AAP

The Australian dollar fell to a three-year low after Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens revealed the board took "a very long time" to decide whether or not to leave the cash rate unchanged this mo

Australia has posted it largest trade surplus in 18 months as mining exports remain strong.It was the the fourth consecutive monthly surplus.

Woodside Petroleum will produce less oil and gas in 2013 than previously forecast because of shutdowns and maintenance.

The frosty relationship between Canberra and the state government appears to be thawing, with the state's premier suggesting a DisabilityCare deal is edging closer.

Australia was lucky the global financial crisis hit when it did, Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens says.

Australian stocks have pulled back sharply as the volatile start to the new financial year continues.

Rail operator Aurizon will develop and provide infrastructure to two Pilbara iron ore projects under a deal with explorer Brockman Resources.

Oil and gas major Shell plans to build more floating LNG plants after developing its world first Prelude project off the coast of Western Australia.

Gold futures have ended lower, after two straight sessions of gains, as a US stronger dollar and the swift recovery saw some investors sell their holdings to lock in profits.

US stocks have reversed early gains and ended lower on revived concerns about the eurozone and the political crisis in Egypt.

The share market has posted its strongest day in 20 months as the global economic outlook improves and interest rates remained on hold.

Mining giant BHP Billiton says its new remote operations centre and trial of driverless trucks will boost productivity without sacrificing jobs.

The new-look Labor Party has improved its competitiveness for federal seats in Western Australia, Defence Minister Stephen Smith says.

Perth has a new radio ratings leader, with 96FM taking over the top spot from Mix 94.5 in the fourth survey of 2013.

The central bank has kept the cash rate unchanged at a record low of 2.75 per cent at its July board meeting, with the outlook for the global economy looking a bit better.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is starting the work of rebuilding Labor's ties with the business community.

Former Western Australian government minister Alannah MacTiernan says she'll decide in the next 48 hours whether to nominate as Labor's candidate for Stephen Smith's federal seat of Perth.

The Australian share market has opened significantly higher as positive manufacturing data out of the United States and Europe improved investor confidence.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is unlikely to cut interest rates today as the falling Australian dollar does the central bank's heavy lifting.

The Australian dollar has firmed as the gloomiest US manufacturing employment news since 2009 convinced traders the US Federal Reserve may delay winding back its stimulus measures.

US stocks have spent the day in positive territory on generally strong manufacturing data, although leading indices closed well below their intraday highs.

Australia's export commodity prices fell in June, the third monthly fall in a row, following a run of three rises.

The Browse Basin is pivotal to the nation's future gas production amid expectations that global demand will double within 17 years, a senior energy figure says.

The new financial year brings a swag of price hikes as the state government turns to consumers to prop up its sagging revenue base.

Embattled drilling company Boart Longyear's shares have plunged to four-year lows after it issued a second profit downgrade in two months.

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

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the core task of his new frontbench will be to keep the Australian economy strong.

The future of the stalled multi-billion dollar Browse gas project will be discussed when the joint venture partners meet for talks on Monday.

US stocks closed mostly lower on Friday after a three-day rally, with shares of BlackBerry hammered as the struggling phone maker reported a surprise quarterly loss.

The Australian dollar has fallen close to 91 US cents after a member of the US Federal Reserve board of governors suggested American stimulus measures could be eased from September.