THE federal government has cleared the way to sell Australian uranium to Russia — rejecting fears that the nuclear material could find its way into atomic weapons.

WOOLWORTHS is rumoured to be looking at the country's biggest alcopops maker, Independent Liquor Group, as part of a plan to secure a supplier for its fast-growing private-label beer business and reduce its reliance on Foster's Group and Lion Nathan.

AUSTRALIA'S biggest commercial honey group, Capilano Honey, has warned it will lose about $2 million in the first half of the financial year, a slide back into the red that could jeopardise its attempts to meet a $10 million debt deadline in March.

BACARDI MARTINI and Lion Nathan's joint venture spirits business has extracted a 9 per cent sales increase from its suite of rum, gin, vodka and ready-to-drink mixes despite the Federal Government's alcopops tax and the growing popularity of premium beer.

HEALTHY cash margins and confidence in hitting its annual production target of up to 1.2 million ounces gold has prompted Lihir Gold to resume dividends payments and consider a capital return to shareholders.