Foster's reports sluggish growth

Foster's Group Ltd, Australia's biggest alcoholic drinks company, posted its slowest growth in first-half net profit in several years yesterday, as US wine sales slumped and the strong Aussie dollar crimped earnings.

Firms trade lawsuits over phone patents

Motorola Inc and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd sued one another over mobile-phone patents, each claiming their competitor is using handset technology without permission.

Kirin may make bid for Australia's Dairy Farmers

Kirin Holdings Co, Japan's biggest beverage maker, may bid for Australian milk processor Dairy Farmers to build on its dairy business in the country, President Kazuyasu Kato said.

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TNT suffers unexpected decline in Q4 earnings

TNT NV, Europe's second-biggest express-delivery service, posted an unexpected drop in fourth-quarter profit because of the costs of reorganization.

Will food consumers bite back in 2008?

For more than a year, food makers and other consumer products companies have passed on much of the burden of rising commodity costs to consumers.

Fair features latest in hi-tech toys

A life-like toy golden retriever by Hasbro Inc and a joking, story-telling Elmo doll from Mattel Inc's Fisher Price line figure to be two of the year's hottest toys as the American International Toy Fair began on Sunday.

End near in DVD format battle

Consumers and investors cheered an impending end to a format war for next-generation DVDs yesterday, with share gains for both Toshiba, on the verge of abandoning its HD DVD discs, and Sony, the leader of the rival Blu-ray camp.

Australia expects bumper harvest

Australia is set for a bumper wheat harvest this year following good rain in the last three months, according to National Australia Bank, which expects the crop to jump to at least 23 million tons.

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