Rio Tinto Limited

Amcor Ltd. (ASX:AMC), the world's largest maker of plastic soft drink bottles, said Tuesday that it will buy parts of Rio Tinto Ltd.'s (ASX:RIO) Alcan Packaging business for US$2.025 billion to expand its existing business in Asia and Europe.

Rio Tinto Ltd. (ASX:RIO) says the company does not see the pricing agreement by Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (ASX:FMG) and Chinese steelmakers as relevant to its pricing for fiscal 2009 as the miner conducts its own negotiations with customers worldwide.

Wall Street ended lower in light trading on Friday as reports showed weak consumer sentiment in August and an unexpected decline in July retail sales. The weak reports prompted investors to lock in gains from the recent rally.

An encouraging employment report sent the US stocks to a more than nine months high on Friday. The Labor Department released a report that the country's unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped to 9.4 per cent, its first decline in 15 months.

Australian stocks surged massively yesterday following a rally on Wall Street. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 jumped 129.6 points, or 3.5 per cent, at 3867.1, while the broader All Ordinaries rose 120.8 points, or 3.2 per cent, to 3858.8 points. The gains in overseas markets are likely to continue bolstering the Australian shares as the US earnings reports released in the first week restored some market confidence.

The Australian shares closed flat Thursday as the market was awaiting more US corporate financial results. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell 4.6 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 3763.3 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index also lost 4.6 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 3761.4 points. The market sentiment was buoyed by the better-than-expected jobs data released yesterday.

Yesterday, the Australian stocks closed lower led by weakness in mining and energy sectors following the drop in oil prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index lost 44.5 points, or 1.16 per cent, to 3,783.7 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index was 42.4 points, or 1.11 per cent lower, to 3,784.2 points. Analysts expect the market remains low trading volume as the investors were nervous ahead of the reporting season.

Yesterday the Australian market posted a marginal rise as investors were cautious ahead of US jobs data in June. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 3.3 points, or 0.09 per cent higher, at 3877.3 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 2.9 points, or 0.07 per cent, to 3875.2 points.

The Australian shares yesterday started the new financial year with a significant fall led by financial and resources stocks. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index lost 80.9 points, or 2.05 per cent, to 3874 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index was 75.5 points, or 1.91 per cent lower, at 3872.3 points.

The Australian shares fell in late trading on Monday, pulled by energy sector. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 lost 16.9 points, or 0.43 per cent, to 3886.9, and the broader All Ordinaries was down 16.8 points or 0.43 per cent to 3882.7. Analysts expect the local market remained directionless ahead of the financial year end.