NEW YORK: US oil prices fell more than one dollar yesterday on continued profit-taking as producer-group Opec eyed increases in the coming months in its tight spare capacity, countering worries over stumbling Iraqi oil exports.

(CNN) -- Japan's Supreme Court has cleared the way for a tie-up between UFJ Holdings and Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group that will create the world's biggest bank.

Australian Gas Light Company has flagged the sale of its stake in New Zealand's NGC Holdings, after the Australian energy retailer today reported an 18.5 per cent rise in annual net profit.

AGL booked net earnings of $349.5 million for the year to June 30, 2004, and said it expected 2004/05 underlying earnings to exceed those reached in 2003/04.

BLOOD products company CSL tripled its net profit for 2003/04, after the sale of its animal health business and a three month contribution from its Aventis Behring acquisisition.

Brokers have upgraded their recommendations for Woolworths after the company reported a 13 per cent jump in net profit for the year, to $688 million.

Apart from petrol, the retailer's margins have improved due to strong cost cutting, particularly in distribution.

Woolworths is now forecasting growth of up to 15 per cent this year, despite increased competition from rival Coles Myer.

The All Ordinaries ended the day in positive territory -- up 27 points.

The ASX 200 found 26.

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) -- Google stock jumped 18 percent in its long-awaited but rocky debut Thursday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Google Inc. debuted as a public company on Thursday, but that did not stop the debate over whether its auction-based IPO was a success or will influence future IPOs.

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Soaring oil prices will force Australian flag carrier Qantas to slap higher surcharges on airline tickets, Chief Executive Geoff Dixon said Friday.

Qantas reported record profits for the fiscal year through June of 648.8 million Australian dollars (US$469.8 million; euro 379.8 million) on Thursday, but warned that high oil prices could undermine its performance this financial year.

MELBOURNE: Amcor Ltd, the world's leading plastic bottle maker, yesterday posted a slim two per cent rise in profit before one-offs, hurt by competition in North America and a strong Australian dollar, but forecast 20 per cent earnings growth in the next two years.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has granted approval for Google to proceed with its initial public offering of stock.

"Google has been granted its requested approval effective immediately," said SEC spokesperson Amy Best on Wednesday.