FASHION retailer Just Group Ltd yesterday issued an emphatic rejection of retail mogul Solomon Lew's $837 million takeover bid, describing it as unfair and unreasonable.

THE Australian Bankers Association has promised to continue fighting for the dismantling of the federal Government's Four Pillars policy, despite Treasurer Wayne Swan shutting the door on any change.

HIGH interest rates and rising petrol costs are forcing consumers to pull in spending, with the largest monthly fall in a year posted in April.

THE Rudd Government will not allow any of the nation's four biggest banks to merge even if St George is gobbled up by Westpac.

FOSTER'S has announced a limited release of 5000 champagne-style bottles of beer - to be sold at $60 each.

HAVING a child slashes a woman's earnings by 37 per cent or $162,474 over her lifetime, says a Federal Government submission to the paid maternity leave inquiry.

CHALLENGER boss Mike Tilley yesterday promised to improve understanding about the company's business activities after Challenger shares were subjected to heavy short selling earlier this year.

AUSTRALIA has become a refuge for a new endangered species - the high-flying banker who is facing layoffs in Europe and the United States

THE Australian sharemarket may open slightly higher today after mixed and relatively flat trading on US markets on Friday.

QANTAS boss Geoff Dixon has warned he will not be intimidated by union threats of industrial action in support of a pay claim.

WINTER only kicked off officially yesterday but sales signs are already up on cool-season clothing as an economic downturn sets in.

TROUBLED property group Centro Properties has been granted a generous debt extension from its lenders to December 15.

INFLATION is rising at its swiftest pace on record, a private sector survey released on the eve of the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) next interest rate meeting shows.

JOSEPH Gutnick is about to make a big splash back into the Australian share market, listing an already well-financed play.