AAP

Drilling companies Swick Mining Services and Boart Longyear have provided a snapshot of conditions in the resources drilling sector, with underground and surface mining-focused Swick booking a reco

The Australian share market has opened higher after Wall Street made solid gains on Friday.

Gold prices have settled at their highest level in 11-weeks high after weaker US home sales data stoked hopes of sustained stimulus measures from the Federal Reserve.

The Australian dollar is a third of a US cent higher after the release of weak US housing data sparked concerns about the America's economic recovery.

US stocks scored solid gains to finish last week, with the market getting a jolt from Microsoft's announcement that chief executive Steve Ballmer will retire within the next 12 months.

A new medical school will go ahead in Western Australia regardless of whether federal government support is provided, Premier Colin Barnett says.

The Australian share market has closed higher on the back of encouraging international data.

Shareholders have slammed as too lenient the $50,000 fine handed to former Gunns chairman John Gay for insider trading.

BHP Billiton's board has granted more than $36 million in long-term bonuses to executives despite investors' shares losing value over the same period.

Western Australia "deserves" at least $100 million in federal funding towards Perth's new high-tech sports stadium, according to Premier Colin Barnett.

Human rights group UNICEF is appealing to the state government to reconsider its plan to charge 457 visa holders $4,000 a year to educate their children at public schools.

Property group Mirvac has suffered a 66 per cent drop in net profit following a massive writedown of its development projects, including a $74 million hit to the value of its developments in Wester

Treasurer Chris Bowen is putting renewed pressure on the coalition to release its costings after an independent analysis found a $30 billion hole in their figures.

The local share market has opened higher after solid gains on Wall Street overnight and encouraging Chinese manufacturing data.

The Australian dollar has been boosted by stronger-than-expected Chinese manufacturing data.

US stocks have managed solid gains despite a three-hour shutdown of the Nasdaq market that disrupted trade on other exchanges as well.

The Australian dollar fell to a two week low below 90 US cents as it looks increasingly likely the US Federal Reserve will soon start tapering its massive economic stimulus program.

More heat is being applied to Education Minister Peter Collier, with the state opposition demanding an independent inquiry into allegations he tampered with an inquiry into alleged bullying behavio

Australian shares fell on Thursday as local investors followed offshore leads and sold riskier stocks, including those in resources companies.

A rising share market has lifted the full year profit of market operator ASX.The company made a net profit of $348 million in the year to June, up 2.7 per cent from the previous year.

Tony Abbott says he has instructed the Liberal Party not to accept any more donations from tobacco companies.

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group says it remains focused on debt reduction, despite playing hardball on a proposed asset sale and lifting its annual dividend following a strong surge in profit

Atlas Iron has reported a significant improvement in earnings in the second half of the financial year, but it was not sufficient to offset big write-downs and weak operating profits carried over f

The Australian share market has opened more than one per cent lower.

Seven West Media made a loss of $70 million last financial year due to writedowns of its publishing assets.

The Australian dollar is at a three-year low after some US Federal Reserve policy-makers said tapering should start soon, the minutes of their July meeting reveal.

US stocks have finished a choppy day lower after minutes from the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting gave no more clarity on the central bank's plans for its stimulus program.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower as investors wait on the release of the minutes of the US Federal Reserve's July policy meeting.

The Australian share market is higher as strong gains among the major banks offset falls by several major resources companies.

A plywood train is sitting in the Hay Street Mall, part of a council protest against government plans to run the real thing down the middle of the city's shopping malls.