MINING giant BHP Billiton has formally filed with the European Commission for clearance to take over rival Rio Tinto.

RIO TINTO has forecast that minerals demand will double in the next 14 years, as it resumes its defence against BHP's hostile bid.

A MAJORITY of Telstra T3 shareholders are believed to have met yesterday's deadline to pay the final instalment on their securities.

FORTESCUE Metals Group may have become one of Australia's biggest companies but it failed to comply with 50 per cent of corporate governance standards deemed necessary by a new study.

WIZARD Home Loans founder and chairman Mark Bouris has finally come clean over his clandestine plan to regain control of the struggling mortage provider less than 24 hours after categorically denying on national television he had been "hatching a plan''

ANZ says it is too early to say if unsecured creditors of Opes Prime can expect compensation from the bank for liquidating their share portfolios.

SIGNS the economy is slowing down means the Reserve Bank is likely to keep rates steady at 7.25pc when it meets next week.

ORIGIN Energy shares surged to a record high after it knocked back an improved $13.6 billion takeover offer from British giant BG Group.

STRUGGLING fund manager Allco Finance Group has won another month's reprieve on a $250 million bridging facility but will face a hefty hike in the interest rate on its senior debt.