AAP

The decline in Australia's manufacturing sector has extended into a 14th month as falling selling prices and a strong currency hit hard.

US stocks retreated on Monday, weakened by mediocre manufacturing data and cautious sentiment after last week's record highs.

Visitors to the Sculpture by the Sea exhibition on Cottesloe Beach have been slugged more than $100,000 in parking fines, the local council has revealed.

The federal government says any rise in the minimum wage should take account of both the needs of low-income families and the pressures on business.

BlueScope Steel and the world's second-largest steelmaker have begun their $1.31 billion joint venture in coated products.

The Australian dollar is almost half of a US cent lower amid nervousness about what will happen with banks in Cyprus and the Italian government over the Easter weekend.

Australian stocks closed about half a per cent lower as the big resources companies dragged the market down following falls in China

It's official: Perth is now home to four of Australia's five most advantaged suburbs, and people are flocking to share in Western Australia's wealth boom in record numbers.

Shares in Linc Energy fell more than 12 per cent after the company announced it has raised $200 million through a convertible bond issue.

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey says current low interest rates are a "temporary feature" of the Australian economy.

Fruit and vegie prices fell in March, but the savings were eaten up by increases in the cost of fuel, alcohol and tobacco.

Australian stocks have opened down about 0.4 per cent, with the big retail banks and energy sector leading the broader market lower.

The coalition will not confirm whether it would reverse a possible Labor raid on wealthy people's superannuation tax concessions.

Federal Labor could lose at least 24 seats at the next election, according to an opinion poll of marginal seats taken for the Australian Financial Review.

US stocks mostly fell on Wednesday amid renewed anxiety over the eurozone as Cyprus moves to implement the EU-IMF rescue plan.

Premier Colin Barnett can't promise he'll secure federal infrastructure funding for his election commitments, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.

Supermarket giant Woolworths has raised concerns in the dairy industry with a plan to deal directly with a group of farmers to secure milk supplies.

The Australian share market closed almost one per cent higher as investors took their cues from positive news in the US.

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's plan to roll back the carbon tax will put the budget's bottom line under pressure, an investment banker says.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has left open the possibility the federal government will raid wealthy people's superannuation tax concessions in the May budget.

In its role as overseer of financial stability, it's the Reserve Bank of Australia's job to keep a sharp eye out for things that could go wrong.

 Qantas and Emirates have been given the green light to form a global alliance, albeit with special conditions for flights across the Tasman.

Australian stocks have opened firmer, with a recovery among the big miners leading the broader market higher.

The peak union body has called for a $30-a-week pay rise for Australia's lowest-paid workers.

Virgin Australia has received approval from the High Court of Singapore for its purchase of Skywest Airlines.

 US stocks surged higher on Tuesday as favourable sentiment towards equities more than compensated for a mixed bag of economic indicators.

The Australian dollar is slightly higher as uncertainty in the euro zone helped support the local currency.

Superannuation Minister Bill Shorten says people's retirement nest eggs should be "above politics", but the opposition continues to press the government to reveal what changes it intends to make to

Changes to global bank regulations have been more difficult than anticipated, with only Australia and 10 other jurisdictions so far adopting key parts of the reforms.

Premier Colin Barnett is talking "nonsense" in claiming Gonski education reforms are a power grab by Canberra, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.

The Australian share market has closed lower as markets worldwide were spooked by comments by the Dutch finance minister over the Cyprus bailout.

Wharfies at Fremantle have refused to work on a vessel that doesn't comply with minimum safety standards and say their employer Patrick has responded with "standover tactics".