Asciano in talks on Queensland coal rail contracts

Asciano, the Australian infrastructure group spun out of Toll Holdings, said its rail freight business was involved in ‘confidential commercial discussion’ with mining interests operating in Queensland.

• New US clients buoy Brambles profit

Ramsay Health Care buys UK hospitals

Long-awaited deal sees the Sydney-based private healthcare operator acquire a portfolio of hospitals and treatment centres from Capio, the Swedish group, for A$474m

China’s plan on buying foreign shares delayed

China’s plan to allow individual investors to buy overseas securities for the first time has not materialised yet because detailed rules are still being drafted

Coles saga

The drawn-out takeover bid for Australian retailer Coles Group is only now being finalised - because Wesfarmers chief Richard Goyder is so desperate to get the A$18bn...

Kingfisher to allow in-flight mobile calls

The Indian low-cost carrier says it will introduce in-flight mobile phone capability, underlining the interest in the technology that allows web chat and web mail

Coles accepts enhanced Wesfarmers bid

Coles’ board unanimously accepted Wesfarmers’ A$18.2bn ($15bn) bid for Australia’s second-largest retailer after Grant Samuel, an independent investment banking group, said a sweetened offer was in shareholders’ best interests

Property pulls down Japanese shares

The Nikkei fell 1.6% to 16,158.45 as investors sold off property shares and switched into bonds, while stock markets elsewhere in Asia appeared to be losing steam

China Construction Bank to list in Shanghai

China Constructino Bank, the second-biggest lender in the country, could launch the largest listing on the mainland stock market, according to regulatory filings