AAP

A Western Australian construction company has been fined $65,000 over the death of a man who fell seven metres through a skylight.

Woodside Petroleum is confident of reaching its 2013 production targets after posting a 9.5 per cent boost in quarterly production.

Newcrest Mining has beaten expectations to produce 586,573 ounces of gold during the September quarter.

Ten Network Holdings' full-year loss has blown out to $285 million amid one-off writedowns and falling revenues.

Gold prices have risen after US Senate leaders unveiled a deal to fund the federal government and raise the debt ceiling, prompting cautious optimism among investors.

An 11th-hour deal to end the US government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling has sparked a strong rally on Wall Street, with gains of nearly 1.4 percent.

The Australian dollar has leapt a quarter of a US cent higher after US Senate leaders reached a last-minute deal that temporarily extends the debt ceiling and will reopen the government.

WA MP Don Randall insists he was entitled to claim expenses including more than $5,000 for a trip to Cairns on "electorate business" and a refund for a children's cookbook.

The share market recovered from opening losses to close slightly higher on cautious optimism US politicians will agree on a temporary deal to raise its debt ceiling.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is planning to fundamentally change the way federal and state governments interact, including a shake-up of the Council of Australian Government meetings, according to WA Premier Colin Barnett.

The economic green shoots that boosted Iluka Resources' hopes of a recovering mineral sands market earlier this year have shrivelled, with the miner recording weaker quarterly revenue.

Tourists to Western Australia spent more than $7 billion there last year, despite the continuing economic struggle in Europe reducing the number of visitors from the UK.

The possible privatisation of Higher Education Contribution Scheme debt could see Australia become like the United States, where degrees are unaffordable for many, the National Union of Students says.

Australia's economy has suffered a significant loss of momentum since the start of the year as its transition away from being a mining investment gets bumpy.

Australian stocks started the local session lower as the deadline for the US to raise its debt ceiling or face the possibility of default draws closer.

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey intends to release the mid-year budget review before Christmas and not in January as previously flagged.

Australian bond futures prices are higher as traders move into safe-haven assets due to the slow progress in negotiations to raise the US government's borrowing limit.

The Australian dollar has backed away from its four-month high as optimism about a resolution to the US budget crisis wanes.

US stock markets have closed deep in the red as politicians in Washington remained deadlocked over a deal to reopen the government and avoid default on its debts.

Oil prices have fallen as US lawmakers remained deadlocked over a budget and debt ceiling deal and as negotiations began on Iran's nuclear program in Geneva.

Premier Colin Barnett has changed his media relations strategy, shying away from regular talk radio slots and turning to live chats on news websites.

The Australian share market closed one per cent higher amid signs that politicians in the United States may soon reach a deal over the US budget and debt ceiling.

Global miner Rio Tinto is confident of hitting its 2013 iron ore production target of 265 million tonnes, after achieving further growth in the September quarter.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has promised electricity and gas bills will fall immediately if the carbon tax is abolished.

A class action against failed fuel pill company Firepower has been ordered to enter mediation, says litigation funder IMF Australia.

Another interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia is still a possibility, but it is not ready to make that move immediately.

Toyota Australia is to cut jobs and must slash the cost of building cars in Australia in an effort to keep its local operations viable.

Divisions within the government over foreign ownership of farmland appear to be deepening, with Labor accusing the coalition of speaking with "two heads" about Chinese investment.

The Australian share market has opened higher after markets in the United States lifted amid encouraging signs that a deal was within reach on the US budget and debt ceiling.

Telstra has defended chief executive David Thodey's $8.8 million pay packet after a shareholder questioned whether the telco's performance justified such a salary.

US stocks reversed losses and finished higher amid encouraging signs from the White House and Congress that a deal is in reach on the budget and debt ceiling.

The Australian dollar has jumped to a one-month high on hopes of a resolution to the US political stand-off over the debt ceiling.