AAP

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.

Economic growth is expected to remain below trend well into the new year as Australia struggles to transition away from being a mining focused economy.

A leading business group is unimpressed at how the federal election campaign has shaped up after what had been a promising start.

Australia's second-largest internet provider iiNet is proving there's nothing wrong with being number two, after posting a 64 per cent rise in profit.

Miner Iluka Resources' first-half profit has been smashed in an environment of plunging mineral sands prices and weak demand.

The local stock market has opened flat as gains by the major banks offset losses by mining giant BHP Billiton.

Ports and rail operator Asciano has lifted its net profit more than 40 per cent due to growth in its coal haulage business.

The Australian dollar has regained some of its losses following the release of the Reserve Bank of Australia's August minutes, thanks to stronger gold futures on the back of greenback weakness.

Gold futures have hit a two-month high as losses in the US dollar stoked demand for the metal a day ahead of closely watched minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest meeting.

US stocks have closed mostly higher following some solid retail earnings reports.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 7.75 (0.05 per cent) to 15,002.99.

Australian shares have finished lower as investor concerns about emerging markets hit resource stocks.

Global resources giant BHP Billiton's full-year profit has fallen by 29 per cent to $US10.9 billion ($A12.0 billion), as falling commodity prices outweighed efforts to cut costs.

Greens leader Christine Milne has warned the botched approvals process for James Price Point is a sign of things to come under a coalition plan to return environmental decision-making powers to the

About 500 jobs could be lost from the Western Australian education system after the state government unveiled a new funding model.

Oil and gas producer Oil Search says its first half profit is up six per cent, but production had fallen marginally and is likely to remain flat in the next six months.

Perth has a new radio leader and it may surprise many people to learn it is Triple J.

The central bank has left the door open for more interest rate cuts but doesn't plan to walk through it just yet.

Premier Colin Barnett's push to keep the Browse gas project onshore has suffered another blow, with lead proponent Woodside recommending, as expected, the construction of a floating offshore plant

Premier Colin Barnett says he's received clarification of the federal coalition's paid parental leave plan and the state will cooperate with it.

The Australian share market has opened nearly one per cent lower.

Australia's largest business lender, National Australia Bank, is on track for a $6 billion full year profit, helped along by improvements in its troubled UK division.

The Australian dollar is lower, dragged down by a fall in commodity prices and the strength of the greenback which was boosted by high US Treasury yields.

Gold futures have fallen as jitters ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee's meeting minutes prompt some investors to exercise caution and move to the sidelines.