AAP

Exploration spending in the Western Australian oil and gas sector dropped by more than 10 per cent in the September quarter.

The Australian stockmarket has closed lower after disappointing Chinese manufacturing figures caused a sell off.

Shares in engineering company Forge Group have been placed in a trading for the third time in as many months ahead of an update on its earnings.

Australian shares are weaker, following surprisingly weak Chinese manufacturing data.

Qantas' finance chief has taken a swipe at the airline's "armchair expert" critics and defended its profit-draining strategy of maintaining a 65 per cent market share.

Gold futures have risen to the highest price in more than nine weeks, taking cues from a retreat in the US dollar after weaker economic data.

US stocks have sunk following a weak report on Chinese manufacturing activity and the latest batch of lacklustre corporate earnings.

The Australian dollar has been weakened by surprisingly soft Chinese manufacturing data.

Contractor HWE Mining faces a retrial over the death of a worker at BHP Billiton's Yandi mine in 2008, after a judge overruled an acquittal on charges the firm failed to provide a safe working environment.

Cost management remains the biggest issue for chief financial officers, who are also expecting the labour market to remain sluggish this year according to a new poll by professional services firm Deloitte.

The share market has fallen as disappointing Chinese economic data and weak leads from overseas markets prompted investors to sell.

The Australian suitor for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory, dairy co-operative Murray Goulburn, has surrendered to Canadian rival Saputo.

Westpac has been named the world's most sustainable corporation at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Under-fire security company Serco has launched an immediate investigation after a prisoner was left unguarded by its staff during a trip to Royal Perth Hospital.

Gold miner Newcrest Mining is poised for deeper cost cutting after slicing quarterly production costs by 16 per cent.

Energy giant Santos has lifted its December quarter sales revenue 21 per cent thanks to stronger oil production and prices.

Australian shares are weaker with most of the big banks following a lacklustre lead from Wall Street.

Platinum has climbed to the highest price in more than two months ahead of a planned strike in South Africa that may interrupt production in the top producer of the precious metal.

US stocks have finished mixed as investors continued to react cautiously to a series of uneven earnings reports.

The Australian dollar is being boosted by stronger-than-expected inflation figures that have all but closed the door on another cash rate cut.

Australia's rising jobless rate is chipping away at consumer confidence, a new survey has revealed.

Australian shares have closed lower after the release of higher than expected inflation figures.

Aurora Oil and Gas has boosted its quarterly production and revenue, with a number of new wells coming into production.

Canadian dairy giant Saputo has secured majority control of takeover target Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory.

The prospect of another interest rate cut just became more difficult after the inflation rate unexpectedly jumped to its highest level in two years.

Australians will need to get used to using their PIN for credit card purchases, with signatures set to be phased out from the middle of 2014.

Australian shares are weaker as lower-than-expected production volumes from global mining giant BHP Billiton weigh down the overall market.

BHP Billiton produced record volumes of coal and iron ore in the second half of 2013, despite falls in quarterly production at its petroleum and Pilbara iron ore divisions.

Global crude-oil prices have gained after the IMF raised its forecast for global growth in 2014 and the International Energy Agency upped its prediction of oil consumption growth.

The Australian dollar remains above 88 US cents ahead of the release of closely-watched consumer price index data.

US stocks ended Tuesday in mixed fashion after a stream of generally lacklustre earnings reports and a modest upgrade to the International Monetary Fund's economic forecast.

The Australian share market shook off a negative start to finish higher on Tuesday as strength among the major banks outweighed weakness in the resources sector.