AAP

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the opposition's national broadband plan is "positively Palaeolithic".

Uranium miner Paladin Energy has recorded a $US420.9 million full year loss, more than double last year's loss of $US172.8 million, as the uranium price remains weak.

Electrical and homewares retailer Harvey Norman's full year profit has fallen 17.5 per cent amid dwindling sales across its Australian and European businesses.

The Australian share market has opened flat as investors continue to sit on the sidelines after a dramatic week in international affairs.

Airline Virgin Australia has fallen into the red.The company today reported a net loss of $98.1 million for the year to June 30, compared with a $22.8 million profit the previous year.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is to unveil his plan to make living in the outer suburbs more affordable.

The Australian dollar is lower as solid US economic growth figures raised expectations the Federal Reserve will scale back its asset purchases in the coming months.

US stocks have closed higher following an upgrade to US second-quarter economic growth and a shift in expectations away from an immediate military strike on Syria.

Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey has defended the coalition's $31.6 billion of proposed savings, saying Labor's accusations that they don't add up are "dead wrong".

The Australian dollar is higher following a better than expected result in June quarter capital expenditure data.

The Australian share market has finished higher, but activity remains overshadowed by concerns about the Syrian conflict.

Mining investment should stay strong for the coming year, economists say.But they are still looking for a pick-up in investment in other parts of the economy.

The state's legal fraternity says the loss of a Supreme Court judge will lead to further trial delays and a backlog of cases.

Shopping mall giant Westfield is more upbeat about its growth prospects in the United States than Australia.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says an independent analysis has found a $10 billion black hole in the coalition's savings.

Qantas has lifted its bottom line back into the black, posting a modest full-year profit, a year after recording a historic loss.

David Jones says weak consumer sentiment has contributed to a continued decline in sales from its department stores.

The local share market has opened lower as investors sit tight ahead of any major international developments in the Syrian conflict.

The Australian dollar is higher as investor play down tensions over a possible US air or missile strike on Syria.

US stocks have rebounded, led by energy companies benefiting from an oil price spike, as the West mulls a possible punitive attack against Syria for its alleged chemical weapons use.

The Australian dollar is lower due to the growing possibility of military action by the US in Syria.

The Australian share market has suffered its steepest one-day fall in three weeks as speculation about a US military strike on Syria hits the big miners.

Building of homes, shops and offices and engineering work on bridges, roads and mines was weaker than expected in the June quarter, and the looming federal election could be to blame.

The former boss of the collapsed Westpoint group has lost his second appeal against convictions for making misrepresentations about a residential property development in Perth.

The coalition has found $31.6 billion of savings over the next four years to pay for its election promises.

Construction and maintenance group Transfield Services has suffered a $250 million loss, dragged down by costs associated with its businesses in Western Australia, the US and Chile.

Australian stocks have opened sharply lower as rising concern over the West's likely imminent intervention in Syria sent international markets tumbling.

Woolworths has lifted its full year profit almost 25 per cent amid solid earnings growth from its core supermarkets division.

The coalition will argue that abolishing the carbon tax will save the budget $5.6 billion over four years and the party's paid parental leave scheme will add to the bottom line, news reports say.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher on the back of rising commodity prices.At 0700 AEST on Wednesday, the local unit was trading at 89.84 US cents, up from 89.56 cents on Tuesday.

Work on the long-awaited, new Western Australian Museum is about to kick off.

US stocks have plunged as the country moves closer to punitive military action against Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons in a devastating attack on civilians.