Companies

ANZ may fight to block a sacked trader from relying on his communications with ASIC in a case alleging he was fired after complaining about rate-rigging at the bank, saying it may be unlawful to use the documents, a court has heard.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is investigating whether new legislation is needed to address the impact of dominant digital platforms such as Google and Apple, as the regulator’s overseas counterparts usher in bills aimed at cracking down on anticompetitive behaviour.

A Gold Coast developer must re-plead allegations in a defamation lawsuit against Fairfax over an article alleging he met a former Ipswich mayor at a brothel, after a judge struck out several claims that he described as “spectacularly imaginative and utterly unreasonable”.

The banks and high-ranking executives targeted in pared-down criminal cartel proceedings over a $2.5 billion ANZ share placement are taking new steps to shut down the long-running case, including further probes into the ACCC's conduct during its investigation into the alleged cartel.

Liberal MP Christian Porter is effectively asking the court to “protect his reputation” by seeking to block Nine and NewsCorp from using secret portions of the ABC’s defence to his defamation allegations, Nine told a judge in opposing the move.

AMP has lost its bid to access documents showing software company DST Bluedoor's revenue forecasts and employee remuneration in a $35.5 million legal stoush alleging the financial services firm induced 11 employees to jump ship after licensing its online advisor platform.

Prosecutors have withdrawn two-thirds of the charges in a criminal cartel case over a $2.5 billion ANZ share placement and have dropped their case against former Citigroup CEO Stephen Roberts, according to a lawyer in the case.

A judge has found PwC should face a claim that it engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct while assisting Chinese lender Aoyin with its planned launch in Australia by failing to properly advise the company there was a risk its shareholders did not comply with APRA's 'fit and proper' requirement.

Three Clive Palmer-owned companies have filed a breach of trust lawsuit against HWL Ebsworth, funder Vannin Capital and the liquidators of Queensland Nickel attempting to recoup $102 million transferred after the billionaire suffered a courtroom defeat earlier this year.

A judge has refused to order Commonwealth Bank of Australia to publish notice of a $7 million penalty in a case brought by ASIC on its mobile app, but the bank will have to alert customers to its misconduct on its website and online newsroom.