Omaha, Nebraska based Great Western Bancorp to target growth in farm lending to tap in the rising global agricultural trade. Great Western was its biggest acquisition since HomeSide.

Westfield 2007 earnings rise 11.6%

The world''s largest shopping mall owner by market value, Westfield Group today announced an 11.6% increase in operational earnings to $1.79 billion for the full year ended 31 December 2007.

The increase represents 96.12 cents per security, an increase of 6.0% on a constant currency basis. During the year, development gains of $1.1 billion were achieved on the Group''s investment of $1.3 billion in completed projects, representing an 87% return on cost. After expenses of $220 million, development segment earnings for the year were $889 million.

The distribution for the year was $1.98 billion, solely from operational segment earnings and income hedging. The distribution represents 106.5 cents per security, which is in line with forecast.

Net income fell to $1.5 billion in the six months ended Dec. 31, from $2.2 billion a year earlier. Second- half earnings were calculated by subtracting first-half profit from the full-year result the Sydney-based company reported today.

Total retail sales for the year increased 5.9% in Australia, 7.9% in New Zealand, 3.1% in the United States portfolio. In the U.K., the retail sales statistics rose 4.3% in the year with comparable sales up 2.2%.

Westfield stock rose 2.2%.

ABC learning calls for trading halt

ABC Learning Centres Ltd whose share is on a free fall today called for a trading halt as it engages suitor''s for some of its business interests.

The halt comes as chief executive Eddy Groves and four other directors had to meet margin call on the stock holding in the company.

Groves sliced his shareholding by 40% after selling 8 million shares for $1.85 a share yesterday, while his wife Le Neve sold 65% of her shareholding after disposing 11 million shares for $1.84 each. The two owned 7.8% of the stock with more than 37 million shares.

ABC hinted that more forced sales might be in the pipeline for more than 96% of the remaining 21.9 million shares that are owned by directors. The shares are equivalent to 4.6% of stock outstanding and are being held in margin lending arrangements. ABC said one director with 695,000 shares had pledged alternative security over their stakes.

ABC''s share fell 43% percent yesterday after a slump in earnings raised concerns it may struggle to repay debt.

Centro in bid to protect management contracts

Centro Properties Group today appealed to its investors in its unlisted property syndicates to reject proposals to replace it as manager of the trusts.

Centro was reacting to a formal approach made by Pelorus Property Group Ltd to the investors with an offer to reduce fees and boost returns. Pelorus wants to assume management of Centro syndicates including MCS 16, which had $36.875 million in assets at June 30 2007, including Centro Toormina in the New South Wales state.

Centro, which is facing an April 30 deadline on $4.9 billion, has been battling to raise funds to offset the debt. Centro''s share gained 6.4% while Pelorus rose 17% after indicating that its first-year profit rose 21% to $3.2 million.

Maryborough to develop hotel, houses and marina

Australian producer and refiner of raw sugar, Maryborough Sugar Factory Ltd today announced that it was seeking approval to develop a hotel, houses and marina on land currently used to grow cane in Queensland.