Financial Markets, Stocks & Commodities

Australian reports

• Aust markets: Sharemarket down 1% at noon
• Aust dollar report: Dollar lower at noon, bonds firmer
• Aust credit close: Bonds close mixed

World reports

• World commodities: Energy prices climb amid US winter storm
• World markets: US stocks dip amid caution on recovery

Stocks to watch

ALZ, AWC, BEC, BKI, BKW, SOL, BKN, CDI, CLO, COH, DJS, MQG, OZL, RKN, SGT, TWR, WHS,

AV Jennings returns to profit

Residential developer AV Jennings' first half results are back in the black after structural changes and a resilient Australian housing market.

Woodside JV partners ratify LNG hub site

Woodside Petroleum Ltd's Browse Basin joint venture partners have agreed to the oil and gas giant's selection of James Price Point for an LNG processing hub.

Cazaly 'has a case' in Pilbara battle

A court has allowed Cazaly Resources Ltd to continue its battle for the rights to Rio Tinto Ltd's Rhodes Ridge iron ore project in WA's Pilbara region.

Ag production value dropped by five per cent in 08

CANBERRA, Feb 9 AAP 1:17PM Lower prices for some crops, milk and wool dragged down the value of Australia's agricultural production by five per cent in 2008-09 to $41 billion, preliminary figures show.

California woman sues over Toyota Prius brakes

LOS ANGELES, Feb 8 AFP 1:02PM A California woman has filed a lawsuit against Toyota alleging a 2010 Prius she purchased last year has severe braking problems which make it dangerous to drive, court papers show.

2007 report of sticky Tundra gas pedal but no cause: Toyota

WASHINGTON, Feb 8 AFP 12:54AM Japanese automaker Toyota received a report of a sticky gas pedal on a Tundra model in 2007 but was unable to pinpoint the cause, a senior Toyota US executive said Monday.