Emissions Trading Scheme -

- Business has warned the federal government that its long-awaited greenhouse gas emissions target must be flexible enough to accommodate the uncertainty in global climate talks resulting from the financial crisis and a new administration in the White House.

- The Rudd government is considering increasing the number of industries that would receive free permits under emissions trading following concerns its proposed scheme could force the closure of some businesses.

- Australia's delay in announcing its 2020 greenhouse target until after a UN summit is a defensive move suggesting the Government will not take a lead in post-Kyoto talks.

- The Rudd government will reveal the final design of its emissions trading scheme, along with a medium term target range for reductions, within weeks.

Woolworths -

- Woolworths has attempted to use the looming economic downturn as leverage to ensure the Government does not pass laws which could hinder its expansion, by boasting about how many jobs it creates and its contribution to the nation's economy.

- Woolworths chief executive Michael Luscombe said the retailer had maintained its trading momentum over the past seven weeks even though others in the sector had been hit hard by a slowdown in discretionary spending.

- Woolworths could generate a sales injection of up to $115 million from a new scheme it has just implemented whereby all permanent staff are able to use pretax dollars to spend up to $1000 each at Woolworths outlets before January 9, 2009.

Lion Nathan/CCA -

- Coca-Cola Amatil chief executive Terry Davis has maintained the pressure on would-be suitor Lion Nathan, querying the brewer's ability to fund a higher deal or integrate Australia's largest soft drink bottler.

- It's almost three years since CCA launched the sugar-free soft drink Coke Zero, a move regarded as perhaps the most successful new product launch in Australia.