Of the ASX 200 index stocks, Perilya Limited led the decliners with a fall of 11.5% followed by losses in Centro Properties of 10.2%, in Centro Retail Group of 9.4%, in FKP Property Group of 9.2% and in IOOF Holdings LT of 9.1%.

Moss to leave Macquarie

Investment bank, Macquarie Group''s managing director and chief executive officer Allan Moss has announced that he is stepping down from the position in late May after more than 15 years at the helm.
Moss will be replaced by the current head of Macquarie Capital, Nicholas Moore. Moore, 49, who runs the division that generates more than 50% of profit, assumes the top job on May 24. Macquarie stock fell 9%.

Primary on Symbion takeover

Primary Health Care Ltd has indicated that it would declare its takeover bid for Symbion Health Ltd unconditional if it achieves an interest in Symbion of 50.1% by the end of February 12. Primary is offering $4.10 per share for Symbion, valuing the target at $2.65 billion and would not raise it in the absence of a competing bid.

Primary said that as of February 5 it had interests in Symbion - including acceptances under the offer and acceptance instructions under an institutional acceptance facility - of 45.59% of Symbion shares.

Primary is battling private hospitals operator Healthscope Ltd for control of Symbion''s pathology, diagnostic imaging and medical centres, referred to as the diagnostics businesses. Healthscope has 11.91% stake in Symbion.

Healthscope has twice attempted to secure Symbion''s diagnostics assets. One bid was blocked by Primary and the other by an adverse tax ruling.

Australian Agricultural Company full-year profit down 64%

Cattle rancher, Australian Agricultural Company has announced that its full-year profit fell 64% on gains in the local currency and higher feed prices.

The country''s biggest cattle rancher said net income fell to $3.6 million, in the 12 months ended December 31, from $10.1 million a year earlier.

Earnings per share dropped to 1.4 Australian cents, from 4 cents a year earlier. Full-year sales rose 27% to $249 million. Australian Agricultural stock fell 2.3%.

Stockland''s first-half profit up 11%

Australia''s largest housing developer Stockland reported first-half profit increase of 11% after the company broke its dependence on the housing market by venturing into retirement villages and shopping malls. The company earned $324.6 million in operating profit excluding gains from asset valuations, from $293.1 million a year ago.

Managing Director Matthew Quinn has spent more than $1 billion buying shopping centers, retirement villages and offices, and making his first European purchase. Australian sales of new homes slowed as the central bank raised interest rates seven times since 2004. Stockland fell 3%.