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Tim Binsted

May 2016

Leading the way: James Hardie chief executive Louis Gries.

Sky-high James Hardie a challenge for investors

The rise and rise of James Hardie Industries has cemented the company's reputation as one of the highest-quality investments on the Australian Securities Exchange.

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Net profit in the year ended March 31 fell 16 per cent, the building products maker says.

James Hardie posts $US244.4m full-year net profit, sees moderate US growth

James Hardie expects moderate growth in the key US housing market after a rise in its operating profit and says it will favour share buybacks over special dividends.

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If Crescent combines the former Healthscope business in Victoria, which stands in third place, with St John's business, that has plenty of strength in Geelong and Ballarat, the Michael Alscher-led firm would have more heft with which to take on leaders Sonic Healthcare and Primary Health Care.

Primary, Sonic Healthcare wins from government pledge on rent control

A promise from the Turnbull government has quietened the pathology sector and may also boost margins for Sonic Healthcare and Primary Health Care.

  • Bullsandbears
GrainCorp reported a weak half year result.

Seeds of hope in GrainCorp pessimism

There are plenty of reasons to be uncertain about investing GrainCorp, but there also are some positives for shareholders.

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Aged care providers warn high-care patients will suffer from budget changes.

Aged care investment will stall due to funding cuts

Funding cuts to the aged care sector threaten to push sick and frail residents into hospitals.

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Looking up: CSR's revenue for the year ended March 31 rose to $2.3 billion.

CSR profit jumps 13 per cent to $166 million on housing boom

CSR said its full-year net profit rose 13 per cent rise to $166 million, buoyed by record earnings in the company's building products arm.

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Greencross chief executive Martin Nicholas.

Greencross investors have plenty of questions after Quadrant's exit

Shares in Greencross Limited may well shed some of their takeover premium after Quadrant Private Equity sold its stake in the pet care group.

BlueScope's North Star plant has been hit by a fire.

Explosion rocks BlueScope's North Star plant in Ohio, suffers $US5m damage

BlueScope Steel estimates it has suffered $US5 million in damages and lost production after an explosion at its North Star plant in the United States.

Andrew Roberts had held numerous executive positions with Arrium.

Arrium CEO Andrew Roberts steps out door at collapsed firm

Arrium's chief executive Andrew Roberts has left as administrators and creditors enter the next phase of working out what to do with the struggling company.

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Health product: Jackie Fairley says Starpharma can help against Zika virus.

Biotech Starpharma rises 6pc on Zika virus product

Melbourne-based Starpharma's stock rose 6pc after tests showed its anti-viral gel could stop sexual transmission of the epidemic.

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Cuts: Treasurer Scott Morrison unveiled $1.2b of cuts to aged care funding.

Aged care funding cuts set to drive industry consolidation

The Turnbull government's $1.2 billion of aged care funding cuts could force smaller providers to close down or sell up and may lower standards of care for the elderly, industry groups warn.

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SunRice CEO Rob Gordon is confident his farmers support an ASX listing.

SunRice stalls on ASX listing after Murray Goulburn fallout

Rice export monopoly SunRice has again delayed a farmer vote on its capital restructure and ASX listing following a farmer backlash at dairy group Murray Goulburn, which has similar structure in place.

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Acumat managing director Steve Donald with the machine his team has spent hours working on for an Arrium subsidiary.

Clock ticking for small Arrium creditors

Complex administrations take time, but sadly for small Arrium creditors like Steve Donald, time is a luxury they may not have.

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Ferrovial CEO Inigo Meiras.

Spain's Ferrovial to walk away from Manus, Nauru detention centre operations

Spain's Ferrovial says it does not intend to operate detention centres after taking control of ASX-listed Broadspectrum.

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April 2016

Reliance Worldwide CEO Heath Sharp.

Reliance Worldwide Corporation soars in first minutes of ASX debut

Reliance Worldwide Corporation has kicked off listed life with a bang, surging up to $2.91 in its first minutes of trading on the ASX.

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Medibank Private has released a report on variation in surgical fees and outcomes.

Medibank Private to make surgery fees transparent to surgeons

Surgeons will be able to see how their prices compare to their competitors under a new data system being developed by Medibank Private.

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Professor Ian Frazer is chair of the $20bn Medical Research Future Fund advisory board.

Medical Research Future Fund board to focus on commercialisation

Creating a road map to help commercialise Australian research will be a top priority for the board advising the $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund.

Solid firm: Reliance CEO Heath Sharp with the push-to-connect plumbing fixture.

Reliance Worldwide deserves premium IPO price, fundies say

"You've got to poke pretty hard to find risks in this business," one fund manager said of the $1 billion Reliance Worldwide flota.

Mick Farrell, chief executive of ResMed.

ResMed third-quarter profit drops 3pc to $US88.5m

Medical device maker ResMed reported a 3 per cent drop in third quarter profit to $US88.5 million as acquisition costs and weaker margins impacted the bottom line.

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ASIC has been investigating a $15 million payment from Leighton (now known as CIMIC) signed off when Peter Gregg was Leighton's chief financial officer in 2011.

Primary Health Care must decide when Peter Gregg issue hits its reputation

The Primary Health Care board will have to weigh the effect of the corruption scandal on its reputation.

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Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/tim-binsted-j67sd