Australia: In Sydney, shares of Foster's fell 6.7% on January 17. The beer and wine maker on Monday initiated a takeover offer totaling A$2.52 billion ($1.9 billion) for shares it doesn't already own in rival winemaker Southcorp at A$4.17 a share. Southcorp rose 8.5 percent at A$4.61.

19 January, 2005