AAP

Major banks are under pressure to deliver some Christmas cheer in the form of cheaper mortgages after the Reserve Bank returned its cash rate to record low levels.

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey says the cash-rate cut shows the government has no plan to deal with the deterioration in the Australian economy.

Ferry services will play an increasing role in Perth's public transport plans, Transport Minister Troy Buswell has said, while announcing a trial of late night services.

A sharp fall in building approvals is another sign the Reserve Bank of Australia should cut the cash rate at its monthly board meeting.

Australia's unemployment rate is expected to continue to grind higher, possibly peaking at around six per cent in 2013.

Retail company Premier Investments says the lack of GST on overseas online purchases under $1000 is seriously harming Australian businesses.

Australian stocks have opened flat, as local market players await a likely interest rate cut from the central bank.

More support is needed for the struggling Australian food production sector after iconic food brand Rosella was placed in receivership, a national vegetable growers' group says.

US food processing giant Archer Daniels Midland Company has increased its offer for grains marketer and maltster GrainCorp to $2.78 billion.

Crown has received government permission for an additional 500 gaming machines its new six-star luxury hotel development proposed for Perth.

US stock markets started December in the red on Monday after poor data on the manufacturing sector added to worries about the year-end onslaught of federal tax increases and spending cuts.

The Australian dollar is almost a third of a US cent lower after the release of weaker than expected retail trade data.

The Australian share market finished half a per cent higher as investors were buoyed by encouraging data about Chinese manufacturing and expectations of an interest rate cut by the local central ba

Company profits are down for a fourth consecutive quarter, driven lower by a 12.2 per cent fall in mining profits.

Former premier Brian Burke has been found not guilty of illegally obtaining official secrets.

Shares in Sundance Resources are expected come under downwards pressure when they resume trading, as the prospect of a takeover deal with Hanlong Mining appears even more remote.

The once-pristine Dirk Hartog Island off Western Australia is set to be restored with one of the most extensive feral animal eradications ever attempted worldwide.

The group behind iconic food brand Rosella has been placed into receivership in another worrying development for Australia's ailing manufacturing sector.

The federal government has acknowledged the $1,000 threshold at which GST is collected on goods purchased from abroad is high by international standards, but has rejected calls for an immediate red

A December interest rate cut is looking more likely after official figures showed retail spending remained flat in October.

 Australian job advertisements have fallen for an eighth consecutive month, with falls in the mining states reflecting weaker activity in the resources sector.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has upped the pressure on Queensland and Western Australia to get on board the National Disability Insurance Scheme, ahead of Friday's Council of Australian Governments

Western Australia’s farmers are the most pessimistic in the nation, as dry conditions hitting this season’s grain harvest continue to drive down agricultural confidence.

Australian stocks have opened firmer, with gains among mining-related companies among the early highlights in quiet trading conditions.

Australia's manufacturing sector has contracted for the ninth month in a row, with weakness in both production and new orders.

The mining sector's labour productivity is a disaster that will block much future job growth in the industry, says a new report.

US stocks took a jump in the last 15 minutes of trade on Friday to end mostly in the black, with little hard news to direct trade as talks in Washington over a fix to the fiscal cliff continued.

Australia have made a dream start in their quest to seize the No.1 world ranking after Michael Clarke's new-look pace attack skittled South Africa's top order on day one of the third Test in P

The Australian dollar is lower, on increased expectations of a rate cut from the central bank next week.

Australian stocks climbed today, driven by the major miners on the back of strong commodity prices.

Independent MP Rob Oakeshott has thrown down the challenge to commonwealth and state treasurers to sort out the issue of the mining tax and royalties, and put politics "in the back pocket".

The federal government has decided not to allow a fourth commercial free-to-air television network.