Today's headlines

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN (Business news)

AXA earnings soar to $374m
Cashed up with record superannuation contributions, AXA Asia Pacific has flagged more acquisitions to expand into Asia after yesterday kicking off teh reporting season with a $374 million interim profit.

Sell-off as Alinta holders opt for cash over B&B
Alinta's small investors are selling down their holdings ahead of next week's long-anticipated shareholders meeting as the sharemarket correction and a global liquidity crunch crimp investors appetites for Babcock & Brown scrip.

Wool growers told AWs must be sold
The company which owns the famous but fading Woolmark symbol has warned its grower shareholders it is most likely to go broke if they do not back the proposed sake of most of its assets to Australia's other most prominent wool industry's organisation.

Kiernan Baulks on ConsMin sparks a credibility debate
Michael Kiernan's credibility has come under attack after the Territory Resources boss suddenly shelved his $1 billion bid for Consolidated Minerals citing uncertainty over teh takeover target's newst shareholder.

AACo slips with profit

Iluka hangs on to BHP loyalty

Casablanca pulls cash from movie

Harmony looses charismatic chief

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN (General news)

Howard's plan to woo WA voters
John Howard plans to bombard 15 key marginal seats, including four in WA, with buckets of cash and Federal handout in a bid to woo voters away from Kevin Rudd's rampant Labor Party.

Homeswest needs '3300 more homes' a year
The emerging homelessness crisis and a blowout in the Homeswest waiting list can only be tackled with an extra 3300 public rentals properties a year, WA peak social welfare group says.

Home buyers in dark as loans tipped to rise
Average mortgage holders are set to pay an extra $60 on their home loan with the Reserve Bank poised to increase interest rates today - but most homes buyers will not know it, with a new study showing and alarming level of ignorance about loans and their costs.