HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Brambles Ltd. , a global logistics group and a supplier of pallets used to help transport warehouse goods, said Wednesday net profit for the year ended June 30 fell 50% to $648.7 million from $1.29 billion, owing in part to lower one-off gains from the sale of a waste management business. Operating profit totaled $1.05 billion, up 12% from $932.8 million in the preceding year. The company said growth in its CHEP unit in the U.S. will be "subdued" owing to costs associated with restructuring of its business with Wal-Mart Stores. The company added that its CHEP Asia-Pacific unit will be impacted by costs associated with investments in China and India.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- James Hardie Industries NV , the largest producer and seller of home siding in the U.S., announced Wednesday profit in the April-to-June quarter fell 96% from a year earlier, as slumping housing starts in the U.S. weighed on performance. Net profit totaled $1.4 million, down from $39.1 million in the year-earlier period. Sales for the quarter declined 14% to $365 million, from $424.4 million a year earlier. Excluding contributions to a special fund to compensate victims of its asbestos products, net profit for the quarter fell 39% to $41.6 million, down from $68.6 million. The firm established the asbestos compensation fund in 2005.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Japanese shares extended losses Wednesday on Kyocera Corp. and Advantest Corp. after technology stocks dropped overnight on Wall Street. The Nikkei 225 Average gave up 0.5% to 12,805.21 and the broader Topix index slipped 0.3% to 1,231.59. South Korea's Kospi dipped 0.5% to 1,534.49 and New Zealand's NZX 50 index dropped 0.4% to 3,306.34. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index gained 0.3% to 4,878.70 on resource firms after crude-oil prices advanced.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Overstock.com Inc. filed a new shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to offer securities from time to time, the online retailer said late Tuesday. Once the registration becomes effective, the company will be able to sell up to $500 million of debt securities, common stock, warrants and other securities in one or more offerings. The new registration statement will replace the company's existing shelf registration, which was to expire later this year. Overstock.com does not have any plans to raise additional capital at this time.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Heelys Inc. , best known for their wheeled shoes, on Tuesday rejected Skechers USA Inc.'s buyout proposal, noting that the offer price is too low. "After careful consideration, our board rejected the offer after concluding that their proposal was not in the best interest of our stockholders. The board believes the $5.25 offering price does not reflect the value of Heelys and that entering into discussions with Skechers based on their unsolicited proposal is premature at this time," said Gary Martin, Heelys' chairman of the board. This marks the second time Heelys has rejected an offer from Skechers.

Market Pulse Stories are Rapid-fire, short news bursts on stocks and markets as they move. Visit MarketWatch.com for more information on this news.