AAP

Australian stocks have closed higher as ANZ's $3 billion plus half-year profit dragged its shares to record highs and the local market along for the ride.

Diversified miner Rio Tinto has opened its $US2.2 billion Argyle underground diamond mine in the eastern Kimberley.

Service quality at the increasingly busy Perth Airport has fallen along with prices, says the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Finance Minister Penny Wong has indicated the government is considering imposing a levy to fund its national disability insurance scheme.

Australian stocks have opened firmer, with the big retail banks leading the broader market higher.

ANZ Bank has posted a first half profit slightly above expectations, and increased its dividend.

The Australian dollar has rallied to its highest level in 11 days following gains on global share markets.

The S&P 500 has closed at a fresh record high amid renewed confidence in the eurozone after the formation of the Italian government.

The Australian dollar has closed firmer, pushing above 103 US cents and moving in line with the rising price of gold.

Oil and gas producer Santos has committed to a $100 million drilling and appraisal program over the next 12 months in the Northern Territory.

Claims of 457 visa rorts are just a desperate attempt by the federal government to draw attention away from its border protection failures, the opposition says.

Australian shares closed on a positive note as the four major banks lifted the market.

Leading Australian economist Ross Garnaut has told a Senate committee that the mining tax is highly flawed and may never raise any revenue in its current form.

The share price of minerals explorer Aquila Resources took a hit after its Japanese joint venture partner pulled out of some of its Queensland coal exploration permits.

Low income earners in Perth are battling harder to find homes to rent, new research by Anglicare shows.

BHP Billiton has sold a copper mine in the US for $US650 million ($A634 million) as the resources giant continues to off-load assets.

The Australian market has opened higher, led by gains for the four major banks.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the May budget will be more about the economic challenges facing the nation, rather than the upcoming federal election.

Only one out of every two private businesses in Australia intends to hire staff over the next six months, according to a survey by financial advisory firm PwC.

The Australian dollar has dropped back below 103 US cents following weakness on global share markets and commodity prices.

US stocks rallied last week despite mediocre economic data and middling corporate earnings, revealing once again the power of the US policy regime of easy money and low interest rates.

A rise in commodity prices has helped push the Australian dollar back above the 103 US cent level.

The Australian market has closed slightly lower despite commodity stocks staging a comeback.

Australia's last listed major grains marketer, GrainCorp, is set for foreign takeover, following the likes of AWB and ABB Grain.

Clive Palmer wants to be prime minister and his candidates are coming to a seat near you.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's "fair dinkum" paid parental leave scheme could be heading for the scrap heap, if corporate Australia has its way.

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher, boosted by stronger mining stocks on the back of improved prices for commodities.

Gold prices have closed at their highest level in nearly two weeks, as investors drew confidence from data showing central banks' purchases of the precious metal in March while brisk demand for gold coins, jewellery and bullion bars in Asia continued.

The Australian dollar is almost half a US cent higher as overseas stock markets and commodity prices gain ground.

US stocks have finished a volatile trading session higher following improved jobless claims data and a mixed bag of corporate earnings.

Troubled surfwear retailer Billabong has extended its exclusive takeover talks with the Sycamore consortium.

The Australian share market has closed about 1.5 per cent higher as low inflation figures raised investors' expectations of an interest rate cut.