Ansell Limited (ASX:ANN) (PINK:ANSLF) today announced Profit Attributable for the first half of US$61.0m, up 12% on the previous year's US$54.3m.

Australian Market Report of February 9, 2011 includes: SomnoMed Limited (ASX:SOM) announced that oral appliance treatment is now reimbursable for Medicare patients in the US; Padbury Mining Limited (ASX:PDY) discovered high-grade haematite mineralisation in Western Australia; Highlands Pacific Limited (ASX:HIG) today reports a 79% increase in resource tonnage at its Frieda Horse Ivaal Trukai project in Papua New Guinea; Zenith Minerals Limited (ASX:ZNC) announced results from Mount Alexander Magnetite Iron Project.

Universal Biosensors, Inc. (ASX:UBI) today announced that LifeScan's new product, OneTouch Verio (R) has been made available for sale in France. The OneTouch Verio (R) incorporates technology developed by Universal Biosensors and addresses the rapidly growing Self Monitoring Blood Glucose market.

Australian Market Report of December 21, 2010 includes: Metals X Limited (ASX:MLX) has commenced copper and silver production at the Renison Tin Project in Tasmania; Regis Resources Limited (ASX:RRL) announced maiden gold reserve of 1.34 million ounces; MediVac Limited (ASX:MDV) signed a Memorandum of Understanding for export order of 25-30 MetaMizers to Sri Lanka; Integra Mining Limited (ASX:IGR) announced copper-gold mineralisation discovered in Western Australia.

Australian market fell on Wednesday led by financial and energy stocks with low trading volume during the session. The gains in US and Europe markets in previous session fail to inspired investors as they feared more disappointing US economic data could come out.

The Australian shares opened slightly lower this morning with weak overseas lead. Fitch Ratings has downgraded Spain's credit rating from AAA to AA-plus, saying the country's economic recovery will be more muted than the government forecast. The local market is under pressure after the downgrade fuelled concerns over the Eurozone crisis.

The Australian share market sank massively at opening on Friday, after Wall Street and European markets overnight slumped again due to Europe debt jitters. The Dow Jones industrial average experienced its deepest one-day plunge in more than a year, as investors feared that the European debt crisis might spread around the world.

Benitec Limited (ASX:BLT) (PINK:BNIKF) announced today that Ms Sue MacLeman will step down from the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director to pursue other opportunities. She has agreed however to stay actively involved with Benitec as a Strategic Advisor at this exciting time for the Company. A transition arrangement has been put in place. Mr Mel Bridges and Dr John Chiplin will both move to Executive Director roles within the Company and the Board will be further strengthened in the coming months.

Wall Street's modest gain overnight provided Asian stocks a positive lead, but lingering concerns over China's monetary policy could drag the regional markets today. Investors may keep cautious ahead of policy meetings by the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan this week. Yesterday most Asian markets were lower. Japan's Nikkei 225 ended flat and South Korea's Kospi fell 0.8 per cent. China's Shanghai Composite lost 1.2 per cent, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index declined 0.6 per cent amid fears of Chinese government's possible credit tightening measure.

Asian markets are expected to rise today as Wall Street rallied overnight on improved data of manufacturing employment in the US and a takeover of American International Group's Asian arm by British insurer Prudential. Resources shares in Asia were up on Monday as the massive earthquake in Chile raised concerns on copper supplies. Asian markets closed mostly higher yesterday. Japan's Nikkei rose 0.5 per cent, lifted by a rise in non-ferrous metal shares. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 2.2 per cent and China's Shanghai Composite added 1.2 per cent on expectations Beijing may retain an appropriately loose monetary policy at the upcoming meeting of the National People's Congress.