Aussie Co Revenue Slower in 2014, Engineering Services Hold Up -- Market Talk

2343 GMT [Dow Jones] BHP Billiton (BHP.AU) retains top spot in IBISWorld's 2014 top 1000 Companies list, which ranks Australia's largest organizations by revenue, followed by Woolworths (WOW.AU). During 2014 average revenue growth across the Top 1000 was 7.5%, down from 14.6% in the prior year. Intense competition hit the telecommunications and fast food sectors, but legal services firms performed well thanks to restructuring and increased commercial activity, the report says. Engineering consulting continued its strong run despite falling mining investment, as some players such as Worley Parsons (WOR.AU) and RCR Tomlinson (RCR) diversified by expanding their infrastructure businesses. ([e-mail]; @beckthurlow)