB index fell 8 points to 728.
Paris: Hopes of a French approval of the Maastricht treaty combined with interest rate speculation to push the CAC- 40 index up 69.05 points to 1,780.46.
Madrid: The general index gained 6.48 points to 216.30.
Hong Kong: In one of the quietest days in weeks, the Hang Seng index finished down 11.99 points at 5,722.46.
Tokyo: The Nikkei average surged and ended up 798.77 points at 18,386.49.
Sydney: The All Ordinaries recovered from lows of around 1521 to close only 2.2 points down at 1526.3.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments