PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN STOCKS NEWS: Car Group (CAR AT) H1 (AUD) NPAT rose 16% Y/Y to 143mln, rev. rose 8% Y/Y to 626mln

Argo Investments (ARG AT) - Co. H1 (AUD) profit 130.8mln (prev. 121.2mln Y/Y). (Motley Fool)

Car Group (CAR AT) - Co. H1 (AUD) NPAT rose 16% Y/Y to 143mln, rev. rose 8% Y/Y to 626mln. (Motley Fool)

Challenger Ltd (CGF AT) - Co. is in advanced talks to jointly acquire Pepper Money Ltd (PPM AT) alongside the Pepper Group. (Motley Fool)

Perpetual (PPT AT) - Co. potential sale of wealth unit is seen to have made headway after three months of negotiation with Bain, although there is no deal yet. (AFR Street Talk)

Santos (STO AT) - Co. senior executive once tipped as the next CEO faced investigation over an alleged sexual comment that sparked heated confrontations and multiple staff complaints. (The Australian)

Seek (SEK AT) - Co. flagged a AUD 365mln impairment in Zhaopin. (The Australian)