AAP

The Australian market closed at a 20-month peak as high yield stocks made strong gains.

Treasurer Wayne Swan says the federal government is giving infrastructure financing "serious consideration" as a Labor appointee to the Reserve Bank board calls for budget deficits to fund new road

The Australian market is flat in early trade despite strong earnings results in the US leading to overnight gains on Wall Street.

The Australian dollar is higher after weaker-than-expected national consumer price index figures and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgraded its economic forecast for Europe.

Buoyed by strong earnings results in the technology sector and progress in the Washington fiscal budget debate, US stocks have closed higher.

The Australian share market closed higher after BHP Billiton's production report exceeded expectations and weak inflation figures drove up high yielding stocks.

The Australian dollar has maintained a strong position after weaker-than-expected inflation data which could clear the way for a Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) rate cut.

The Australian market is higher after mining giant BHP Billiton's half-year production report exceeded expectations and following strong leads from the US.

The mining industry is worried a potential slowdown in China and is making less effort to attract the most qualified workers, a report shows.

The Australian dollar is higher, after Japan's central bank announced an expansion of its monetary stimulus plans.

US stocks have shaken off weak housing sales data and jumped on the strength of some buoyant earnings reports.

Centro Retail shareholders have overwhelmingly agreed to change the shopping centre company's name to Federation Centres as it attempts to put past problems behind it.

The former head of collapsed company Allco Finance Group, David Coe, has died while on a skiing trip in the United States.

The Australian dollar has rallied against its US counterpart after Japan's central bank announced new measures aimed at lifting the world's third largest nation economy out of a long period of defl

Rio Tinto is closing its Cape Lambert and Dampier ports in Western Australia's Pilbara region to prepare for a low-pressure weather system that could become a tropical cyclone on Wednesday.

The Australian share market has closed flat as investors gave a muted response to the Bank of Japan's plan for a more expansionary two per cent inflation target.

Businesses' enthusiasm to invest has sunk to its lowest level in at least 15 years against the back drop of a high Australian dollar and soft growth in non-mining sectors of the economy.

 A contract worker at BHP Billiton's coal mine in Indonesia has been killed, bringing production to a halt.

The Australian share market is trading marginally higher as investors wait to see if the Bank of Japan will move to stimulate the Japanese economy.

Rio Tinto had no option under Labor's Fair Work laws but to resume bargaining with the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) in Tasmania, coalition senator Simon Birmingham says.

The Australian market has opened slightly higher as investors await the outcome of a Bank of Japan policy meeting.

 Shares in Macmahon Holdings have soared more than 15 per cent after the mining contractor sealed a $1.8 billion deal with Fortescue Metals Group.

 European share prices have risen, with London hitting a near five-year high in light trading amid a public holiday in the United States, although the luxury goods sector was tarnished by a gl

The Australian dollar is slightly higher ahead of news from a meeting of Japan's central bank.

The Australian share market has closed slightly higher following a firm finish by United States markets on Friday.

Official inflation figures on Wednesday could prove the final trigger for another interest rate cut when the central bank holds its first board meeting of the year on February 5.

Iron ore has been BHP Billiton's highest-earning commodity for a while but the continued resurgence of the petroleum division is expected to be displayed this week.

Economists believe consumer prices rose modestly in the December quarter, but not slowly enough to lock in another interest rate cut for Australian homeowners.

Shares in Sims Metal Management have slumped after the company warned of possible fraud at two of its British businesses.

The Australian stockmarket has opened flat as investors gave a lukewarm response to US Congressional Republicans agreeing to temporarily raise the debt ceiling.

US stocks ended mostly higher Friday helped by news that Republicans might give way to a short-term rise of the debt ceiling to avoid a new crisis, but poor earnings from Intel pulled the Nasdaq lo

The Australian dollar has fallen back slightly after an earlier rise on strong Chinese growth data.